Advice on reading thermal images
Using the thermal imaging camera was really helpful. We've found a few areas that require some minor work. Generally, we've been very pleased with the insulation work we've done. The colours aren't always that important – it depends on what you're targeting on.
Buy Bodge Buster – Homeowner Air Source Heat Pump Installation Guide: https://amzn.to/3NVndlU
From Zero to Heat Pump Hero: https://amzn.to/4bWkPFb
Subscribe and follow our Homeowners’ Q&A heat pump podcast
@editor Which Flir model was it you used ? I've been thinking about getting the 'cheap' one Flir One Gen 3 with resolution of 60 x 80.
@heat-pump-newbie, we used this model (FLIR ONE iOS) and it was excellent – a tad pricy, but very, very helpful:
Buy Bodge Buster – Homeowner Air Source Heat Pump Installation Guide: https://amzn.to/3NVndlU
From Zero to Heat Pump Hero: https://amzn.to/4bWkPFb
Subscribe and follow our Homeowners’ Q&A heat pump podcast
I use my companies Flir camera - I think it's E40, or something like that. It was pricey (£5k), but that was ages ago, they're all much cheaper now. It's best when it's dark and cloudy and cold - the sun heats objects up, and the night sky is very cold so things unevenly cool down if they can "see" it. When it's cold you get better contrast. I think the more expensive cameras have manual focus, bigger aperture, so lower noise, the work one is 50fps - not needed for my "non work activities"!
I tend to let the camera autorange first, then "lock it off", fixing the Tmin and Tmax of the display, so as I walk around the colours don't change their meaning. I like the colour bar on the side for easy reference later.
Here's a pic I took of a friends house recently. I've labelled the walls a(left gable), b(above campervan), c(right hand side):
a) cavity wall insulated
b) rendered cavity wall. Don't think they filled the cavity, hence glowing.
c) wooden slats over cavity wall. Don't think they filled cavity. It looks like it is ok - but cold air will be circulating behind the cladding, so the pic "lies".
@robl I have an Fluke IR thermometer which is great unless the scanned surface is shiny, like a copper pipe... Would the Flir have trouble giving a meaningful thermal picture of shiny pipes etc, eg foil covered lagging ? I'm hoping to get a good idea of how well the lagging is performing.
Yes, just as you say it’s terrible with metal surfaces. You can sometimes program in the emissivity, I think ‘mine’ defaults to 0.95. An emissivity 0.95 means 95% of the reading will be of the surface, and 5% is a reflection. Reprogramming the units 0.95 value just changes how the camera interprets the amount of 10um radiation hitting it, it won’t alter the picture itself. If it’s a shiny surface, like a window, you’ll still see images in the reflections, and you won’t see through it or walls, not like in the movies!. I think clean metal is so low emissivity as to be pointless - stick anything on it and it will be ok - pvc tape, paper, paint, dirt.
To update the thermal imaging thread, we were recently sent the world’s smallest thermal imaging camera. I’ve just finished reviewing the Thermal Master P2 Pro, and with Picture-in-Picture mode, multi-point monitoring and sharp thermal imaging, it’s pretty awesome. Plus, no extra batteries to charge - it’s powered directly by your phone!
Watch the full review to see how it compares to the FLIR One and why it’s a must-have for your home:
If you want to buy it, use code RHHP2Pro for a Christmas discount: https://bit.ly/rhh-p2
Buy Bodge Buster – Homeowner Air Source Heat Pump Installation Guide: https://amzn.to/3NVndlU
From Zero to Heat Pump Hero: https://amzn.to/4bWkPFb
Subscribe and follow our Homeowners’ Q&A heat pump podcast
- 22 Forums
- 2,090 Topics
- 46.1 K Posts
- 34 Online
- 3,383 Members
Join Us!
Trusted Installers
Struggling to find a reliable heat pump installer? A poor installation can lead to inefficiencies and high running costs. We now connect homeowners with top-rated installers who deliver quality work and excellent service.
Verified, trusted & experienced installers
Nationwide coverage expanding
Special offers available
Latest Posts
-
RE: Adding battery storage to SolarEdge PV system
@chandykris No need to apologise at all! I forgot to ad...
By Toodles , 15 minutes ago
-
RE: Say hello and introduce yourself
Yes please do Suggesting a loss in the region...
By JamesPa , 57 minutes ago
-
RE: Surface mount or bury primaries for heat pump installation?
Can we have some links to those you're considering plea...
By Transparent , 1 hour ago
-
RE: Weather compensated secondary circuits with Biomass
If anyone’s going to know the answer to this it’s @sune...
By Mars , 9 hours ago
-
RE: Commencing on an ASHP Installation Process
That outside pipework would concern me. Surely rigid se...
By benson , 21 hours ago
-
As I have reported elsewhere we turned on the cooling o...
By downfield , 24 hours ago
-
-
@el3b Hi, sorry to hear that, it is advisable to instal...
By ASHP-BOBBA , 2 days ago
-
RE: Difficult positioning of air source heat pump
@rikiarn Out of intrigue, the thread reads as though Ai...
By Sheriff Fatman , 2 days ago
-
RE: Mitsubishi Ecodan Fails to Heat Water despite temperature drop
@m1kegibson If you are able to access the service me...
By HarriUp , 2 days ago
-
RE: When will heat pumps and install prices come down?
... which of course is impossible because the world mov...
By JamesPa , 2 days ago
-
My advice is reject unless they will delete the buffer ...
By JamesPa , 3 days ago
-
RE: Battery storage to run Heat Pump.
I would be surprised if the battery chemistry is going ...
By Transparent , 3 days ago
-
RE: Air source heat pump roll call – what heat pump brand and model do you have?
@dowallydrifter OK. I would recommend you read t...
By JamesPa , 4 days ago
-
RE: Solar to power Heat Pump for DHW
Wow, how big is your heat pump that it is pulling 6kW d...
By Old_Scientist , 4 days ago