Thermal imaging to detect heat loss in house

zax47

Smiley_Dan wrote: »

Incorrect. You simply do not know what effect the above things will have without understanding the dwelling.

I realise the government and the EST and so on like to sew this story about "save 30% by installing loft insulation" and so on but the reality is much, much more complicated, because houses are not commoditised predictable boxes. Not only might the improvements be far better, or far worse, in certain circumstances you may also compromise other elements of the performance of the building.

My point was that those things would be like plugging a few holes in a sieve - its still a sieve!

There are much more major/fundamental issues with heat loss for this property than plugging a few little holes and they need to be addressed first, otherwise it's like sticking a plaster on a bullet wound... :eek:

System

Smiley_Dan wrote: »

Why would you assume that?

What you are saying isn't true. Sure, while there will be an indication of high heat loss in the uninsulated parts, if these parts are next to the thermal envelope (in a heated space) they will still show warmer than the more insidious thermal bridges that occur at junctions and the like, furthermore air ingress can still be spotted. Granted, it's more difficult, but it's still possible. I know because I have done it.

I assume that as I have tried to survey some old buildings with no insulation and single glazing with a thermal imaging camera and the results just confirm cold walls and cold windows. There is absolutely no insulation, so what's the point in taking photos to show the wall is cold? thermal bridging is happening through every single part of the wall. Trying to spot air ingress in old single glazed windows? surrounded by single skin, uninsulated walls? there will be air coming in to this house at most junctions - there's absolutely no need to survey it with a thermal imaging camera given the cost could be much better used actually providing some solutions to the obvious problems

Smiley_Dan

zax47 wrote: »

There are much more major/fundamental issues with heat loss for this property than plugging a few little holes and they need to be addressed first, otherwise it's like sticking a plaster on a bullet wound... :eek:

You don't know that. You're probably right, but I personally am not happy leaving the health of my property to best guesses. "Desktop surveys" are only part of the solution.

Smiley_Dan

MisterBaxter wrote: »

I've seen FLIR images of this type of property and so much of it glows white or red that it's hard to really see what to do first. In my opinion they are better suited to fine tuning insulation and sealing by looking for the hot spots on a property that is already at a reasonable level of insulation, they are a good tool for focusing efforts.

Performing a thermal imaging survey is NOT just about looking at some images. As you perform the survey you have to understand the relative temperatures by framing or locking the image, plus you have to tune for emmisivity. Then of course you need to know the air temperature on either side of the wall. You also need to check for water ingress or other reasons for what is being shown.

A thermal image can only really be regarded with commentary - they often do not speak for themselves.

MisterBaxter

Smiley_Dan wrote: »

Performing a thermal imaging survey is NOT just about looking at some images. As you perform the survey you have to understand the relative temperatures by framing or locking the image, plus you have to tune for emmisivity. Then of course you need to know the air temperature on either side of the wall. You also need to check for water ingress or other reasons for what is being shown.

A thermal image can only really be regarded with commentary - they often do not speak for themselves.

The point I was making that the OP already knows that the property is very poorly insulated and anyone who knows construction will more or less be able to predict the key outcomes without thermal imaging, of course they can be used to flag up other more specific issues but the OP is focused on thermal upgrades to the building. The other stuff can come later once the key issue is resolved.

I have used them in two case types, one is in a drive-by type survey to pinpoint potential problem properties across a wider estate, these can then be subjected to more detailed surveys, the other case type is more along the lines of what you are talking about where the survey is more in depth to identify specific issues. The drive-by surveys aren't particularly accurate but they are a starting point in that they show up where similar properties have very different heat loss profiles. I have also seen them used in conjunction with ultrasound surveys to detect concrete defects in a car park but I don't know quite how that works, but again it was a more targeted survey.

I certainly wouldn't spend money on a thermal camera survey if I already knew where the major heat leak points were and a simple elemental heat loss calculation will flag that; at the same time it can be used to calculate the improvements with the quickest payback levels. With that said if the OP can find someone with kit to do one then why not have one done.

HappyMJ

Just a quick Google for cost if this survey...It's around £200 and all it's going to tell you is what you already know. The walls leak heat, the windows leak heat, the roof leaks heat...etc...

I think the low cost changes aren't going to do much. This property sounds like it needs some serious money spent on double glazing and external wall insulation which would cost many thousands of pounds.

DigForVictory

The Religious Society of Friends (aka Quakers) may have a heat camera they can lend you. Or a Quaker friend of yours - I'm not sure how they set about releasing the tech.
My parents borrowed one & not only improved draught exclusion etc, they are now planning to clad the house to improve its insulation. (!)

They thought it a worthwhile exercise even with quite a bit of care already gone in. As long as the loan is cheap even if brief, you can see which areas will respond most.

Your utilities provider may also offer help. It costs very little to send an enquiry email...
Best of luck!

counting_down_the_days...

Call the Energy Saving Trust, they may be able to help with grants in your area.

-taff

Also get on ebay or charity shops and look for thick velvet curtains, they do make a difference.

wrightk

If it were me i wouldnt bother with the smaller things like thicker curtains door seals etc.

I would be tackling one room at a time and either getting the whole exterior clad and insulated or cheaper if space permitted getting double glazing put in and cladding/insulating and dry lining all the internal walls facing outside

Its all very well sealing up a few gaps in doors but if your entire wall is single skin whats the point. You have a whole wall incapable of any heat retention