Cheap Thermal Images

deannagone

I apologise if this is the wrong place, it might be more suitable for the techy or DIY section of the forum but posted here just in case anyone else has done the same thing or is thinking of doing the same thing.

I am very very worried about a rise in electric and gas tariffs (yep, I was with one of the many companies that folded) so April is D-day. 

I live in a council property with a lack of draft proofing.  I think the council would laugh at me if I asked them to come round and I don't have a great deal of confidence in the quality of their repairs to be honest - but do appreciate the rent that is 1/3 of a private rental so its swings and roundabouts).  I propose to do the usual things, use a curtain and insulation strip to cut drafts from front door (the original one has disintegrated), already have thick curtains on every window etc.  

But I have a problem with a downstairs window my desk is at.  I can't move the desk, its the only place it can go but there are drafts coming from somewhere under the desk (below the window, there is a radiator there) and from the hinge side of one of the windows.  It didn't close properly so a good clean of built up debris sorted that but it still is drafty.  

But I am at a loss as to where the knee level drafts are coming from.  They are quite strong.  I don't have much free money but wondered if anyone knows if its possible to do some thermal imagining without paying £200 plus for a camera.  My ipad does supposed thermal imaging pics but its not really thermal imaging, just a colourisation effect.  Is there an alternative?  I have problems with kneeling due to arthritis (so you can imagine the effect of the cold draught) so its difficult to tell exactly where this lower draft is coming from and its cause.  I also have (god help me lol) eyesight problems.

I am going to be doing other things but this draft is irritating and I am affected by it most days all day long.  Yep I wear at least two layers of clothing lol.

FreeBear

Who is your energy supplier ?

Octopus do/did a free thermal imaging camera loan.. A few councils also do a similar thing.

deannagone

Brilliant suggestion, I had no idea this existed so thank you for mentioning it FreeBear. 

I am with Octopus, but it looks like they are now only lending the camera to people who register as having problems paying their bills due to financial hardship.  https://octopus.energy/blog/flir-thermal-cameras/ I don't think I want to register on that list lol. I tend to prefer to feel responsible and work hard to manage things. 

Its a shame, it could be a way of reducing my energy costs but not at the price of telling the company I can't pay my bills, which I make every effort to do.  Who knows, if the energy prices increase as predicted I could be in that group in a few months but I'll do everything I can to cut back instead. 

FreeBear

Don't know where you are, but here is another - https://cambridgecarbonfootprint.org/what-we-do/thermal-imaging/ - May well be something similar in your area.

As for the location of the draught - Check the underside of the windowsill inside. If there is a gap, some decorators caulk should plug the worst of it. Suspended timber floor ? - seal any gap between the skirting & floor boards.

onylon

Try getting one of those incense sticks that smokes and gently move it around the wall. The smoke will waft away from the draft and help you pin down where it's coming from.

GDB2222

Hi @deannagone You are one of the people who contributes to the forum, so I hope you get some help!

My 2p-worth is as follows.

We live in a very draughty house, so I know quite a bit about draught-proofing, and my big secret is .... wide Sellotape or masking tape. Seriously!  You don't have to leave it in place, but it will certainly help you find out where draughts are coming from.

If there's a big draught by your desk, tape round the window, and tape top and bottom of the skirting board. Then, check again.

olbas_oil

Not quite the same thing but you can pick up an laser infrared thermometer for about £15. I use one for radiator balancing. If you take several measurements across the problem areas, it should indicate the coldest spot, if cold is coming in.

How to detect and eliminate drafts for better home insulation - Green Living Ideas 

[Deleted User]

These are the cheapest ones you can get, and they are just about usable for finding draughts.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/143964515109

deannagone

Thank you so much for the useful suggestions. 

With limited mobility, this is one of my problems, getting under the desk and finding the draught source.., and then getting off the floor again ha ha. That could take a while (no, unfortunately, I don't have anyone to help but manage most things one way or the other). 

I think I am going to have to bite the bullet, unload and move my huge ikea storage unit, so I can move the tightly wedged in desk (it was a couple of centimetres longer than the dimensions given online ha ha) and then I can investigate where the draught is coming from manually.  And hopefully get off the floor again lol.  The mind boggles lol.

FreeBear

[Deleted User] said: These are the cheapest ones you can get, and they are just about usable for finding draughts.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/143964515109

With a picture size of 8x8 pixels, the resolution is going to be poor (and that is being polite)...

olbas_oil said: Not quite the same thing but you can pick up an laser infrared thermometer for about £15.

I've got one kicking around here (left by one of those ruddy DG salesmen). @deannagone If you want it, I'd be more than happy to pop it in the post to you.

kungfu_navs

This is another way to do 'thermal' images

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0044R87BE/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This device will change colour as you move it around the area so you can see changes in temp more easily

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNsTNILCyLY