Still, nothing beats that musty smell test... just wish my nose was more reliable in allergy season.
Same here—my allergies make the “sniff test” pretty useless half the year. I tried borrowing a cheap thermal camera once and actually found a cold spot behind my bathroom vent. Saved me from ripping out a whole section, so I’d say it’s worth a shot if you’re on a budget.
- That “sniff test” is hit or miss for me too, especially with all the pollen lately.
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I tried borrowing a cheap thermal camera once and actually found a cold spot behind my bathroom vent.
I’ve seen those cameras pick up stuff you’d never notice otherwise, but sometimes they flag things that turn out to be nothing—false alarms can waste time.
- Curious if anyone’s had luck with moisture meters instead? I’ve used them on drywall, but not sure how reliable they are for roof leaks or attic spaces.
- Anyone ever get a weird reading and end up chasing a problem that wasn’t really there?
- Used a moisture meter on my attic beams last spring—readings were all over the place.
- Ended up pulling insulation for nothing, just condensation from a cold snap.
- Wish I’d trusted my gut instead of chasing numbers.
- Those gadgets are helpful, but not foolproof...
Wish I’d trusted my gut instead of chasing numbers.
- Seen this a lot with moisture meters—readings can jump all over if the probes hit sap pockets, nails, or even just denser grain.
- Condensation after a cold snap is classic, especially if the attic isn’t vented well or there’s a vapor barrier issue.
- Pulling insulation is a pain, but sometimes it’s the only way to be sure you’re not missing hidden mold.
Curious—did your inspection PDF mention any thermal imaging? Some of those sci-fi reports use IR cameras to spot cold spots or leaks, but I’ve found they can also flag “problems” that are just air movement or minor insulation gaps. Ever had an inspector push for more invasive work based on a flashy gadget reading? Sometimes feels like the tech is ahead of real-world usefulness...
Ever had an inspector push for more invasive work based on a flashy gadget reading? Sometimes feels like the tech is ahead of real-world usefulness...
Yeah, I totally get what you mean about the tech sometimes being more “show” than “go.” My inspection PDF had a bunch of thermal images with these wild color gradients, and the guy circled a few “cold spots” in red like it was a crime scene. But when I asked him if that actually meant there was a leak or just a draft, he kinda shrugged and said it “could be either.” Super helpful, right?
I’m all for using new tools, but it’s hard to know what’s actually worth worrying about. Like, my attic’s got some weird airflow because of how the vents are set up (old house, nothing’s square), so I’m not shocked there are cold patches. But then the report made it sound like I needed to rip out half the insulation just to be safe. That’s a big leap from a couple of blue blobs on a screen.
I did end up pulling back some insulation in one spot just to check—no mold, no moisture, just a drafty corner. Felt like overkill, but I guess better safe than sorry? Still, I wonder how many people end up paying for repairs they don’t really need just because the report looks scary.
Has anyone actually found something serious thanks to those IR scans? Or is it mostly just peace of mind (or maybe paranoia)? I’m trying to figure out if I should trust the gadgets or just stick with old-school common sense.
