FAQ
Answers to the questions Canadians search most about drone window cleaning, roof inspections, thermal imaging, surveying, safety and licensing — from Winnipeg pilots.
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Traditionally with rope access, swing stages or lifts. A cleaning drone sprays purified water and cleaning solution from the ground-tethered hose, so no one hangs off the building. ClearHorizon cleans up to 99 m (325 ft) with the washing payload.
For second-storey and higher windows, a drone with a water-fed spray head reaches glass without ladders. It suits homes, condos and commercial buildings where ladder work is risky.
Use purified (de-ionized) water, which dries without leaving mineral spots. Drone window washing uses purified water rinse for the same reason.
Exterior mold and algae are removed with a soft wash — a low-pressure cleaning solution followed by rinsing — which avoids damaging seals and cladding. A drone applies it to walls a ladder can't safely reach.
Yes, when flown by certified pilots. ClearHorizon pilots hold Transport Canada Advanced RPAS certificates, carry aviation liability insurance and keep a 5-metre controlled perimeter on every job.
Most commercial buildings clean exterior glass two to four times a year; storefronts and restaurants often need monthly service. Spring cleaning after winter salt and dust is the most common in Manitoba.
Drones can rinse and soft-wash roof surfaces and flush debris lines on commercial and farm buildings, and inspect gutters from above to show where cleaning is needed.
Yes. A licensed drone pilot can capture close, high-resolution photos of shingles, flashing, vents and gutters without anyone climbing up. In Canada, flying for hire requires a Transport Canada pilot certificate.
A drone flight over a typical house usually takes under 30 minutes on site. Large commercial roofs take longer depending on size and whether thermal imaging is added.
Cost depends on roof size, access, and whether you need photos only or a thermal moisture scan. Use the ClearHorizon quote estimator for a written price for your property.
Look for ponding water, blistered or split membrane, failed seams, and damaged flashing at parapets and rooftop units. A drone photographs the whole surface; a thermal scan at dusk finds wet insulation underneath.
A documented review of a commercial roof's membrane, drainage, flashing and rooftop equipment, used for maintenance planning, warranties, insurance and property sales.
Get dated, close-up photos of every roof slope soon after the storm. A drone captures this safely and quickly, giving you evidence to share with your insurer or roofer.
A thermal camera detects infrared energy (heat) given off by surfaces and shows temperature differences as colours. Warm or cold spots point to heat loss, moisture or overheating parts.
Indirectly, yes. Wet materials hold and release heat differently, so wet roof insulation or walls show up as patterns that differ from dry areas. Suspected spots should be confirmed with a moisture meter.
It cannot see mold itself, but it can find the damp areas where mold tends to grow, which tells you where to investigate.
No. It reads surface temperatures only. It can reveal what's happening behind a wall when that changes the surface temperature, such as missing insulation or air leaks. Glass reflects infrared, so it can't see through windows.
They find hidden heat loss, wet insulation, failing solar cells and overheating electrical parts before they turn into costly failures, without touching or shutting down equipment.
Shortly after sunset on a clear, dry day, when the roof is releasing heat stored during the day. Fall is a good season in Manitoba before snow covers roofs.
Professional work done with drones by licensed pilots: inspections, cleaning, thermal imaging, mapping, surveying, photography and agricultural applications.
A certified, insured pilot, a site safety plan, airspace authorization where needed, and clear deliverables such as photo sets, reports, maps or 3D models delivered on an agreed timeline.
No. Drones talk directly to their controller by radio and use GPS for positioning. Cell service only matters for downloading maps or for RTK corrections over the network; base stations work without it.
Measuring land and structures from the air with photogrammetry or LiDAR to produce elevation models, contours and volumes much faster than ground crews.
The drone maps the pile from overlapping images or LiDAR, a 3D surface is built, and the volume is calculated against the base — usually in a single short flight.
Real estate listings, marketing videos, construction progress records and event coverage — smooth aerial footage that ground cameras can't capture.
ClearHorizon's fleet ranges from hand-sized drones to truck-box-sized heavy-lift aircraft that carry up to 100 lb, used for remote site deliveries and seeding.
Yes. Drones 250 g to 25 kg must be registered, and pilots need a Transport Canada Basic or Advanced certificate. Flying near airports or over people requires the Advanced certificate.
Yes, we connect to a standard on-site water source to feed our high-efficiency purification equipment.
