Questions, answered
Clear answers about Texas home inspections, from what the TREC standards cover to what North Texas soil, hail and heat mean for the home you love.
Very. We test every accessible outlet, window, door and appliance, run each sprinkler zone, measure air conditioning performance at the registers, heat the oven to temperature, and walk most roofs. A thermal camera is a core tool on every full home inspection. The goal is simple: tell you what a buyer reasonably wants to know about the home.
Yes. The thermal camera is a core tool on every full home inspection, included at no extra cost: we use it on ovens, HVAC equipment, insulation and leak detection, with a moisture meter to confirm suspected moisture. We walk most roofs and use a drone for hard-to-reach areas and larger properties. A Zip Level foundation elevation survey is available as an add-on.
Read more: Do you use a thermal camera, moisture meter or drone? →
We won’t cut into walls, damage finishes, take apart sealed equipment or put anyone at risk, and some questions still need a licensed specialist or engineer. When we find something that deserves a closer look, we say so clearly and recommend the right professional.
Read more: Is there anything you won’t do during an inspection? →
It’s included at no extra cost with every full home inspection. The thermal camera is part of every full Dragonfly home inspection: it helps us confirm ovens heat properly, check HVAC performance, find missing insulation and detect leaks that aren’t visible to the eye. Thermal images are included in your report where they help explain a finding. Just want a thermal scan? Thermal imaging can also be ordered on its own as a single-component inspection. Mention it when you schedule or request a quote.
Our reports pair photos with clear, plain-English explanations and practical recommendations, and about an hour of each visit is set aside to finish the report and walk you through the findings. We’re glad to answer questions after you read the report, too.
No. A thermal camera reads the surface temperature of walls, ceilings and floors and turns it into an image. It cannot see inside a wall or show pipes, wiring or framing directly. What it can do is show temperature patterns on the surface, such as a cool area from moisture or a gap in insulation, that give our inspectors a reason to look closer.
No. A thermal image shows temperature differences, and an air leak, an insulation void and moisture can look similar. When the camera shows a pattern that could be moisture, we check it with a moisture meter before reporting it. Thermal imaging also can’t identify the source of a leak or test for mold; we don’t perform mold testing, and we refer you to the right specialist when conditions suggest it.
Read more: Does a thermal image prove there’s a leak or mold? →
Thermal imaging needs a temperature difference to work. Weather, sun on a wall, how long the heating or cooling has run and recent water use all affect what shows up. A leak that has dried out or reached room temperature may not appear, and materials such as brick, stone and reflective surfaces are hard to read. Like the rest of the inspection, it reflects conditions at the time of the inspection and is not a guarantee.
Our inspectors use the thermal camera to help find signs of hidden moisture at ceilings, walls and floors, missing or incomplete insulation, and ductwork or insulation problems; to read supply and return air temperatures at the HVAC registers; and to confirm ovens and cooktop burners heat. Thermal images are included in your report where they help explain a finding.
Read more: What does thermal imaging look for during an inspection? →
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