How to prevent draughts and cold: Scottish firm can help identify heat loss in homes

The secret to a warm and healthy home is good insulation, good ventilation and sealing gaps and draughts. But a staggering number of homes in Scotland are sub-par, with even some new build homes having three times the level of heat loss they should have.

Director Tom Barbour, from family-run business Thermal Image UK in Strathaven, Lanarkshire, can send teams across Scotland to assess what cold air is creeping into your home or business, and where the heat is escaping.

He said: “The technology has been around for years, but it’s only with rising energy costs and the climate crisis that this testing is becoming more commonplace.”

While most of the company’s work is in older buildings, it also gets called to test new homes.

Tom added: “Most new houses are built to a high standard, but not all get adequate quality checks, and this can result in cold spots that plague homeowners for years.

“It’s relatively easy to find with this technology, and recently we’ve seen an increased level of enquiries from homeowners across Scotland.”

The cause can be as simple as gaps hidden behind kitchen units to holes left in ceilings or walls when a boiler was upgraded; the fix for these can cost just a few pounds. Even poor insulation in internal ceilings can see heat vanishing from rooms and into the roof space.

Tom said: “We hear from people who say their kitchen is freezing, and that they hate using it and never sit at their table to eat a meal. We can run simple tests, and can often recommend a fix that a DIY enthusiast can repair within hours – something as simple as a gap behind a kitchen unit can see heat escaping and cold getting in. The transformation once it is plugged can be amazing.”

As well as householders wanting to check the thermal efficiency of their home, new-build owners will sometimes want to reassure themselves their house is up to scratch – and if not, they might have a claim under their new build warranty to put it right.

Commercial customers not only want to cut their fuel bills, but to help their firm be sustainable and reach net zero, and the team at Thermal Image UK can help.

How it works

Tom’s team use a variety of tools, such as thermal imaging cameras, smoke testers and pressure testing fans to assess the room or rooms a client wants cover.

They are then given photos to show the heat loss spots, including accurate temperature readings to prove the loss. It’s then up to the customer to remedy the problem themselves, get in a trusted tradesmen, or an expert architect if the problem is extensive.

With years of experience, the team at Thermal Image UK can offer guidance on what to do next, and in the case of warranty, insurance or other claims, can provide a fully evidenced and independent written report.

Is it worth it?

Tom said: “Obviously nobody likes to think they are wasting money, and allowing cold air in or hot air out is such a waste. But if you have cold or moist air trapped in a room it can cause mould, which can lead to real health problems. We feel it’s better to check the scale of the problem, and advise our clients on how best to fix them, sooner rather than later.”

How much can I save?

The cost of thermal image testing begins at a few hundred pounds – even with just a few degrees of heat lost in rooms the cost of that test could be recouped within a couple of years, as long as the gaps or insulation are properly fixed.

Find out more

Tom and the team are available for a friendly chat to discuss if thermal imaging could help you. Appointments can usually be fixed within a matter of weeks, with prompt images and reports to help householders make an informed choice about what to do next.

Visit the website to find more details.