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More sales? Greater productivity? Bigger jobs? More profit? Better company image? Protection against law suits?
You have no doubt heard about the state of the art technology for finding and documenting moisture. I’m talking about the thermal imaging system cameras, the infrared cameras. Why are you hearing so much about it now? Is it new? Although this technology has been around for awhile and has been very impressive, it has not been affordable for most industries. However, we are happy to say that, not only have the products improved, but they have come down considerably in price. Almost everyone in business can now afford to buy or lease this invaluable tool.
Perhaps you have questions like:
Question #1:
Let’s start with the first question: How can this technology improve my profits and my position in the industry?
- Greater productivity: Time is money. To save time is to save money, wouldn’t you agree. For instance, how long would it take you, using a moisture meter, to check every square foot of a house, or an apartment, or a business office for moisture? The infrared camera enables you to thoroughly scan a room in a matter of minutes and document areas of potential moisture. Imagine how productive you can be and imagine the money you can save when you save hours of labor.
- More profit: Have you ever lost money due to a claim that you used the equipment too long? That really cuts into your profits. A daily thermal image scan of the affected area is excellent for documenting the dry down process and thereby justifying the usage of equipment.
- Protect yourself against claims: Two years after your dry down the customer comes back with a lawyer. Why? They have a mold claim. You must have failed to complete the dry down. With an infrared camera you can show documentation that you finished the job. Case closed!
- Better company image, more sales: Do you want more business? State of the art technology often swings the job opportunities in the direction of those with the technology, thus increasing business and profits. Positioning yourself with this technology clearly sends a message that you are the professional and gives the customer the necessary comfort level that you know what you are doing.
- Bigger jobs, more sales: Have you ever turned down a job because it was too big for you to be competitive? The infrared camera allows you to quickly and accurately find and monitor moisture issues. The key to doing large jobs is “quickly and accurately”.
- Expand your product offering, increase your profits: A new profit center can be established by adding an “Infrared Inspection Service” to your product offering. Notice this quote from the U.S. Department of Energy brief: “In addition to using thermography during an energy audit, you should have a scan done before purchasing a house; even new houses can have defects in their thermal envelopes. You may wish to include a clause in the contract requiring a thermographic scan of the house.” “The cost of a thermographic inspection ranges from $200 to $500, depending on the size of your home and the services provided.” Such an inspection can be of great benefit to the potential buyer, plus it places you in a position to find more business opportunities for water damage / mold remediation.
Question #2:
Let’s now address question #2: “Which camera should I invest in?
- Due to our reputation in training and consulting in the field of water damage restoration / mold remediation, Restoration Consultants was approached by different manufacturers of infrared cameras asking us to sell/distribute for them. Of course we want to represent the best camera for our industry that we can. After comparing the features of many cameras we aligned ourselves with Infrared Solutions, Inc. This company was formed in 1994 by former scientists and engineers from Honeywell. Honeywell was instrumental in the development of this technology for the military. Recently the most reputable provider of test instruments, FLUKE, made an offer to ISI that they couldn’t turn down. So, FLUKE now owns Infrared Solutions Inc. What was great is now even greater.
- Cameras vary in features. Some cameras are radiometric; some are non radiometric. In other words, some measure temperature and some do not. Some cameras display the image in gray scale; some display the image in color. Some cameras store the images inside the camera; some store the images on flash cards, the type used in digital cameras. Some cameras display the images on LCD screens visible to both you and your customer at the same time. The size of the LCD screen varies. Some cameras require looking through an eyepiece to see the image. There are many other features to consider.
- Let’s talk about radiometric verses non radiometric. A camera that measures temperatures is preferred by most because of being able to determine the temperature of the target surface. Why is that helpful? For one thing you can determine areas that are subject to condensation. For instance, with some radiometric cameras you can choose the range of temperatures to display. Anything below that range will show up as a pre-selected saturated color. For example, if the dew point is 48 degrees F, you can set the low end of the temperature range to 48 degrees F. Any surface that has a temperature at or below 48 degrees will have condensation and is quickly evident by the saturated color. Imagine the advantages of that. With radiometric cameras you can also monitor temperatures during the dry down process.
- And the latest development is a camera that captures both the infrared and visible light images.
- Since camera models vary so much in features, it would be best to call Rod Hoff at Restoration Consultants for a full discussion of camera features. It’s important to make sure you are getting the right camera for the job.
Question #3:
How much do they cost? Should I purchase or lease the camera?”
- In business, it’s not what it cost… it’s what it makes. If it cost $1.00 and only makes you $.50 then it is a poor investment. If it cost you $100,000 and makes you $200,000 then it is a good investment. Not too many years ago infrared cameras cost over $200,000. Not only have they have improved, but the cost has come down significantly. Call Rod Hoff at Restoration Consultants for a current price list. On a 60 month lease an excellent camera will cost around $10.00 a day. If you seriously cannot save or make an extra $10.00 a day with a thermal imaging system then you probably shouldn’t add this equipment to your business. On the other hand, ask yourself this question: Can I really afford not to have this technology? Will I lose more than $10.00 a day by not having it? Some feel that the most expensive thing you can do is not to have an infrared camera.
- Should I purchase or lease the camera? Most purchase the camera outright or get a bank loan that can be paid off early without penalty. Some are leasing the cameras so that they can conserve their cash. Really, it’s a personal business decision.
Question #4:
Do I need special training?
And if so, who will train me to use the camera specifically in the water damage / mold remediation business?
- YES, YES, YES! Training is a must!. Why? The way we see things with our eyes is different than the way the infrared camera sees things. A thermographer is one who is qualified to collect and interpret infrared images. Without training you can make some pretty expensive mistakes.
- Who will train me? Restoration Consultants has carefully and thoughtfully developed a two day training course to meet the needs of the water damage / mold remediation industry. Although we briefly cover some electrical, mechanical and roof inspection principles, the focus of the course is on the physics of infrared and its specific application to our industry. Those who complete the two day course receive a certificate of completion which can be used to demonstrate their professional status in thermography.
Question #5:
How can I get $1400.00 discount on training?
- When you purchase your camera from Restoration Consultants you can register up to two people at $95.00 each. That’s a $1400.00 savings.
Question #6:
What do I do to get started making money?
- Call Rod Hoff at Restoration Consultants to address any questions or concerns.
- Carefully determine which camera best fits your needs. Decide whether you want to purchase or lease your camera. Place your order by either filling out the Order form or Lease application form and faxing it to Restoration Consultants 916-736-1134.
- The next step is to make arrangements to attend the next “Applied Thermography” class. Once you receive your camera you will want to take as many pictures as possible and practice your interpretation skills. Those skills will improve rapidly with practice. And remember, we are always here to help you with your questions.
Do you have a question for InfraRod’s Corner?
Send us your question.
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