OUR BLOG

As the days and nights become colder and heating systems are being switched on again, some unlucky people are finding that they have a leak and the boiler is 'losing pressure.' We've had a couple of calls over the past week from people with this problem.
The next question is usually "How accurate is the system at finding leaks?"

One of the most interesting things about thermal imaging is finding what you don't expect. When the hot air balloons came to town in August I thought it would be a good opportunity to record some interesting images.

Thermal imaging is a great tool for a technician, but it is only a tool - and it is rarely just a matter of simply turning up and pointing the camera in right direction. Being on the roof at a time when the buildings own heating system and the weather combine to create conditions that ensure that damp and dry areas of roofing have different thermal properties is key.

The introduction of air testing in Scotland in Section 6 of the 2010 Scottish Building regs has resulted in a better build standard. Whereas previously gaps and unsealed openings which were out of sight could be ignored, the air test (or air pressure test/ air tightness test/ air leakage test as it's sometimes known) means that a minimum air tightness standard has to be achieved (10m3/h/m2). Excessive air leakage results in excessive energy costs.

Sounds obvious perhaps? But it's not usually the main loft - if your house has different sections of roof and you can't access everywhere from the loft hatch, chances are the guy putting in the insulation couldn't either!