Winter is here again, and the risks of winter water damage are many. In the northernmost parts of the United States, where the weather is cool or cold year-round, most buildings are carefully prepared for winter conditions with insulated pipework and other precautions. However, in areas where temperatures tend to fluctuate, the risk of moisture intrusion due to snowmelt, burst pipes, or even collapsing roofs requires frequent building inspections to ensure moisture is kept outside.
Whether you're doing a residential or commercial building inspection, there are a few things you may need to prepare before you go in for the winter inspection.
Building Inspection Item 1: Protective Clothing
One of the most basic things to prepare for any building inspection is protective clothing such as gloves, boots, pants, long-sleeved shirts, goggles, and headgear. Even if you're inside a building, it's important to cover as much of your skin as possible because you'll need to check the insulation.
Fiberglass is a popular insulation material, but it's also a skin and eye irritant that can cause lasting damage. By taking cover during a commercial building or home inspection, you can avoid potential injury.
When checking exterior walls and foundations for potential sources of moisture intrusion, it may be helpful to wear at least two layers of clothing in case of super cold. Thick, non-slip boots also help to check the roof to help prevent slip and fall accidents. According to data cited by OSHA, “an average of 40 workers die each year from falls on residential roofs.”
Building Inspection Item 2: Light Source
During a home or commercial building inspection, you may come across areas of the building that are poorly lit. This is more common when inspecting unoccupied properties that haven't been maintained in a while. Because of this, it's important to carry some kind of light source, such as a flashlight or lamp, that can provide bright, steady light when you need it.
This helps to improve safety during building inspections by increasing visibility, thereby reducing the risk of slip and fall accidents. Even in well-lit and well-maintained structures, there may be enclosed spaces that cannot be reached by ordinary light.
Building Inspection Item 3: Cameras
During a home or commercial building inspection, it may be necessary to document any damage that occurs for insurance purposes. Here, taking photos or videos of the damage with a camera is very useful.
Thankfully, smartphones have built-in cameras that can take pictures and even send them to insurance companies. In fact, some insurance companies are now making smartphone apps that allow users to take pictures and upload reports within the app.
If shooting video, it can help to take some verbal instructions to refer to later. For example, you can note the size of a hole or where you think the source of moisture intrusion is.
Building Inspection Item 4: Hygrometer
One of the main goals of any commercial building or home inspection is to verify that the structure has not suffered moisture damage. For this moisture test, you'll need a Moisture Meter on hand.
Using a Moisture Meter, you can track the point of origin of leaks in your structure and determine how different building materials are affected by humidity. The first capability could be used to repair problems that cause moisture intrusion before the structure deteriorates. The second method is useful for drying/tearing operations and documenting the severity of moisture problems.
The process for tracking leaks during a home or commercial building inspection varies depending on the type of material being tested. For example, when tracking leaks in drywall, brick, or plaster, the process usually involves a pin-type Moisture Meter, some ductile wire, and at least one nail:
Set the hygrometer to reference scale mode.
Put nails in masonry that you know is damp.
Attach the extension cord to the nail.
Connect the other end of the wire to one of the prongs on the hygrometer.
Insert another pin into a different part of the wall where you think the leak might originate. If the meter gives a "wet" response, the wall was wet between the two contact points. If the meter gives a "dry" response, the point being tested may not be in the path of the leak.
Repeat the test until you have determined the size of the wet area.
Building Inspection Item 5: Hygrometer Electrode
Pins The pins on top of hygrometers are rarely long enough to provide a reliable moisture test in the insulation. To dig into the fiberglass insulation and make sure it's moisture free requires an extra long Moisture Meter electrode/probe.
When testing insulation with a moisture probe, testing the insulation from multiple angles can help ensure moisture pockets are not lost.
Some hygrometer electrodes are specifically designed to penetrate drywall to test the insulation behind the drywall, which is useful for moisture testing in residential structures where tearing through the wall may not be desirable.
