Thermal Imaging Made Simple
Most, if not all, of us have seen videos of night time vision goggles the military uses or that the police use when tracking down a criminal on the run. In the restoration business we use thermal imaging as well.
This technology detects radiation or differences in temperature that is emitted by an object. Warm objects will appear white (or red if using a color camera) while cooler objects will appear black (or blue). In the restoration industry if a material has absorbed water the materials surface will appear dark. If a material has a normal moisture content than the material will have a gray or lighter color than the wet material next to it. The cool surface appears dark due to the rate of evaporation, much like getting out of a pool or a shower – you feel cooler due to the water evaporating off your skin.
IMPORTANT: Remember, a thermal imaging camera does NOT tell you if a material is wet – only if there is a difference in temperature. You must use a penetrating or non-penetrating meter to verify if the material has excessive moisture content or if it is dry.