If you are looking to buy your first home, there is a lot to learn. Unfortunately, the less you know, the better the likelihood is that you will end up with a house that is far short of what you thought was your dream home. This is common among first-time buyers. Some of this can relate to the financing of the home, but more often than not, it is related to problems with the house. After you purchase the house, you begin to find issues that turn into costly repairs. One of the best ways to reduce the chances of this happening is with infrared home inspections. This technology records temperature differences that can often spot problems with the house. The following are a few of these problems.

An infrared inspection can often find roof damage

An inspector can take an infrared camera to the attic and examine the underside of the roof. It is quite possible that there is evidence of leaking in one or more areas of the roof. To the naked eye, this may not be apparent, but the temperature differences will clearly show up on infrared images and indicate if there has been leaking. It may mean a major repair or only a small repair. But even a small amount of damage can become a disaster during the first heavy, rain storm and create a large repair bill.

An infrared inspection can often spot faulty wiring

Bad wiring can lead to electrical fires, but in many cases, it can lead to a massive electrical bill when you find that a large portion of the house needs to be rewired. This is especially true for older houses. But infrared can see the temperature differences in the wiring and the connections. Wires that are running hot may have insulation that has deteriorated over time and need to be replaced.

An infrared inspection can often spot structural problems

Leaks in the foundation can create a variety of problems over time, and most of them will be expensive. Having a technician take infrared images of the basement can reveal cooler spots where water may be entering during the rain season. This can lead to flooding in the basement, and in the worst case, long-term damage to the house's foundation.

Home inspections are routine in the real estate market, but the truth is that even the most experienced home inspectors can miss big problems in a house. This is due to the limits of visual examination. Infrared technology uses cameras that see heat discrepancies. This, combined with an experienced technician, can spot problems, even severe problems, with a roof, basement, electrical wiring and other issues. Knowing this can prevent you from buying a nightmare home.