It's like X-ray vision - for heat loss. Last year, network engineer Jamie Matthews purchased a thermal imaging camera. His home in southeast England is about to give up some secrets.

Colorful images on the device's small screen soon revealed how his attic hatch had failed him.

"It was very obvious on camera," he said, explaining that he could see a cool area on the hatch where heat was apparently escaping.

Matthews, who runs a software company that supplies products to the clean technology industry, also discovered other small gaps in exterior walls and roof sections that appeared to be less insulated than others.

"It's interesting, and it definitely shows something that might not be immediately obvious," he said.

While Mr Matthews was able to windproof certain areas on his own, he said he would have taken a more methodical approach if he had planned any major changes to his home. For example, network engineers later carried out a professional heat loss survey when installing the heat pump.

Building physics researchers interviewed by the BBC said this approach was sensible. There are signs that thermal imaging cameras are becoming increasingly popular as homeowners seek to cut their heating bills and carbon emissions. Local councils are increasingly Allow residents For example, loan equipment for free.

But experts say there's no substitute for professional advice if you're planning a major project or intervention.

thermal imaging camera Work with sensors Detecting infrared light, we can't see it, but sometimes we can feel it as heat. Such equipment does not come cheap. Mr Matthews spent around £160 on his device, although organizations including local councils and energy supplier Octopus Energy do loan it out to people for free so they can get a basic understanding of heat loss in their homes.

Wiltshire Council has recently made 11 pieces of equipment available for loan to local libraries, along with a brief guide on how to use them. Councilor Ian Blair-Pilling said participation in the project has been "so good" that the council has now prepared a waiting list for interested residents.

Councilor Blair-Pilling said: “Expert advice combined with a measured approach to thermal imaging results will give residents the best chance of making informed decisions about energy-efficient home improvements.”

He added that small interventions could help people keep their homes warm and reduce the risk of cold-related health problems.

However, Jo Atkinson, senior adviser on building decarbonisation at research body Energy Systems Catapult, expressed concern about the growing popularity of thermal imaging cameras: “In my view, there is a risk of making the wrong choice. Too big.”

It's possible to misinterpret thermal camera images, she said, noting that if a wall is heated by the sun, an image of that wall taken outdoors could make it look like heat is escaping, but that's not actually the case. Reflective surfaces can also appear to be misleading by leaking heat.

Ronita Bardhan from the University of Cambridge says that while it's "absolutely fine" to use a thermal imaging camera as a starting point for understanding your home, it's also important to seek independent expert advice when planning any renovations.

Thermal camera images may make certain areas of your home appear as if they are losing a lot of heat, but this may simply be due to how the camera is calibrated, how the user holds it and moves it, and what color palette is used. Selected for display.

Dr Badan added there was a risk of triggering "renovation anxiety" in homeowners.

Also, if people continue to change their insulation, for example, such measures should be taken very carefully because of improper installation May cause dampness and mold.

North Somerset Council offers thermal camera rentals to residents and is currently running a waiting list due to the popularity of the scheme. The council has Introductory recommendations issued About how to use the camera, including online video.

The Center for Sustainable Energy (CSE) is a charity that Highlight more detailed guide From the National Home Building Council, which describes how to use thermal cameras. However, a CSE spokesperson added that the organization still advised people to seek expert advice.

"You have to be careful," agrees Phil Steele, future technology evangelist at Octopus Energy. For example, a thermal camera can make the corners of a room look very cold, but that's just the air in those areas. A reflection of reduced circulation, not an insulation issue, he explains.

Octopus Energy has about 500 cameras that it loans to customers each winter. Last year, the company distributed the devices about 3,800 times.

Homeowners with thermal imaging cameras such as Matthews who spoke to the BBC said they were wary of the images.

London designer Louise Green said she read online training materials and then used a thermal imaging camera to look for heat loss points in the house shortly after she and her partner moved into the house.

For her part, Miss Greene was from library of thingsa community-focused organization that provides a variety of items for people to borrow. The device showed heat loss around doors and windows in Miss Green's home. She and her partner were able to compare the results to their neighbors' properties, which were better insulated.

"It just confirms what we already knew, but it's still interesting to see, you know, are there other areas?" she explained.

Darrell Taylor of thermal imaging camera manufacturing company Flir said the public can access some free training materials on his company's website.

He added that Flir's goal is to make thermal images as clear and easy to interpret as possible, including merging optical images with thermal images to add more detail to the final image. In the future, he suggested, Flir cameras might provide machine learning-based instructions and suggestions as people use the devices.

However, those who know how best to interpret thermal camera images can spot unusual problems hidden in buildings.

Dr. Badan recently used a high-resolution camera to look at a house she was considering buying. But thermal images showed cracks in the walls that later turned out to be signs of subsidence.

“This probably wouldn’t have come to light unless I went in and saw it,” she said. Dr. Badan decided not to make an offer on the property.