How to tell where heat is leaking from a house/apt?

[JEDI]

i'm tired of my bedroom (2nd floor) in my house being 68 degrees when the electronic thermostat is set to 72. my basement is even colder.

i know one item is the windows (double pane). but it's a pain to put the plastic sheeting over it since i have curtains. and i cant find the exact spot where heat is leaking or where outside air is coming in.

i'm about to buy thermo-vision goggles just to see where heat is leaking.

Is there a simplier way to tell where i'm loosing heat?

 

[h8red]

I think you really want something like this. It doesn't have to be this model but any IR thermometer will do

 

[LS20]

rent a smoke machine

 

[Geekbabe]

light a candle.. any places where it flickers heavily in the house you've got heat leaks.

We went out yesterdasy,I got foam inserts for our electrical outlets. When I put them in I was amazed at the amount of cold air coming from the outlets,this house is so old there weren't even cardboard inserts behind the wall plates.

 

[Specop 007]

Do you know how much thermal vision costs? I mean can you even take a wild guess?

I'll put it this way, it makes the best NVD's you can get look like your buyin a pack of gum. We're talking choose between new car or thermal goggles types of prices. Frightfully expensive.

To give you an idea...

Thermal scopes

And some of the newer models of goggles are quite a bit above those scopes......

 

[Electric Amish]

Originally posted by: h8red
I think you really want something like this. It doesn't have to be this model but any IR thermometer will do

This will not work for the OP's question.

Something needs to be radiating heat for an IR thermometer to work.

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: h8red
I think you really want something like this. It doesn't have to be this model but any IR thermometer will do

I use my cheapie IR thermometer from Woot. Huge heat loss comes from ceiling fixtures, outlets, windows, doors.

Get some of THIS and caulk every window or opening that wont be touched for the next winter. Then at the end of the season you can peel it off.

 

[Electric Amish]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: h8red
I think you really want something like this. It doesn't have to be this model but any IR thermometer will do

I use my cheapie IR thermometer from Woot. Huge heat loss comes from ceiling fixtures, outlets, windows, doors.

Get some of THIS and caulk every window or opening that wont be touched for the next winter. Then at the end of the season you can peel it off.

Hrmmm... Obviously I don't understand how this works.

 

[tw1164]

just use a candle, or an incense stick

 

[iamwiz82]

Originally posted by: Electric Amish

Originally posted by: iamwiz82

Originally posted by: h8red
I think you really want something like this. It doesn't have to be this model but any IR thermometer will do

I use my cheapie IR thermometer from Woot. Huge heat loss comes from ceiling fixtures, outlets, windows, doors.

Get some of THIS and caulk every window or opening that wont be touched for the next winter. Then at the end of the season you can peel it off.

Hrmmm... Obviously I don't understand how this works.

The IR thermometer will detect any changes in temperatures. Just walking around with the trigger down will cause it to read temps in realtime. I've used them to find overloaded circuit breakers here at work.

 

[markgm]

I know in CT you can get the electric and gas companies to come out for free and do an energy assessment which includes this. Contact your energy providers and see if they'll do one for free. If you're charged a conservation fee on your bill there is a good chance they will.

 

[Scarpozzi]

If you own the house, consider investing in an attic blanket. Basically, it's just a thick layer of insulation that you spread in your attic. If you add even R15 up there, you'll probably notice a big difference. Most of what you lose from your heating/cooling system is going to be through your ceiling.

Also look for holes in the side of your house around the ground level...like vents, around water spigots, dryer vents, etc...

If you get a big hole down there, the hot air rising through your house can cause what's called the Chimney effect and you'll end up drawing in as much cold air as the hot air you lose through your ceiling.