Thermal survey or use an infrared (IR) camera? - what's the best way to see how to improve insulation and reduce heat loss?

I considered buying the iPhone Flir One camera that hambrook has, but was put off by the app reviews. Looking at his images I would still like to use one. I’ve been using an IR thermometer which is useful. It would be nice if OVO could get a decent thermal camera for us to borrow, I think I remember someone on this trial forum had borrowed one from Octopus. 

Mine is a Flir One Pro can’t remember where I ended up getting it from. Think it was under £200 from memory. It just takes all the guess work out when you are trying to sort out why a room is cold. 

Tool hire companies usually have decent thermal cameras to rent out at around £60-£70 per day.

I borrowed one last winter from Octopus. You had it for a week which was enough time to investigate any hot or cold spots. They have 200 cameras to lend, but this year they are prioritising the lending of the cameras to those on their Financial Hardship Programme.

It would be a great idea to help those on the trials but you’d need quite a few especially if you wanted to get one to anyone who wanted one this winter.

A really great-sounding scheme there, @nealmurphy.

How did you find using the camera yourself? Highlight anything missed in your EPC report? 

Heads up heat loss hunters, I’ve moved this into the public Smart Home area. It’s a good question from M.isterW that others might be asking about their own house.

Related to this is our guide on loft insulation:

Heat pump insulation:

and heat pump pipe insulation:

I don’t know about you, but I’m loving having so many heat pump owners knocking about! There’s a huge challenge ahead of us as we look to retrofit our homes with low carbon heating and improved heat retention. Thanks for being part of the solution! 

Agreed. 

The amount of real world experience at a variety of different levels of detail and complexity is very useful for thinking about changes to our homes, both big and small.

One advantage of this cold weather is that I can see how useless my double glazing is, and how useful even a thin curtain is. This is in my unheated loo !!

Which camera are you using?

It’s the Seek lowest price attachment for my iPhone.