Infrared heat loss survey?

[William W. Plummer]

Can anyone tell me a company in the Boston area that does IR surveys to find out where the heat is escaping? Or is it as simple as getting one of the Sony video cameras that is sensitive to IR? Thanks.

[Charles Spitzer]

call your power company.

no, the sony camera isn't good enough to do this.

[Dan O.]

I could tell you one in Barrie, Ontario. Try looking under "Energy Audits" in the YellowPages® or on the Internet.

Dan O.

[B a r r y B u r k e J r .]

Ask your power company. They may even do it for free.

Barry

[Michael Burr]

Already tried the camcorder - they'll show IR from your TV remote but aren't sensitive enough for heat loss detection.

Michael

[EL]

About 12 years ago I was building a house and had access to one of the uncooled IR sensors that were the predecessors of what Cadillac now uses in their IR imaging system. I ran the furnace up and imaged all exterior surfaces one evening (best to do this when there is no solar heating) and recorded it on my VCR. The next day I added and modified insulation where there were obvious leaks. The next night I repeated the process and made another round of modifications. The third imaging showed a well insulated home. Spoke with my wife this morning. It's 12 F and she's not experiencing any cool areas. I heat 6,000 sq ft of house and hot water all year with about 800 gallons of oil.

Any system that will allow you to see long IR (8 to 12 microns) will do. Some 35 mm IR films will do this, the Sony camera if it is sensitive in the 8-12 micron range will also. Make sure you have a cool or cold exterior temperature, no solar heating and fire away.

The IR film will have higher dynamic range than the Sony system but it requires wet processing and camera optics that don't cut-off in the long IR.

The IR imaging systems used by fire fighters or police are ideal also.

There are commercial services that do this too. One system, developed for this application that I have seen that I regard as quite good is made by Mitsubishi.

Boden

William W. Plummer wrote:

[m Ransley]

El, do you know which 35mm films are good for this. I have a Sony digital with super nightshot , it doesnt work

[EL]

All of my Kodak info is in my other house and I won't be there 'till Xmas. I suspect that if you look at Kodak's web site you'll find what you need. The big caveat though is to make sure the optics are transparent in the IR. I have an all germanium lens that was made years ago for my Canon A1.

Boden

m Ransley wrote:

[m Ransley]

Germanium lens , That I have never heard of, for my A -1, I have a Canon aspherical zoom , a toyo, and a tamron. So they probably wont work as I am guessing the coatings filter what im looking for.