(NewsUSA) – Spring is in the air, which means it’s not only time to start deep cleaning your home, but ensuring it’s protected against damage caused by Old Man Winter.

For homeowners who have gone through especially harsh weather (a shout-out to the Northeast and New England seems to be in order), the spring thaw that occurs from record-breaking snowfall can result in irreparable water damage if not taken care of properly.

For roofs, it’s important to check for ice damming. This happens when snow on the upper portion of your roof melts and freezes on the lower half, creating a wall-like formation around the gutter. Water then becomes trapped behind the ice dam and can leak into your home. In addition, water-stained ceilings, drywall and damp areas in the basement, cracks in concrete floors and musty, wet odors can also mean trouble and should be checked.

To help find these sometimes-hard-to-see signs, you might want to consider investing in a thermal camera. This pocket-size device plugs into smartphones and puts technology that was once unaffordable into consumers’ hands.

It works like this: all objects radiate heat or “infrared light” that can be seen by true thermal cameras even in the absence of visible light. While this technology has primarily been used by law enforcement and the military, one company has brought the cost down to an affordable price for the everyday consumer.

Seek Thermal, a California-based technology company, has created a thermal camera that works with a free app to turn invisible heat energy into an image that can be seen from your phone or tablet. This, the company says, allows homeowners to easily expose and record water damage, so something can be done about it before having to make costly repairs.

For one Boston custom home builder, the Seek Thermal camera has made a difference in how he approaches his business.

“With the Seek camera we’re able to isolate the exposure without cutting holes in the sheetrock,” says Chris Rapczynski, president of Sleeping Dog Properties. “Now, with the thermal imaging camera, we’re able to quickly walk in, assess whether the water has infiltrated a wall cavity, and all of that can be done in minutes.

“Having a thermal imaging camera bridges the gap between applying some effort and having certainty the effort that’s been applied is the fix,” says Rapczynski. “And the clients just want the fix.”

For more information, visit www.thermal.com.