Improving the efficiency of a building is important for the person or persons financially responsible for it.
Sometimes, a thermal imaging survey is required to help pinpoint hidden heat loss or missing insulation, both of which can be beneficial to address to improve the building’s efficiency.
So what is a thermal imaging survey, and how does it work? When and where is it often used? Let’s answer these questions to see if it’s something that will match what you need.
How Thermal Imaging Works
Thermal imaging uses infrared cameras to detect and visualise temperature variations across surfaces. It’s used to pinpoint the above-mentioned, as well as dampness and electrical faults in buildings.
Detects infrared radiation
Every object emits some level of infrared radiation depending on its temperature. Thermal cameras capture the invisible radiation and convert it into a visual image called a thermogram.
Colour-coded temperatures
The survey maps temperatures into colour gradients. Warmer areas, like escaping heat or electrical faults, will appear in bright colours like red, orange, or yellow. Cooler areas will show up as dark blue or purple.
Building heat loss
By identifying any cold spots inside and warm spots on the exterior, a surveyor can see exactly where heat is escaping within your home. That information can then be utilised to improve the home’s efficiency.
When and Where is Thermal Imaging Used?
There are plenty of places around the home where thermal imaging is typically used.
Windows, doors, and floors
This type of survey helps reveal any cold spots, drafts, and any ineffective insulation, particularly around windows, doors, and floors.
For leak and moisture detection
Thermal imaging is used to identify hidden plumbing leaks or areas where dampness and water ingress often compromise flat roofs.
Electrical safety
It can be helpful to pinpoint any hazardous areas where electrical faults or overloaded circuits might lie. This can generate excess heat before a failure occurs, which is why thermal imaging proves useful in this scenario.
The Benefits of Thermal Imaging Surveys
Thermal imaging surveys definitely offer some great benefits and are worth sharing if you’re considering such a service for your home or business.
Firstly, they’re great at identifying hidden energy loss. Knowing exactly where warm air is escaping or where cold air is entering the home helps you seal off leaks or upgrade poor insulation in the roof and wall spaces. This helps cut down the expense of heating and/or cooling your home.
Moisture in walls and under floors can be problematic for structural damage and mould before it’s even visible. Thermal cameras help identify these hidden areas before they end up getting worse.
Surveys can pinpoint any overloaded circuits, overheating components, and loose connections before they end up resulting in equipment downtime or catastrophic electrical fires.
It’s worth knowing that if you’re thinking about thermal imaging surveys but you’re worried about potential damage, the process is contactless. That means there’s no need to drill into walls or pull up floorboards to do the survey.