A leaking basement exposes you to several risks and problems. First and foremost, you face the imminent danger of a basement flood and secondly, moisture encourages the growth of mold which could be a problem to your household’s health. Prospective homeowners are discouraged against purchasing properties which have leaking basements and especially if they are not ready to remodel immediately after the purchase.  Thermal imaging is a procedure under home inspection which lets you know if a basement of a property you intend to buy leaks.

How Thermal Imaging is Done

Thermal imaging relies heavily on infrared technology. After completing the necessary arrangements, a home inspector will be dispatched to the property you intend to purchase with moisture detection equipment. Using an infrared imaging device, they are able to pinpoint areas on the floor and walls where moisture leaks through.

Why the emphasis on thermal imaging?

Sometimes stains on the walls and on the carpet indicate wet areas or areas which have been wet before. Although it would be very easy to conclude that a basement has moisture problems if it has these stains, it is not possible to know determine the extent of damage. Besides, not all leaking basements have stains on the walls. This implies that if a home inspector used their naked eye to make conclusions, they could end up misleading you into purchasing a property which will later frustrate you.

What do you do if the basement of a property you really like has moisture problems?

Most prospective homebuyers face a disturbing dilemma when they realize that a property they really wanted to buy has the dreaded problem. In most cases and especially where the leaks have not formed stains on the carpet or wall yet, the seller will also be shocked. As the buyer, you can negotiate and have the seller lower his or her price so that you will have money left over in your budget for the repair. Alternatively and though it will rarely turn out this way, the seller can cater for repair out of their own pockets and stick to their asking price.