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Cheap and Easy Heatloss Detection?

Posted by Cliff on from the checking-your-insulation dept.

Monty asks: "I'd like to measure heat loss to find out where to insulate and then find out if that is working. What can be done cheaply? Can I use my Sony's Nightvision and just cover up the IR emitter? Are there cheap but useful infrared cameras? What about plain infrared film? Or how about temperature data loggers? Where's a good place to ask these questions?"

3 of 23 comments (clear)

  1. Chilly solution by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    An easy way is to look at your roof after a frost (or light snow) -- see how it melts compared to your neighbors, and see if there are any hot spots.

  2. Good idea by DaoudaW · · Score: 4, Interesting

    You could check out the Habitat for Humanity - Infrared Insulation Test. It seems they got a special camera from the DOE. I remember a few years back my utility company had a camera that they would use to check out your house if you gave them a call. You can also get IR film for 35mm cameras, but not sure it would do a very good job.

  3. 35mm IR film is your friend by BigJim.fr · · Score: 2, Interesting
    Simply take any 35mm camera and load it with IR film. Cheap, easy.
    And to save you some googling, here are a few links :

    Photo know-how : Infrared 101

    Infrared photography

    A comparison of infrared films

    Infrared photography