Energy audits
Thermal camera for insulation inspection
How weather, temperature difference and wind affect insulation scans.
Short answer
Missing or compressed insulation may create a surface-temperature pattern, but wind, sun and recent heating cycles can dominate the image.
A practical workflow
- Aim for calm, dry weather and a useful indoor-outdoor temperature difference.
- Scan broad areas before zooming into anomalies.
- Compare repeating framing patterns with irregular gaps.
Common mistakes
- Inspecting a sun-heated elevation
- Ignoring wind washing
- Confusing framing with missing insulation
Confirmation step: Repeat under better conditions or use blower-door testing and physical inspection.
Choosing a camera for this job
Start with native IR resolution, thermal sensitivity, field of view and focus. Close electronics work often needs macro or manual focus; broad building scans benefit from a useful field of view and enough native pixels to resolve an anomaly from a safe distance. Compatibility and reporting workflow matter as much as the headline detector specification.
Compare the exact models in our catalogue →Reviewed August 2026 · Educational information, not a substitute for qualified electrical, mechanical or structural advice.