Preferred but not essential; our service vehicle is equipped with high-output generators.
Airborne pollution, atmospheric grime, dust, bird droppings, mineral scale, algae and organic buildup.
Spray graffiti and deeply embedded paint overspray require chemical restoration or abrasive blasting.
Yes, our specialized low-pressure nozzles and purified de-ionized water protect Low-E coatings and delicate sealants.
We follow Transport Canada regulations: operations pause in winds exceeding safe operating thresholds, active thunderstorms, or freezing precipitation (below 0°C for wet washing).
A 5-metre controlled cordon around the active operating zone.
Yes, all pilots hold Transport Canada Advanced RPAS Pilot Certificates with comprehensive commercial aviation liability coverage.
Our fleet ranges from drones small enough to fit in your hand to drones the size of a truck box, with payload capacity up to 100 lb on our larger aircraft. Capacity varies by aircraft, equipment and operating conditions; we select the platform for each project.
Drone services are professional tasks performed using remotely piloted aircraft and equipment such as cameras, thermal sensors, mapping systems or cleaning attachments. A drone service is one specific task; drone services describes the range of work available. ClearHorizon provides commercial and residential drone services from Winnipeg across Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the Kenora region of northwestern Ontario. We are a service provider, not a drone retailer; each project depends on equipment, site access, weather and flight permissions.
Our tethered cleaning drones wash windows and façades up to 30+ storeys without swing stages or scaffolding.
Yes. Low-pressure nozzles and purified de-ionized water protect Low-E coatings and delicate sealants.
Discuss roofs and building exteriors, thermal surveys, towers and stacks, utility corridors, solar and wind assets, infrastructure imagery, construction records, agricultural monitoring and environmental mapping. The asset, sensor, access and reporting scope are confirmed before booking; not every application is available at every site.
No. Aerial images, thermal patterns and maps are evidence for the appropriate professional. They do not certify structural integrity, code compliance, electrical safety, buried asset condition or concealed defects.
Yes — our palm-sized drones inspect inside boilers, storage tanks, ductwork and under bridges so fewer workers need to enter. The facility's permits, gas testing and safety procedures still apply, and sewers or explosive atmospheres need separate review.
Send the address, asset type and size, accessible areas, required image detail and intended use of the report. Travel, airspace, shutdowns, weather, sensors and processing determine a scoped quote and agreed delivery date. No universal price or turnaround applies to every inspection.
Aerial inspections are inspections performed from the air — most often with a drone carrying a camera, thermal sensor or other payload — instead of ladders, lifts or scaffolding. An aerial inspection is one survey of one asset, such as a roof, façade, tower or powerline; aerial inspections describes the full range, from residential roof checks to commercial envelope surveys. ClearHorizon performs aerial inspections across Winnipeg, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the Kenora region of northwestern Ontario. Aerial imagery documents visible condition; it does not replace professional engineering assessment.
Usually not. Flare stacks, rooftops and towers can typically be inspected while the site stays operational.
A geotagged photo and video report highlighting defects, with locations you can hand to contractors or insurers.
Thermal envelope surveys work best with a strong indoor/outdoor temperature difference — prairie winters are ideal.
Orthomosaic imagery, point clouds and textured 3D meshes in common formats for CAD, GIS and BIM software.
LiDAR reaches the ground through tree canopy and brush, giving true bare-earth elevations where photos only see the treetops.
Manitoba requires commercial applicators to pass Pesticide Core and Drone Class examinations (through Assiniboine College) and hold a Drone-class pesticide applicator licence, alongside the federal Health Canada policy in effect since June 30, 2026.
Saskatchewan introduced an RPAS applicator category in January 2026 with annual commercial licensing, drift-liability insurance and GPS application-record requirements. We meet provincial licensing in every province we spray.
Depending on altitude and required resolution, a mapping drone can typically cover hundreds of acres in a day.
Yes. Elevation models from drone surveys show slope and low spots so drainage can be planned on real data.
No. We operate outside the building with a ground cordon; occupants simply keep windows closed.
Most active construction sites benefit from weekly or bi-weekly flights for progress reporting.
Yes, with a site-specific safety plan and coordination with your operations team.
Yes. Radiometric thermal imagery identifies failing cells, strings and diodes across an entire array.
Yes, soft washing can clean balcony glass and railings; residents are notified in advance to clear items.
Licensed, insured Transport Canada Advanced RPAS pilots. Fast written quotes.