Oct 17 2005
In the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, franchisees of HomeSafe Inspection (http://www.HomeSafeInspection.com), the nation's leader in home inspection and pest control inspection technologies, are using high-powered, customized infrared cameras to assess water damage and mold risks in homes along the battered Gulf Coast.
"Hurricanes deliver massive amounts of moisture, and moisture is a house's worst enemy," said Corey Fritts, owner of New Orleans' HomeSafe franchise. "For houses that survived the storms, the problems may be just beginning if they sustained a lot of water intrusion."
Moisture can damage roofs, ceilings, floors and structural components as well as electrical wiring, appliances and furniture. It also leads to mold growth, a potential health hazard that can make a home uninhabitable.
"Infrared scanning is ideal for uncovering hidden moisture," Fritts said. "This moisture, left undetected, may cause serious problems down the line. It's crucial to find it now rather than later."
Fritts said New Orleans homeowners are also rightly concerned about mold growth. "I'm finding a lot of mold. It's going to be a common problem here. Infrared allows us to quickly track mold to its source for more effective remediation."
HomeSafe president Kevin Seddon said Gulf Coast franchisees - including those in Biloxi/Gulfport, Miss., Mobile, Ala. and the Florida Panhandle - have stayed busy doing water intrusion inspections after the hurricanes. Along with home inspections for real estate transactions, HomeSafe also offers the Home Protection Plan, a package of year-round services to protect homeowners and their families against accidents and health risks in the home and to uncover maintenance problems before they become serious.
"With the Home Protection Plan, our customers get a full-scale home inspection annually, plus inspections for child safety, senior adult safety, fire and mold," Seddon said. "We also perform emergency component inspections for no added charge. Our Gulf Coast clients are relieved to have HomeSafe at a time like this, and we're happy to be able to help them."
With franchises and licensees in nearly 20 states, HomeSafe, headquartered in Oxford, Miss., pioneered the use of infrared technology in home inspections.