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Infrared Thermography in Inspections in Fort Myers Homes
When most homeowners hear “electrical inspection,” they picture someone opening a panel, checking outlets, and flipping breakers. What they don’t realize is that some of the most dangerous electrical problems can’t be seen with the naked eye. They’re hiding behind walls, inside panels, or in conduits — and they only show up as heat.
That’s where infrared thermography comes in.
At Coharbor Electric, we use infrared imaging on many of our inspections across Fort Myers — especially when we’re checking older homes, large waterfront properties, or buildings that have seen multiple remodels over the years. It’s one of the most powerful tools for finding hidden issues before they become a major safety risk or expensive repair.
And the best part? It’s non-invasive. No drywall cutting, no guesswork — just real, visible proof of what’s happening behind the surface.
Infrared thermography uses a thermal imaging camera to detect heat patterns that the human eye can’t see. Every electrical component — from breakers to wiring — gives off a small amount of heat when electricity flows through it.
But when something’s loose, overloaded, or failing, that heat rises quickly. A camera picks it up as a bright “hot spot,” even before it smokes or trips a breaker.
It’s basically an early-warning system for your electrical system.
The technology works on the same principle firefighters use to find hidden hot spots or energy auditors use to locate insulation leaks — except we’re focusing on electrical loads and connections.
Fort Myers homes have their own set of challenges: humidity, salt air, and older construction. Many homes here have electrical systems that have been expanded or pieced together over the years — additions, remodels, or DIY “fixes” that look fine on the surface but don’t always meet code.
Infrared thermography helps us see through all that.
Here’s what it helps us find most often:
Loose breaker connections that create resistance and heat up.
Overloaded circuits where too many devices are drawing current.
Unbalanced phases in multi-wire branch circuits.
Failing breakers or disconnects that are cooking internally.
Hot outlets or switches that signal deteriorating wiring.
Hidden moisture issues (yes, it picks those up too).
The Florida heat doesn’t help either. Electrical systems already run warm, and when you add high humidity, corrosion, and load spikes during hurricane season, those weak spots show up fast.
When we do a thermal scan, we don’t just point a camera and snap a few pictures. There’s a process behind it.
Here’s how we typically do it on a Fort Myers home:
Power Analysis
We start by taking load readings — checking how much power’s flowing through the system while the home’s operating normally. We might ask the homeowner to run appliances, AC, and lights like they usually would.
Panel Inspection
Then we remove the dead front from the electrical panel and scan each breaker, bus bar, and lug. The camera instantly highlights any areas that are hotter than normal.
We’re not looking for absolute temperature — we’re looking for differences. If one breaker’s running at 95°F and the one next to it is 140°F under the same load, something’s not right.
Branch Circuits & Devices
We’ll walk the home and scan outlets, switches, and junction boxes. Sometimes you’ll see a single outlet glowing bright orange on the thermal camera — that’s a loose neutral or worn connection heating up from the inside.
Equipment & Appliances
If a home has pool equipment, well pumps, or EV chargers, we’ll check those too. Overheating conductors or terminals are common in outdoor setups, especially near salt air.
Documentation
Every scan produces a thermal image and a visible image side-by-side. We include those in our inspection report so homeowners can see exactly what we saw — no technical guesswork.
Diagnosis & Solutions
Finally, we break down what needs to be fixed right away (like a burning breaker) versus what’s just trending warm and worth keeping an eye on.
When we talk about hot spots, we’re not just talking about a little extra warmth. A 10- or 20-degree difference in a breaker or lug can be the first sign of a loose connection or overloaded circuit.
If left alone, that heat keeps building — insulation breaks down, metal expands, and pretty soon you’ve got arcing or even a fire hazard.
That’s why infrared inspections are so valuable: they catch the problem when it’s quiet, before it burns, pops, or trips.
We had one case in south Fort Myers where a homeowner’s main disconnect looked fine to the eye. But the thermal camera showed one lug glowing at nearly 180°F. We opened it up and found a corroded neutral that was seconds from failing. A 15-minute repair probably saved that homeowner thousands — not to mention a potential fire.
We recommend adding thermography any time we do:
A pre-sale or pre-listing electrical inspection
A home purchase inspection for older properties
Annual maintenance on large homes or waterfront properties
Commercial or multi-unit electrical systems
Generator and transfer switch testing
After major storm seasons or lightning strikes nearby
Think of it like preventative maintenance — same as checking your AC coils or roof seals. It’s one of the easiest ways to catch an electrical failure before it happens.
We’ve found that most homeowners appreciate infrared thermography because it’s visual. You don’t have to take our word for it — you can literally see the problem in color.
The camera shows:
Blue and green = cool, safe
Yellow and orange = heating up
Red or white = too hot, potential failure
We show you side-by-side photos in your report, so you know exactly where and why we recommend a fix. No scare tactics, just facts.
One of our recent jobs was a 1980s home near the Caloosahatchee River. The owner had just installed new kitchen appliances and noticed lights dimming when everything was running.
We scanned the panel and found one breaker connection hitting 155°F, even under a moderate load. The neutral lug had corrosion inside, causing resistance. The homeowner never would’ve seen it — no smell, no flickering, nothing.
We tightened and cleaned the connection, replaced the affected breaker, and ran a follow-up scan. Temperature dropped to 96°F, right in the normal range. Problem solved, and the homeowner got peace of mind with proof in the report.
Detects problems before failure
Non-invasive (no wall damage or disassembly)
Speeds up troubleshooting
Prevents electrical fires
Helps avoid costly repairs
Creates a visual record for insurance or resale
It’s especially useful in Southwest Florida, where constant humidity, corrosion, and lightning make electrical systems work harder than they do up north.
Infrared thermography isn’t a gimmick — it’s one of the smartest safety tools we have in the trade. It turns invisible risks into visible data, and it lets us fix small problems before they turn into major ones.
If your home’s older, has had multiple remodels, or you just want peace of mind heading into hurricane season, it’s worth scheduling a thermal inspection.
👉 Call Coharbor Electric today to book your infrared thermography inspection. We’ll scan your panels, outlets, and major circuits, give you a clear report of what’s running hot, and help you make your Fort Myers home safer — without the guesswork.
We make electrical inspections simple, visual, and built for Florida homes that face real-world wear and tear — the right way, every time.
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At Coharbor Electric, this is what to expect when entrusting us with fixing your electrical issues.
The first step is to get all the information we will need so that we can correctly assess the problem or situation. The photos or videos you send will be sent directly to the electrician.
Once our electrician has the info he needs, we will dispatch one in the next available spot–armed with expertise, equipment, and the parts he’ll most likely need.
Our Promise is to to You is to perform the job completely, efficiently, and to the Florida electrical code standards. We are committed to fair and honest pricing.
We offer flat rate pricing for service calls, so you always know the price up front. Simple to understand. Flat-rate fixed price so you can be confident you’ll get what paid for.
As a Florida homeowner, you have an endless list of choices for electrical contractors to hire…some great, some good, some bad.
At Coharbor Electric, our benchmark is to be “great”. If you decide to hire us for your electrical service, here’s what you can expect from our electricians:
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