What is Infrared Thermal Imaging?
Infrared thermal imaging uses a specialized camera to capture the infrared radiation that every surface naturally gives off, then converts it into a visual map of temperature differences. Warmer areas typically show up in shades of orange and red, while cooler areas appear in blue or purple.
It is worth being precise about what this technology actually measures. The camera does not read an exact temperature the way a thermometer does. It detects relative differences in surface temperature, and those differences are what a trained thermographer interprets to identify problems inside a building.
What Thermal Imaging Can (and Can't) Reveal
Because the camera only shows temperature contrast rather than the cause behind it, reading a thermal image correctly takes training and context. A cold patch on an interior wall could point to several different issues, and figuring out which one it is takes experience, not just the camera itself.
What it can reveal
- Air leakage around windows, doors, and building penetrations
- Missing or settled insulation inside wall and ceiling cavities
- Thermal bridging, where a structural element allows heat to bypass the insulation layer
- Temperature patterns consistent with hidden moisture
What it can’t do on its own
- It cannot see moisture directly. It shows a temperature signature that suggests moisture may be present, which is why we follow up with a moisture meter before drawing conclusions.
- It cannot see through walls or provide an x-ray style view of what’s behind a surface.
- It cannot replace a full inspection. Thermal imaging points us to areas that need closer investigation, it does not diagnose a problem by itself.
Common Signs You Might Need a Thermal Imaging Inspection
Most homeowners reach out after noticing something specific, even before they know what is causing it. A thermal imaging inspection is usually a good starting point if any of the following sounds familiar:
- One room or wall that stays noticeably colder than the rest of the house, regardless of the thermostat setting
- A heating bill that has crept up without a clear explanation
- A musty smell or a stain on a wall or ceiling with no obvious source
- A draft you can feel near a window, door, or electrical outlet but can’t pinpoint
- Recently completed insulation or air sealing work that you want independently verified
How Infrared Thermal Imaging Works
Our infrared thermal imaging process involves several key steps.
Pre-Audit Preparation
Before the thermal scan, our team reviews your home’s energy usage patterns and inspects the exterior and interior to identify areas that need closer attention.
Thermal Imaging
Using specialized infrared cameras, our trained professionals capture detailed thermal images of your home’s walls, floors, ceilings, and windows.
Image Analysis
We analyze the captured images to identify temperature variations, flag energy-wasting issues, and pinpoint the areas that need attention.
Report and Recommendations
You receive a written report outlining what we found, the recommended next steps, and where you can expect the biggest gains in comfort and energy savings.
Certified Thermographer – Level II
Infrared Training Center
Credential ID: 253468810
Field inspections at Monolith are led by Shahin Arvandi, our Senior Energy & Building Science Specialist, whose Level II thermography certification means every inspection follows a documented, repeatable methodology rather than a casual scan with a consumer-grade camera.
How Thermal Imaging Fits Into Our Other Services
Thermal imaging rarely stands on its own in professional building diagnostics, and at Monolith it almost never does. Under ASTM C1060, the standard practice for thermographic inspection of building envelopes, image accuracy improves significantly when there is a clear temperature differential to work with, and that differential is easiest to control when thermal imaging is paired with our other testing services.
Blower Door Testing
A blower door test creates negative pressure inside the home, which pulls outside air in through every gap and crack. This exaggerates air leakage just enough for it to show up clearly on a thermal camera, making leaks visible that would otherwise go undetected in a static scan.
Energy Audit
Thermal imaging is typically one component of a full Energy Audit rather than a standalone service. It gives our energy advisors a visual starting point, which the rest of the audit then confirms and quantifies.
Large Building Airtightness Testing
For multi-unit and commercial properties, thermal imaging is often used alongside Large Building Airtightness Testing to help locate the specific sections of a building envelope responsible for its overall air leakage rate, rather than only reporting a single building-wide number.
Benefits of Infrared Thermal Imaging for Vancouver Homes
By incorporating infrared thermal imaging into your energy efficiency audit, you can:
- Reduce Energy Consumption: Identify and address energy-wasting issues that are otherwise invisible, leading to a measurable drop in your energy bills.
- Improve Home Comfort: Close the insulation gaps and air leaks that make certain rooms uncomfortable in both winter and summer.
- Catch Problems Early: Spot early signs of water intrusion or electrical faults before they turn into major, more expensive repairs.
- Protect Your Investment: A well-documented, energy-efficient home is easier to maintain and holds its value better over time.
Beyond Residential: Commercial and Industrial Applications
Our thermal imaging work isn’t limited to single-family homes. Monolith also carries out drone-based thermal screening for larger commercial, industrial, and multi-unit properties, where walking every square foot of a roof by hand isn’t practical or safe.
Two recent examples show how this works in practice:
EverCold Storage, Burnaby
We completed a drone-based infrared screening of a large industrial cold storage roof, using a DJI Zenmuse H20T thermal camera and DroneDeploy mapping software. By comparing overlapping post-sunset thermal images across the roof, our team identified and mapped seven areas of interest for the facility owner to follow up on, distinguishing genuine concerns from normal thermal effects caused by mechanical equipment and roof penetrations.
Le Parc Townhouse Complex, Coquitlam
For a 21-building, 64-unit townhouse strata, we reviewed over 1,900 thermal and RGB images and selected 87 priority images for detailed interpretation, comparing roof sections, penetrations, and repeated townhouse bays to flag areas that needed earlier maintenance attention.
This type of aerial thermal screening supports strata capital planning, pre-purchase due diligence on larger properties, and predictive maintenance for industrial roofs, and it pairs naturally with the large-scale envelope work.
Service Media
A closer look at our infrared thermal imaging work in the field, from rooftop scans on multi-unit properties to drone-based screening on larger commercial buildings.
