Real Cases — What Thermal Imaging Has Actually Revealed. Case Study 2: Intermittent Leaks — The Ones That Come and Go

These are some of the most difficult cases to deal with.

Not because they’re severe — but because they’re inconsistent.

The pattern

Everything looks fine… until it doesn’t.

A bit of moisture. Then nothing. Then it comes back again.

Weeks go by with no issue, then it reappears.

Why this happens

Leaks don’t always behave the same way every day.

They can depend on:

• weather conditions

• wind direction

• pressure

• how the building is used

So the issue only presents when the right combination lines up.

Why they get missed

Because they’re not reliable.

You can inspect at the wrong time and see nothing.

And if there’s no visible evidence, there’s nothing to report.

Where thermal imaging fits

When the conditions are right, these leaks often leave subtle patterns.

Not always — but sometimes just enough to narrow things down.

The key is catching it at the right moment.

What makes these cases frustrating

They can go on for years.

Not severe enough to force action, but persistent enough to cause ongoing damage.