Macdougall Services LTD

Macdougall Services LTD Property maintenance, caretaking,asset oversight and
Building Performance Diagnostics

Thermal Imaging • Moisture • Airflow Analysis

Basic electrical work, such as outlet and light fixture installations are also in our ballpark. Our services are not limited to the indoors, as we also offer snow removal, lawn maintenance, and building or maintaining fences.

Welcome back to Homeowner Tip Saturday.Take a look underneath your bathroom sink.Most plumbing leaks don’t start as majo...
06/06/2026

Welcome back to Homeowner Tip Saturday.

Take a look underneath your bathroom sink.

Most plumbing leaks don’t start as major floods.

They often begin as small drips from supply lines, drain connections, or shut-off valves that go unnoticed for weeks, months, or even years.

Over time, even minor leaks can lead to:

• Water staining
• Swollen cabinet materials
• Elevated moisture levels
• Mold growth
• Costly repairs

In the photo below, you can already see some staining around the drain area. It may be old, it may be active, but it’s a clue worth paying attention to.

That’s one of the fundamentals of building diagnostics:

Buildings often give us warning signs before major problems develop.

A quick inspection under your sink only takes a minute and could help you catch a problem before it becomes an expensive repair.

Open the cabinet under your bathroom sink today.

Do you see any staining, swelling, corrosion, musty odors, or signs of moisture?

Let us know what you find.

Welcome back to Field Note Friday.Today we’re looking at a real-world moisture investigation.Visible damage gives us clu...
06/05/2026

Welcome back to Field Note Friday.

Today we’re looking at a real-world moisture investigation.

Visible damage gives us clues, but diagnostics helps determine whether a problem is active, historical, or something else entirely.

in diagnostics, we always ask the question:

What is the building trying to tell us?

Using a moisture meter, elevated moisture levels were confirmed within the wall assembly.

When investigating moisture issues, we look for clues such as:

Moisture meter readings
Visible staining or deterioration
layout and construction details
Temperature and humidity conditions
Possible water pathways

The goal is not just to repair what we can see.

The goal is to understand why it happened in the first place.

That’s the difference between repairing damage and diagnosing a building.

Question of the Day:

Have you ever discovered a problem in your home that turned out to be caused by something completely different than you expected?

Welcome back to Thermal Thursday. Today we’re learning an important lesson, Can Thermal Imaging See Water Leaks?The answ...
06/04/2026

Welcome back to Thermal Thursday.

Today we’re learning an important lesson,
Can Thermal Imaging See Water Leaks?

The answer might surprise you.

Short answer:

No.

Thermal cameras do not actually see water.

They do not see mold.

They do not see moisture.

What they see are temperature differences.

In these photos, the thermal image revealed a cooler area near the wall and baseboard that wasn’t obvious in the visual image.

Further investigation found that there had been a water leak in this location.

The thermal camera didn’t identify the leak by itself.

What it did do was point to an area that deserved a closer look.

That’s an important distinction because cooler areas can be caused by many different factors, including:

• Water intrusion
• Air leakage
• Thermal bridging
• Missing insulation
• Normal building characteristics

This is why professional diagnostics combines:
Visual inspection
Thermal imaging
Moisture measurements
Building science knowledge

No single tool provides all the answers.

Thermal imaging helps us find clues.

The diagnosis comes from putting those clues together.

Here with MacDougall Diagnostics, we aren’t into taking cool thermal pictures, it’s to understand what the building is telling us.

Before reading this post, did you think a thermal camera could actually see water leaks?

Welcome back to myth busting WednesdaysTodays Myth:“Once the drywall is up, the house is basically finished.”Looking at ...
06/03/2026

Welcome back to myth busting Wednesdays
Todays Myth:

“Once the drywall is up, the house is basically finished.”

Looking at a framed home like this, it’s easy to focus on what will eventually become bedrooms, hallways, and living spaces.

But some of the most important parts of a home’s performance are hidden behind the walls.

Inside these cavities are the systems that control:

• airflow
• moisture movement
• heat loss and heat gain
• ventilation
• indoor comfort

The finished paint, flooring, and cabinets are what we see.

The building envelope and mechanical systems are what determine how the home actually performs.

That’s why two homes that look identical on the outside can behave very differently over time.

Building science isn’t about appearances.

It’s about understanding what is happening behind the walls.

A building’s performance is decided long before the paint goes on.

Have you ever seen the inside of a house before drywall was installed?

Welcome back to airflow Tuesday, today we are askingCan Your Bathroom Fan Breathe?At first glance, this bathroom exhaust...
06/02/2026

Welcome back to airflow Tuesday, today we are asking

Can Your Bathroom Fan Breathe?

At first glance, this bathroom exhaust fan doesn’t look like much.

But look closely at the edges of the grille and you’ll see years of dust buildup restricting airflow.

Bathroom fans have one important job:

Remove moisture from the home.

