Point-and-shoot thermometer: Fast, fun way to pinpoint energy leaks
When my 14-year-old son, Christopher, first saw the Heat Seeker infrared thermometer, he immediately began taking temperature readings of everything--and everyone--in his path, including the water in the toilet bowl (64 degrees F), inside the refrigerator (38 degrees F), the TV screen (84.5 degrees F), a metal desk lamp (118.5 degrees F), his sister (89 degrees F), inside his own nose (91.5 degrees F), and Pablo the parakeet (79.5 degrees F).
When I finally wrangled the tool from his hands, and started using it for one of its many intended purposes--in this case, to locate energy leaks--I realized just how useful (and fun) the Heat Seeker is.
Made by General Tools, one of the nation's oldest and most respected hand tool manufacturers, the Heat Seeker can digitally read the temperature of any surface or fluid almost instantaneously.
Just point the pistol-grip tool at your target, then squeeze and hold the trigger. The bright-red laser dot shows exactly where the tool is pointing. Within a second or two the temperature reading is displayed (either in Fahrenheit or Celsius) on the tool's LCD screen.
I used the Heat Seeker during the day to find hot spots around windows, and at night to locate where cool air was seeping in around doors. (In both cases, a close inspection revealed faulty weatherstripping.)
During one particularly hot afternoon, I used the tool to measure heat buildup along the ceilings, which indicated places in the attic that needed more insulation. The tool is also useful for locating leaks in heating and air-conditioning ducts, and in ovens, clothes dryers and other electrical appliances.
The Heat Seeker has a temperature range of minus 4 degrees F to 605 degrees F, and an accuracy reading of +-2 percent. It operates on a single 9-volt battery (included), and is available online, and at an increasing number of home centers, for about $65.
Posted by Joseph Truini | Categories: Gadgets & Electronics | Permalink
(2) Comments
Super-handy tool, and much less expensive than the other heat-sensing devices I've seen. Every builder & remodeler should keep one in the toolbox, not only to make sure your window/door installations are properly weather-sealed, but also to show your customers where their homes need more insulation or weatherstripping or are losing (expensive) heating and cooling for any reason.
The red dot can be deciving though, as IR thermometers acuatly measure the tempature over a fairly wide area. The actual area is dependandt on the tool, as well how far away you are. The general tools one has a 8:1 rating, meaning for every 8' away it measures a 1' spot. Not a big deal if you can get up close to it, but don't try to use it to check the insulation on the upper stories of your house from the ground floor.