thermal imaging

According to the Office for National Statistics, 66% of adults reported an increase in living costs in January 2022. Of those who reported a rise, 79% cited higher gas and electricity bills as a leading cause. With energy costs rising sharply as a result of the 12% increase in the OFGEM energy price cap in October 2021, it’s no surprise that many households are becoming increasingly interested in making energy cost savings. In addition to these homeowner concerns, environmental considerations are also present amongst much of the population when looking at their energy efficiency, with 22% of UK carbon emissions driven by maintaining a habitable home.

Assessing air permeability is the best way of checking whether a property is airtight or not, particularly around areas other than windows and door frames. Airtightness is an important factor to consider as it gives a clear indication of material, component and workmanship standards as well as having an effect on running costs. Thermal imaging provides a great way of assessing air permeability using the blower door method and is therefore ideal for spotting defects before they start to worsen or cost money.

Mould is a widespread problem affecting old and new buildings alike, particularly when new windows or doorframes are fitted retrospectively. Thermal imaging can be used in conjunction with humidity and air temperature measurement to detect mould-friendly conditions before a serious problem develops, thereby protecting the health of occupants and workers as well as lowering costs of remedial work.

Solar panel installations are becoming increasingly popular from both a private, commercial and governmental perspective amid a fall in installation costs and a long-term price rise in non-renewable energy sources such as coal, oil and gas. However, solar panels require regular maintenance, which is where thermal imaging can provide an efficient solution to many of the challenges posed.

One of the quickest ways to assess the performance of building insulation and identify problem areas in walls is an outdoor thermographic inspection using a thermal imaging camera. However, there are several precautions that need to be taken in order avoid inaccurate results and ensure that the observer gains as much information as possible out of the inspection.

One of the first things that everyone will notice about our thermal imaging cameras and infrared thermometers is that the emissivity capabilities are defined for every single product. Emissivity is either fixed - typically at 0.95 - or adjustable at varying increments between 0.1 and 1 in most thermal imaging cameras. This article aims to explain what emissivity is, how it is determined, and the practical challenges it presents for thermographers and technicians.

One of the most useful applications of thermal imaging for heating engineers solves one of the most frustrating problems associated with flue gas analysis. Concealed boiler flues can often be difficult to trace across interior walls in properties and it is sometimes difficult to see whether flues have been well maintained or even correctly installed. Thermal imaging provides a helpful aid when inspecting these flue runs, thus saving time and money.

Cleaning radiators is an important part of maintaining an efficient, reliable central heating system and power flushing provides a speedy, thorough method of clearing out corrosion and other debris from the system. Part L of the UK Building Regulations even requires that systems are cleaned and flushed before adding anti-corrosion chemicals during commissioning whilst the warranty of new boilers often depends on correct cleaning and flushing. Thermal imaging provides a great, quantitative method of checking the performance of a heating system before and after flushing, thereby confirming the efficacy of the flushing process and visualising the results for the customer.

More and more properties now have underfloor heating installed as the most efficient way of providing consistent heat throughout a dwelling or commercial premises. As the pipes are hidden beneath flooring rather than exposed like radiators, one of the best ways of verifying the performance of an underfloor heating system is by using thermal imaging technology. A thermal imaging camera can detect heat patterns through flooring, thereby showing where a system is effective. This is particularly useful when tracing systems in a property, checking newly installed underfloor heating, and detecting problems in existing systems.

The presence of leaks in hot water systems is often first indicated by low boiler pressure or a constant need to top up the boiler, meaning that there is very little clue as to the location of a leak before investigations begin. Identifying hot water pipes throughout a property and finding water leaks can be a time-consuming and labour intensive process when the system is hidden under tiled or concrete flooring. Conventional inspections lead to digging up floors which in turn results in great expenditure in terms of both materials and labour as flooring is lifted and restored. Thermal imaging provides a cost-effective, time-saving solution to these problems.