When airflow drops, moisture can linger longer on:

• mirrors
• walls
• ceilings
• windows
• grout and caulking

Over time, excess moisture can contribute to staining, condensation, and even mold growth.

One of the simplest maintenance tasks homeowners can do is remove the fan cover and give it a thorough cleaning.

A clean fan doesn’t just look better, it can perform significantly better.

Quick homeowner challenge:

Take a look at your bathroom fan today.

Can you see dust buildup around the grille?

You might be surprised.

When was the last time you cleaned your bathroom fan?

Welcome back to Building Behavior Monday! Today we are learning: Why does this crack keep coming back?Many homeowners re...
06/02/2026

Welcome back to Building Behavior Monday! Today we are learning:

Why does this crack keep coming back?

Many homeowners repair a small crack at the wall-to-ceiling joint only to see it return months later.

In some homes, this can be caused by a phenomenon called truss uplift.

During winter, roof trusses can react differently to temperature and moisture changes than the interior walls below them. As the truss moves slightly upward, the ceiling can separate from the wall, creating a visible crack or gap.

It can look alarming, but in many cases it is a normal building movement issue rather than a structural failure.

Common signs include:

• cracks where walls meet ceilings
• seasonal gaps that appear and disappear
• recurring drywall repairs in the same location
• no other signs of structural distress

However, not every wall-to-ceiling crack is truss uplift.

Proper diagnosis requires looking at the location, seasonal behavior, building design, construction details, and other clues before determining the cause.

That’s why understanding building behavior is so important. Buildings are constantly moving and responding to temperature, humidity, and environmental conditions.

Understanding that movement helps distinguish normal building behavior from issues that may require further investigation.

Have you ever repaired a crack only to have it come back the next year?

Welcome back to behind the scenes Sunday. One of the tools I use during diagnostics is an anemometer.This tool measures ...
05/31/2026

Welcome back to behind the scenes Sunday.

One of the tools I use during diagnostics is an anemometer.

This tool measures air velocity at supply and exhaust vents.

Why does that matter?

Airflow affects:
• room comfort
• ventilation
• temperature balance
• indoor air quality

Sometimes a room feels too warm, too cold, or stuffy even when the HVAC system appears to be operating normally.

Measuring airflow helps determine whether air is actually reaching the areas it’s supposed to.

Building diagnostics isn’t usually about one big clue.

It’s about collecting measurements, understanding building behavior, and putting the pieces together.

This is one of the tools that helps tell that story.

Welcome to homeowner tip Saturday.Should be fun A simple maintenance item that often gets overlooked:Your furnace filter...
05/30/2026

Welcome to homeowner tip Saturday.
Should be fun

A simple maintenance item that often gets overlooked:

Your furnace filter.

In this photo, the filter on the left is new.

The filter on the right has been doing its job by collecting dust, dirt, and airborne particles moving through the HVAC system.

Over time, a dirty filter can:
• reduce airflow
• make the furnace work harder
• increase energy consumption
• affect comfort throughout the home

One of the easiest maintenance checks homeowners can perform is inspecting their furnace filter regularly and replacing it when needed.

A clean filter helps support proper airflow and allows the heating and cooling system to operate as intended.

Sometimes the simplest maintenance tasks can make the biggest difference.

Welcome to field note Fridays.Preparing for an inspection This is a typical portion of the equipment I bring when invest...
05/29/2026

Welcome to field note Fridays.

Preparing for an inspection

This is a typical portion of the equipment I bring when investigating building performance concerns.

Every tool helps tell part of the story:
• thermal imaging
• moisture detection
• airflow measurement
• humidity and temperature readings
• visual inspection and documentation

No single tool gives all the answers.

Good diagnostics is about combining observations, measurements, and building behavior together to understand what’s actually happening inside a structure.

A lot of building issues can look similar on the surface:
• condensation
• drafts
• uneven temperatures
• moisture staining
• odors
• comfort complaints

The goal isn’t just to find symptoms.

It’s to understand the cause.

Welcome to Thermal Thursday. These two images were taken moments apart of the exact same exterior wall.The first image i...
05/28/2026

Welcome to Thermal Thursday.

These two images were taken moments apart of the exact same exterior wall.

The first image is a normal visual photo.
The second is thermal imaging showing how sunlight changes surface temperatures across the building envelope.

Notice the temperature differences between:
• sun-exposed siding
• shaded wall sections
• garage door surfaces
• windows and trim
• covered porch areas

Even though the house looks fairly uniform to the eye, different materials absorb and release heat very differently.

Thermal cameras don’t “see through walls.”
They detect infrared energy and temperature patterns.

That’s why environmental conditions matter during thermal inspections:
• sunlight
• shade
• wind
• moisture
• material type
• time of day

Sometimes what appears to be a “hot spot” is simply the environment affecting the surface temperature.

Understanding building behavior and interpreting conditions properly is a huge part of thermal imaging.

Address

2709 Polaris Drive
Prince George, BC

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Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+12509615314

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