Jamie Matthews
Jamie Matthews detected heat loss in his home with a thermal camera
It's like x-ray vision: for heat loss. Last year, web engineer Jamie Matthews purchased a thermal camera. His home in the south-east of England was about to give up some of its secrets.
The colorful images on the device's small screen soon revealed just how badly its loft hatch was failing it.
“It was really obvious on camera,” he said, explaining that he could see cool areas on the hatch, where heat was apparently escaping.
Mr Mathews, who runs a software company that supplies the clean technology industry, also found other small gaps in exterior walls and parts of his roof that appeared less well insulated than others.
“It’s a lot of fun and it definitely highlights things that might not be immediately obvious,” he says.
Although Mr. Matthews was able to draft-proof some areas himself, he says he would take a more methodical approach if he was considering major changes to his home. The web engineer then had a professional study of heat losses carried out, for example when he installed a heat pump.
This approach makes sense, according to building physics researchers who spoke to the BBC. There are signs that thermal cameras are becoming increasingly popular, as homeowners look to reduce their heating bills and carbon emissions. Local councils are increasingly allowing residents to borrow devices for free, for example.
But there is no substitute for professional advice if you are planning major work or interventions, experts say.
Thermal cameras work by using a sensor to detect infrared light, which we can't see, but can sometimes feel as heat. Such devices are not cheap. Mr Matthews spent around £160 on his, although organizations including local councils and energy supplier Octopus Energy lend them to people for free so they can gain a basic understanding of heat loss in their house.
Wiltshire Council recently made 11 devices available to borrow from local libraries, along with a brief guide on how to use them. There has been a “huge uptake”, says councilor Ian Blair-Pilling, so much so that the council now has a waiting list for interested residents.
“Expert advice, combined with a measured approach to thermal imaging results, will give residents the best chance of making informed decisions about energy efficient home improvements,” says Cllr Blair-Pilling.
Small interventions could help people keep their homes warm and reduce the risk of cold-related health problems, he adds.
Energy Systems Catapult
Jo Atkinson advises caution when interpreting thermal images
However, Jo Atkinson, senior consultant in building decarbonization at Energy Systems Catapult, a research organization, is concerned about the increasing availability of thermal cameras: “In my opinion, the risks are too great to make the wrong choices. »
It's possible to misinterpret images from thermal cameras, she says, noting that if a wall has been warmed by the sun, an image of that wall taken outside could make it appear as if the heat is escaping, although this is not the case. Reflective surfaces can also falsely appear as heat leaks.
Although using a thermal camera as a starting point for understanding your home is “completely acceptable”, according to Ronita Bardhan of the University of Cambridge, it is important to seek independent expert advice when planning your home. renovation work.
Images from thermal cameras may appear as if certain areas of your home are losing a lot of heat, but this may simply be due to how the camera has been calibrated, how the user holds it and moves it, and the color palette. was chosen for the exhibition.
Dr Bardhan adds that there is a risk of triggering “renovation anxiety” in homeowners.
Additionally, if people are changing their insulation, for example, these steps should be taken with great caution, as improper installation can cause damp and mold.
University of Cambridge
Ronita Bardhan says to watch out for 'retrofixation anxiety'
North Somerset Council provides thermal cameras to residents, on loan, and this scheme also currently operates on a waiting list due to its popularity. The Council has published introductory guidance on how to use the cameras, including an online video.
The Center for Sustainable Energy (CSE), a charity, highlights a more detailed guide from the National House-Building Council that describes how to use thermal cameras. However, a CSE spokeswoman adds that the organization always recommends that people seek expert advice.
Phil Steele, future technology evangelist at Octopus Energy, agrees: “You have to be careful. » Thermal cameras can, for example, make the corners of rooms appear very cold, but this simply reflects reduced airflow in those areas, rather than an insulation problem, he explains. .
Octopus Energy has around 500 cameras that it lends to its customers every winter. Last year, the company distributed the devices approximately 3,800 times.
Homeowners with thermal cameras who spoke to the BBC, like Mr Matthews, say they treated the images with caution.
Object Library
The Bibliothèque des Objets rents thermal cameras
Louise Green, a designer in London, says she read online training materials before using a thermal camera to look for points of heat loss in a house shortly after moving in with her partner.
In her case, Miss Green rented the camera from Library of Things, a community organization that makes various items available to people. The device indicated heat loss around the windows and doors of Miss Green's house. She and her partner were able to compare the results to their neighbor's better-insulated property.
“It just confirmed what we already knew, but it was still interesting to see, you know, were there other areas?” she explains.
Darrell Taylor of Flir, a company that makes thermal cameras, says members of the public can access free training materials on his company's website.
He adds that Flir aims to make thermal images as clear and easy to interpret as possible, including by merging optical imaging with thermal imaging, to add more detail to the final image. And he suggests that in the future, Flir cameras could offer machine learning-based instructions and tips when people use the devices.
However, those who know how to best interpret thermal camera images can uncover extraordinary hidden problems within a building.
Dr. Bardhan recently used a very high-resolution camera to tour a home she was considering purchasing. But thermal images revealed cracks in one wall, which later turned out to be signs of subsidence.
“It probably wouldn’t have come to light if I hadn’t gone in and seen it,” she says. Dr. Bardhan decided not to make an offer on the property.
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