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Revealing the invisible
Reliable detection of moisture and water damage in buildings.
With thermal imagers from Testo.
The existence of moisture and water penetration in buildings has far-reaching effects on their value, structure and the health of their occupants. Particularly in times of more extreme weather events such as heavy rain or storms, this problem can become even worse. In this context, infrared thermography is proving to be a valuable tool for building inspectors and renovation specialists to help them identify and resolve damp problems from a variety of sources (see right).
Not every case of moisture in walls is due to a burst pipe. Damp walls and ceilings can also be caused by water penetration (e.g. leaking roofs) or rising damp. Damp damage can also be caused by blocked drains or inadequate drainage.
Using thermal imagers from Testo allows you to reliably identify the cause of rising damp or rainwater ingress, before these problems result in any serious damage.
Ground moisture (groundwater)
Ground moisture (pressure)
Seepage water
Driving rain
Heavy rain
Damage to the roof
Defective guttering
Examples of moisture and water damage
Water intrusion
Roof leakage
Rising damp
What should I look out for when choosing the right thermal imager?
High thermal sensitivity (NETD) for detecting the slightest differences
Precision-adjustable temperature interval (span) for higher-contrast imaging
High infrared resolution for optimal image quality
Our recommendation: testo 883-1
Very good NETD of 40 mK
Temperature interval adjustable up to 1 K
IR resolution of 320 x 240 pixels
(with SuperResolution 640 x 480 pixels)
Wide-angle lens for large field of view in confined spaces
Manual focus for sharp thermal images
Using thermography to identify damage caused by penetrating water and rising damp
To analyse thermal images of water and moisture damage, you need a high-resolution camera with high thermal sensitivity (NETD) and a finely adjustable temperature interval.
Only inspect possible external damage in dry and calm weather. For flat roofs, take the photos in the evening when the damp areas have warmed up in the sun.
Especially in the case of damage caused by rising damp, reduce the temperature interval (span) to see the difference between dry or warmer and damp or colder material. Also use moisture meters for support.
Compare and document the thermal and visual images. Analyse the thermal images using software and create a report with causes and solutions.
Measure the drying progress after the renovation.
Find the right thermal imager for every requirement
At Testo, you’ll also find the ideal humidity measuring instrument for your multi-point measurements