Two-dimensional thermal imaging cameras are an efficient way to determine heat loss, especially from faulty or nonexistent insulation. Due to the complicating factor of external forces such as wind, most heat loss surveys are best when conducted indoors. Additionally, the best results for detecting heat loss with thermal imaging occur when there is a 20 degree or greater difference between indoor and outdoor temperatures. In northern climates, it is easier to conduct a scan during winter with the house's heating on. In southern climates, imaging during the summer while the air conditioning is running gives the best results.
Instructions
1. Remove any drapes, furniture or other objects from the walls in your home. These objects can trap or obscure heat flow.
2. Measure the interior temperature of the structure with a thermometer, and contrast this temperature with the exterior temperature. Verify that there is at least a 20-degree difference between the interior and exterior temperatures of the structure for the best imaging results.
3. Conduct the survey over a series of hours by taking enough shots with the thermal imaging camera to document the flow of heat within a given space. The camera operates by detecting heat signatures. A snapshot taken by the camera will show heat at a certain moment; a series of shots over time will show how the heat travels within the space.
4. Review the thermal imaging shots to determine where the structure is losing heat and how much heat it is losing. Extreme colors such as black are usually indicators of severe heat loss/movement. However, the meaning of the color scale is dependent on the individual camera and the characteristics of the structure being surveyed.
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