Drone Roof Inspections and Videography

Now performing drone roof inspections and exterior videography using DJI Phantom 3 professional drones

Drone Inspection

Appliance Safety Recall Check

Ingraffia home Inspections is one of the few companies who offer safety recall check evaluations on major appliances within the house during our field inspections. We use the help of RecallChek who takes your model numbers of the major appliances and matches them against millions of manufacturer recalls using our computer system.

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Detailed Inspection Reports

We are pleased to announce that we can now provide a more in-depth report directly onsite that includes a larger amount of photos using our Android Based Tablets.

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Thermal Imaging

Ingraffia Home Inspections is among a small exclusive group of home inspection companies whose inspectors are technically trained and certified to perform this powerful inspection service. Infrared thermal imaging or thermography is a state of the art home and building diagnostic tool capable of locating problems within the building envelope quickly and non-destructively.

Ingraffia Home Inspections uses FLIR thermal imaging cameras for all infrared assessments. FLIR is a leader in infrared technology, supplying the United States Government and industry world wide with infrared thermal imaging cameras.

To identify areas of energy waste infrared imaging has quickly become a valued tool in identifying problems related to energy loss, missing insulation, inefficient HVAC systems, radiant heating, water damage on roofs, and much more. A thermal imaging camera identifies patterns of heat loss that are invisible to the naked eye.

Detection and Visualization of Air Infiltration and Exfiltration:

Adequate air exchange is essential for the occupants’ health and safety, but most buildings have a far higher rate of air exchange than is necessary. The root cause is often poor design and/or construction which allows air leakage from the inside of outside of the building, or the opposite. The leakage pathway is often complex and, without thermal imaging, extremely difficult to visualize. This also allows us to quickly identify and note the problem areas.
Air Tightness
All new buildings must meet air tightness requirements of the Building Regulations. By reducing air leakage, you will obtain a better comfort in the building. The building can also be heated more efficiently to conserve energy and save money.

Thermal Imaging for Building Diagnostics

Building Diagnosis IR ImagePoor or inadequate insulation, moisture, building envelop leaks, and substandard work are costly to residential and commercial building owners. An infrared camera can help us quickly see where energy efficiency can be improved. The infrared image shows insulation issues on a house facade causing severe energy losses.

HVAC Plumbing IR

Thermal Imaging for HVAC & Plumbing

A “whole building” approach is needed to maximize energy efficiency of a building or a home. Indoor environment can be compromised by poor insulation, poorly sealed windows and doors, inadequate or poorly sealed ductwork, plumbing leaks, or other plumbing issues relating to Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems. In this image, an inspection of a ceiling heating system shows several hot spots.

Building Roofing Moisture IR

Thermal Imaging for Moisture & Restoration

From start to finish, our inspections can help you simplify your restoration and remediation jobs. An infrared inspection helps you pinpoint water intrusion, find moisture beneath the surface, and document dryness with accuracy and confidence. In this infrared image, the deteriorated areas of the roof are clearly shown at the time of inspection.

Ways to use Thermography

Infrared CameraInfrared cameras are being used in a variety of ways to detect problem areas in residential and commercial buildings.

Moisture intrusion and potential mold in walls and ceilings

IR thermal imaging is much faster, noninvasive, and provides evidentiary-quality, intuitively understandable data having a much higher degree of accuracy and reliability than other moisture detection technologies used to trace the source and scope of water damage, and thus potential mold in buildings. Once the IR camera identifies areas with thermal differences, a moisture meter can be used to confirm that they represent moisture.

Missing or damaged insulation

An IR camera can quickly and non-destructively detect areas of missing, moisture-laden or otherwise damaged insulation in walls, crawlspaces and attics or around doors, windows, electrical outlets and other access plates. All of these problems can increase a building’s energy costs by allowing cold air to enter the building and heated air to escape in the winter, and the reverse in the warmer, summer months. IR can also identify poorly or un-insulated pipes, another source of costly heat loss.

Faulty electrical mechanical and HVAC systems and components

Infrared cameras are very effective at detecting overloaded circuits, faulty wiring, and loose electrical connections, which generate heat, and can pose serious fire hazards. IR can detect thin spots in furnace heat exchangers and flues, mechanical problems such as worn, under-lubricated pumps, motors, and bearings in fans, compressors, and furnaces, electrical faults, refrigerant leaks and blockages in HVAC components, another source of costly energy waste.

Leaking roofs

Roof leaks can cause costly damage to a building’s contents and discomfort to its inhabitants. An infrared inspection can quickly identify missing or moisture-soaked insulation under a flat roof membrane where the insulation needs replacement, permitting the surgical repair of failed areas rather than the much more costly replacement of the entire roof.

Construction defects.

The increased use of EIFS (Exterior Insulation and Finish Systems) and stone, stucco, brick veneers and siding as facades on residential as well as commercial buildings invites the possibility of water intrusion if they are not properly installed. IR can detect or verify moisture infiltration in these weatherproofing ‘barrier’ systems, usually the result of insufficient detailing such as inadequate or improperly applied flashing or sealants. In addition, IR can monitor and track moisture migration paths within the wall cavity.

Post-fire inspections

After fires, IR can quickly locate remnant hot spots, assuring the fire is completely extinguished and provide invaluable data for insurance companies’ Cause and Origin investigations. The clear IR images of normally invisible diagnostic evidence can assist in the planning and execution of the restoration effort and in the settlement process.

Termites

Although considered cold-blooded creatures, termites are hosts to bacteria, which help break down and digest cellulose, the main ingredient of the wood they digest. The digestion process generates heat, and when large numbers of termites in nests congregate, a substantial amount of heat is concentrated in one area. As this heat moves through the walls or floor of a building, an IR camera can detect it on the surface.

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FHA Buyers

Learn how you can save $100.00 on your home inspection with the FHA Buyers Program. Click for more details

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Thermal Imaging

Ingraffia Home Inspections uses FLIR thermal imaging cameras for all infrared assessments. Find out more today.

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Preparation Checklist

While preparing for an inspection, use this checklist to make sure you have covered your bases.

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F.A.Q.’s

Check our list to see if we have answered any of the questions you may have about our services.

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Sample Report

View a sample report that Ingraffia Home Inspections provides their customers after an inspection.

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Welcome

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Whether you are a buyer, seller, or homeowner, Ingraffia Home Inspections goal is to exceed our clients expectations by providing you with a thorough and comprehensive property inspection.

We achieve our goals by placing our client’s interests first. We listen to their needs and thoroughly explain what is going on in the home. We have the experience and knowledge to know what we are talking about, and we document our findings with a professionally written and detailed inspection report. We at Ingraffia Home Inspections feel that we build more than clientele, we build relationships.

What We Do

Ingraffia Home Inspections is a locally owned home inspection company dedicated to quality professional home inspections in the areas of Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego and Riverside Counties. We have lived and worked in these areas for over 25 years and are familiar with many of its idiosyncrasies. Our inspectors are highly trained, taking at least 20 hours of continuing education annually and working with specialists in many of the trades.

We believe that the inspection process is an educational experience and not a checklist of items which are or are not operational at that moment in time. We strongly encourage our clients to be active participants in the inspection process. This gives us the opportunity to walk around the property and discuss not only the black and white, but the gray areas as well. In many cases, by the end of the inspection, you know more about the home than the current homeowner.