Thermal imaging can definitely be a double-edged sword. I've had similar experiences—spent hours chasing down what I was convinced was moisture intrusion, only to realize later it was just residual heat from a dryer vent running through the attic space. It's easy to get caught up in the tech and forget to cross-reference with simpler methods like moisture meters or even just visual inspection.
Speaking of insulation gaps, did your inspection report mention anything about uneven insulation distribution? I've noticed that sometimes thermal scans pick up subtle temperature variations that aren't necessarily problematic but can indicate areas where insulation has settled or shifted over time. Might be worth checking out if you're looking to optimize energy efficiency...though admittedly, sometimes these things are more theoretical than practical.
The insulation thing is spot-on. My inspection flagged a couple spots where insulation had shifted, creating minor cold spots. Nothing major, but enough to notice on the thermal scan. I ended up climbing into the attic and fluffing it back into place—honestly took less than an hour and made a noticeable difference in room comfort. Definitely worth checking out if you're already poking around up there anyway...
Good call on the insulation, but honestly, fluffing it back into place is usually just a temporary fix. I've seen plenty of attics where the insulation shifts again after a season or two. Might wanna keep an eye on it...
"I've seen plenty of attics where the insulation shifts again after a season or two. Might wanna keep an eye on it..."
Yeah, that's pretty spot-on. Last summer, I helped redo my uncle's attic insulation—it was a total mess up there. We thought fluffing it back into place would do the trick too, but after just one winter, it was like we hadn't even touched it. Wind drafts and temperature changes just shifted everything around again.
Ended up going back in and stapling down some insulation batts to keep things from moving around so much. Not exactly fun crawling around in a hot attic twice, but it seems to have done the job... at least for now. So yeah, I'd definitely keep tabs on yours. If you notice any cold spots or drafts next winter, you might have to bite the bullet and secure things better.
Good luck with it though—attics can be a pain, but it's worth it if you can avoid bigger issues later on.
Had a similar issue at one of the properties I manage. We tried fluffing it up too, thinking it'd hold, but nope—next inspection showed insulation had shifted all over again. Ended up going with blown-in cellulose instead. Bit pricier upfront, but honestly worth it to avoid crawling back up there every year... Attics are tricky, but sometimes spending a bit more saves you headaches down the road.
