What thermal imaging does
A thermal (infrared) camera records surface temperatures, showing them as colour patterns. Because defects often change how heat moves through a building, those patterns can point to problems that are otherwise invisible.
What it can help reveal
- Heat loss and missing insulation: cold spots where the fabric is underperforming.
- Damp and moisture: areas that read differently due to evaporation, helping target further investigation.
- Air leakage: draughts around junctions, windows and doors.
- Hidden details: sometimes the position of studs, pipes or underfloor heating.
What it is not
Thermal imaging is an indicator, not a moisture meter or an x-ray. It shows where something is worth investigating, and works best combined with a surveyor’s knowledge and conventional testing. Conditions on the day (temperature difference, weather) affect what it can pick up.
Advice
As part of a wider inspection, thermal imaging is a valuable tool for diagnosing heat loss and tracking down the source of damp or defects.