BLACK DECKER Digital Thermal Leak Detector TLD100

Product Information

To detect minute temperature differences, slide the slider from the back of the detector to the 1° mark. The camera also can connect through the free Flir One app to share live video from the camera or access helpful tools through the free Flir Tools app. Besides saving tons of money, thermal cameras save a lot of time, so they are a must-have for every electrician, plumber, and homeowner.

Only when we have collected this additional, non-invasive, evidence would we look to access the water leak underground or look with a borescope camera to find a leak. For example, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration suggests that your hot water heater heats water to a temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent the spread of certain diseases. Finally, some of these picks are made with long battery life, included memory cards, and/or built-in secondary cameras. Before selecting a new thermal camera, these frequently asked questions and their answers below may help. I spent more than 14 years on staff, most recently as the director of operations for PC Labs, before hitting the freelance circuit as a contributing editor.An uninsulated floor above a basement or crawl space can cause certain areas of your home to be much colder than others. Now that’s a serious flex for a compact, handheld device like this one, meant for professional and home use. Using a thermal imaging camera and under the right circumstances, it’s possible to find hidden water and moisture issues without resorting to destructive testing. Thermal imaging cameras can look at large areas quickly compared to other types of leak detection methods and can see major losses of heat or potential damp problems on the exterior of your property.

Mac users may not like this Fluke gadget as the software provided is only compatible with Windows OS. Make sure to look for a sensor that offers a reasonably loud siren that you can hear from anywhere in your home. As is understood, an air leak occurs when conditioned indoor air passes through openings and cracks while filling the space with outside air. Thermal imaging can show issues where the electrical resistance traveling through the wires has begun to build up in the system. Only when you crack open the floors or drill holes in walls will you be able to identify the source of water leaks.

Often used by electricians, building inspectors, exterminators, plumbers, and HVAC technicians, many of today’s thermal cameras are designed to be easy for nonprofessionals to operate. If you have a water leak, especially a hot water leak or central heating leak, then thermal leak detection can be highly effective at finding your leak. This can in turn get trapped in radiators causing cold spots which can effect the efficiency of your central heating system. Find Your Perfect HVAC Technician: Thumbtack connects you with top-rated local HVAC techs to help with any heating or cooling needs.

Check along baseboards to see if cold air is leaking in through the gap between the baseboard and the floor.

Another important aspect of a thermal camera is its temperature range, which varies from model to model. A thermal imager with interchangeable lenses scores high on versatility, allowing you to evaluate a wider range of equipment and scenarios. This handheld thermal imager has a temperature range of -4 to 572 degrees Fahrenheit and a 220-by-160-pixel thermal resolution.