Monday, January 23, 2012

InfraRed Camera Reveals ALL!

I had an opportunity to borrow a FLIR E50Bx infrared camera from work. So, guess what I did? Nerdy me went around the house looking for where there are "hotspots" and areas of interest in our house.  I looked from both outside and inside.  I didn't pressurize the house, like they did during the blower door test, but nonetheless, there was still interesting things to point out.

If you can help it, don't build anything with a corner or windows. Or doors for that matter.  ; )

We still have some weak areas at the exterior wall/ceiling
intersection and corners. This is the top of our stairwell.

Weakness around the windows. And corner, again.
This picture is with the blinds drawn down.

Thermal mass works! This is the morning
after we had a fire going. Notice the brick is still
relatively warm behind the fireplace!
But unfortunately, the stove pipe top is really cold.

Mystery: why is one stair tread edge relatively warm?
It is not getting direct sunlight. Any ideas?

Found a window with a bad seal. Need to have this looked at.

Exterior shot. West elevation. Chimney at top, right.



Composite shot: back of house.
Notice the HRV intake and exhaust vents glowing
brightly. Sigh.

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7 comments:

  1. AnonymousJanuary 23, 2012 at 11:27 AM

    I'd enlarge these images and put them up as artwork in the house - they're beautiful!

    Sandra

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousJanuary 26, 2012 at 4:45 PM

    Mystery: why is one stair tread edge relatively warm?
    It is not getting direct sunlight. Any ideas?

    My guess would be due to air flow, if there's hot air going along the ceiling from left to right in that photo. Notice that it's only about 1 degree difference as the range is only 5 degrees.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousJanuary 27, 2012 at 8:42 AM

    RE: stair tread
    Is there a light fixture below it? or a light fixture outside on the wall?

    ReplyDelete
  4. ShafraazJanuary 28, 2012 at 8:06 PM

    I think anonymous from 03:45 PM is right.

    There isn't a light fixture below it- or outside on the wall.

    ReplyDelete
  5. JulienFebruary 2, 2012 at 11:43 AM

    Looking good, Shafraaz

    For the stair tread: keep in mind that you are looking at reflectivity of the materials; you could be seeing your own body heat or a light source reflected from the stair. Turn off all your lights and try again. I would argue against airflow, as you don't see the same pattern continuing across the whole stair tread. I remember your stair being shiny, therefore very reflective.

    For your HRV intake and exhaust, you are exhausting at your upper range of -8C.. Still pretty impressive, IMO. I hope you compared your results to other houses on your block! That aughta make you feel better.

    -Julien

    ReplyDelete
  6. Jim MerrithewFebruary 10, 2012 at 8:31 AM

    Forty years ago, the response to these pictures would have been, "Hey Man! Great Stuff!!"

    ReplyDelete
  7. ShafraazFebruary 11, 2012 at 1:22 PM

    Thanks Julien, Thanks Jim.

    ReplyDelete

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