Infrared Cameras - What They Can Do

Infrared cameras are a really neat tool, so I thought I'd take a few minutes to share with everyone what they can do. They are used in energy audits for one, which I do pretty often here for my SE Michigan customers. As a result, I've become quite familiar with this tool and took some example shots to share. Incidentally, I discovered that they are equally fun to use on cats--which I will demonstrate later!

I personally use a FLIR BCAM SD model . This camera enables me to “see” through walls and ceilings, etc. when it comes to temperature.

For example, it helps me identify insulation deficiencies like this shot below of a ceiling with some cold spots due to missing or inadequate insulation:

It also helps me find drafts like those present at this attic access:

My IR camera helps me locate cold spots (or hot spots in some cases) as well:

My camera has a resolution of 240 x 240 pixels, and I can look at images in 3 different ways (shown below): "ironstone"(Pic 1), "color" (Pic 2), and "gray" (Pic 3). I can choose the clearest view, but I know that my customers really like either the ironstone or the color. Black and white is so twentieth century.

One of the especially neat things about the camera is that I can adjust the temperature range. I will demonstrate using my kitty volunteer, Buick:

This photo is the automatic infrared shot in ironstone. His eyes are very warm indicated by the lighter colors, but his nose is cold as indicated by the darker colors. Note the temperature range at the bottom of the photo.

Here Buick is in color:

Here he is in gray:

I can use it with temperature limits: here he is with a maximum temperature of 76.1, everything higher is highlighted in brilliant red.

Here he is with a minimum temperature of 76.1, everything lower is highlighted in brilliant blue.

The point here is that the IR camera is extremely versatile. Easy setting changes bring out highlighted and brighter colors.

One can do a home energy audit and not use an IR camera. Indeed, The Dept of Energy's Weatherization Assistance Program uses IR cameras only to verify that concealed wall work was performed correctly. The weatherization auditors who are trained in thermodynamics and heat transfer, know what to look for and their clients receive only the basic information. My clients are not trained in thermodynamics and heat transfer. They need something simple to look at that makes sense and they love colors. Enter the IR camera. I think in the end, a home energy auditor without an IR camera is like a plumber without a pipe wrench.