Is it feasible to use an infrared pyrometer (non-contact thermometer with
laser pointer) to improve house insulation and locate hvac leaks?

Using thermal infrared camera would be much easier, but they cost $5000 or
more.

peter wrote:

Is it feasible to use an infrared pyrometer (non-contact thermometer with
laser pointer) to improve house insulation and locate hvac leaks?

Yes, but it's far more time consuming than the IR camera.


Using thermal infrared camera would be much easier, but they cost $5000 or
more.

Not any more, they've come down a lot. I think $2k is more typical now
and they are the size of a normal consumer camcorder. Might be able to
find a used older model on Ebay or something too.

Pete C.

It will tell you the surface temp of whatever you point it at but it will
not indicate air temp. You can get just as good a feel for the situation by
using your hand. The IR camera's advantage is in allowing us to get a 3D
feel for the data, if you can do that with a bunch of spot readings, in your
head, then it may be helpful. How will you know where to point it?

"peter" wrote in message
news:gqM5g.39842$C63.30604@trnddc06...
Is it feasible to use an infrared pyrometer (non-contact thermometer with
laser pointer) to improve house insulation and locate hvac leaks?

Using thermal infrared camera would be much easier, but they cost $5000 or
more.

I bought a 30$ Radioshack IR thermometer just for that purpose, it is
really of limited use, a waste of time. To find out your homes
efficiency get a blower door test done, it tells how many air exchanges
you have and will show you air leaks, apx 2-300. Hire our an IR photo,
you should be able to get someone with a camera to do it for 2-500, it
will be money well spent.