Free thermal imaging camera rental in Medicine Hat can detect home heat loss

Home inspection services can offer the assessment for a charge, but the MHPL has its own device to rent out.

Thermal image screening is invaluable when it comes to renovations, but also determining where cold air may be entering your home.

The thermal imaging camera is small but has big functionality. Jayk Sterkenburg/CHAT News

Upon the arrival of cold temperatures at this time of year, you may have noticed a draft coming from an unusual area of your house.

This might be around windows or doors, but it could also be coming from a wall with seemingly no point of entry.

A thermal imaging camera can provide a new perspective of your own home, that is not visible with the naked eye.

Chris Brown, MHPL head of marketing and community engagement, said the rental is part of their “Library of Things” program.

The program allows anyone with a library card to borrow items and tools such as a sewing machine, bicycle repair kit, WiFi hotspots, a virtual reality set, and much more.

“We have a few devices, things that people can borrow out of our ‘Library of Things’ that were given us to from the city of Medicine Hat through their ‘Hat Smart’ program,” he said.

“There’s things like an infrared camera, and a home energy monitoring kit, and they’re both kind of just things that people can borrow from us,” he added.

“Just check out their energy usage in their home. Their heat usage where they might be losing heat or things like that, and just try to help people save a few bucks.”

Brown said that the purpose of the program is to provide tools not often needed by people.

Something like the thermal imaging camera is undoubtedly useful, but costly for someone to own, especially if not used more than once or twice.

Westley Franks, building inspector with Hat Property Inspections, is someone who uses this device almost daily.

“We use the thermal imaging camera to look for energy loss, look for areas of insulation voids or excess thermal bridging, and it can also help us to find water intrusion or plumbing leaks,” he said.

Franks said that the camera works entirely on temperature. It will display the difference between one area and another.

The device displays a dark purple hue where cold air is detected. Jayk Sterkenburg/CHAT News.

Areas that are cold will show up darker on the device’s screen, while warmer temperatures read as a lighter colour.

“If you find an area where you’re losing some energy around a window or a door, you can go to the hardware store,” he said.

“Get some advice on the right weather stripping and then figure out the best way to install it. And most people can install weather stripping themselves.”

Franks said finding problem areas where cold air creeps indoors can save money. Once sealed, heating costs can be saved over the winter due to less leakage.

Brown said the library provides access to resources such as this to help the community.

“Everything’s virtually free here at the library — books forever, and DVDs, and music and things like that,” he said.

“This is just one more thing that we want to do to help the community out and and do whatever we can to give everybody just a little bit of help.”

The next time you feel that icy draft from the comfort of your home, know that it’s likely not your imagination and resources are available to diagnose the issue.

by Jayk Sterkenburg

Free thermal imaging camera rental in Medicine Hat can detect home heat loss

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