Armed Polite Society

Main Forums => The Roundtable => Topic started by: never_retreat on January 07, 2014, 01:32:10 PM

Title: Take advantage of the cold and check for leaks
Post by: never_retreat on January 07, 2014, 01:32:10 PM
So I decided to take advantage of the single digits and check the house for cold spots.
I grabbed the IR thermometer and found a few.

I noticed a few discolored spots on the ceilings. Yep there must be a gap in the attic insulation. These little spots are 15 degrees cooler than the rest of the ceiling. No I'm not going up to look right now.

I checked the front door. Ouch, the bottom of the door is 35 on the inside. It does not seem to be the door or door gasket itself, but around the door and trim and under the threshold. Looks like I might be pulling off the molding and applying some spray foam.

The bow window in the house is cold also. I guess just because of the size.

The house was built in the mid 70's but all the windows and doors have been replaced in the last 10 years I think. Everything is vinyl double pane stuff.





Title: Re: Take advantage of the cold and check for leaks
Post by: K Frame on January 07, 2014, 01:34:51 PM
I really need to get myself an IR thermometer. Very useful critters, they seem to be.

Any suggestions?
Title: Re: Take advantage of the cold and check for leaks
Post by: never_retreat on January 07, 2014, 01:44:27 PM
Mine is a fluke model 62, had it about 5 years I think.

http://www.myflukestore.com/p3391/fluke_62.php (http://www.myflukestore.com/p3391/fluke_62.php)
Title: Re: Take advantage of the cold and check for leaks
Post by: Gewehr98 on January 07, 2014, 01:45:44 PM
My biggest dawg likes the cold places in the house for snoozing.

Looks like he found a good leak at the door between garage and laundry room last night.  

I'll have to get a door sill strip for that.  Unless he volunteers to block it until spring...   =D
Title: Re: Take advantage of the cold and check for leaks
Post by: never_retreat on January 07, 2014, 01:48:56 PM
Well I check my stock and have no spray foam. I'm NOT going out to get some so the door trim is staying on for right now.
Thats a better project for when the other half is not working from home either.
Title: Re: Take advantage of the cold and check for leaks
Post by: never_retreat on January 07, 2014, 02:06:37 PM
(https://armedpolitesociety.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi886.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fac68%2Fjustin_mickey%2FIMG00560-20140107-1401_zpsade99bcb.jpg&hash=fa13362f8efffea02206da3d4aeda76d81a8f160)
Title: Re: Take advantage of the cold and check for leaks
Post by: TechMan on January 07, 2014, 02:08:18 PM
I should borrow the FLIR camera from work and take some photos of the house.
Title: Re: Take advantage of the cold and check for leaks
Post by: never_retreat on January 07, 2014, 02:53:12 PM
I should borrow the FLIR camera from work and take some photos of the house.
You might scare yourself with something that sensitive.
Title: Re: Take advantage of the cold and check for leaks
Post by: tokugawa on January 07, 2014, 03:04:40 PM
I should borrow the FLIR camera from work and take some photos of the house.

 Just ask DHS- they have drones now that are set up to do this and send info to the EPA so you can be fined for wasting energy.


 Just kidding...........I think.
Title: Re: Take advantage of the cold and check for leaks
Post by: AJ Dual on January 07, 2014, 03:22:37 PM
Just ask DHS- they have drones now that are set up to do this and send info to the EPA so you can be fined for wasting energy.


 Just kidding...........I think.

That's how they look for indoor pot growing operations. Just copter over a neighborhood, and look for the rooftops that light up on FLIR, and then cross-reference it against electric bills.

The higher efficiency of LED lighting is cutting into the efficacy of that tactic somewhat, but generally the greenhouse conditions still ause something of a giveaway.
Title: Re: Take advantage of the cold and check for leaks
Post by: Viking on January 07, 2014, 03:26:57 PM
That's how they look for indoor pot growing operations. Just copter over a neighborhood, and look for the rooftops that light up on FLIR, and then cross-reference it against electric bills.

The higher efficiency of LED lighting is cutting into the efficacy of that tactic somewhat, but generally the greenhouse conditions still ause something of a giveaway.
Would it help to cover the insides of the room in tinfoil? Maybe on a frame that's somewhat smaller than the room itself?
Title: Re: Take advantage of the cold and check for leaks
Post by: TechMan on January 07, 2014, 03:29:06 PM
That's how they look for indoor pot growing operations. Just copter over a neighborhood, and look for the rooftops that light up on FLIR, and then cross-reference it against electric bills.

The higher efficiency of LED lighting is cutting into the efficacy of that tactic somewhat, but generally the greenhouse conditions still ause something of a giveaway.

My dad told me how the sheriff busted a pot growing operation where I use to live (snow belt East of Cleveland OH.)  It seems that the pot growers weren't to smart as their house was the only house, in the dead of winter, that didn't have any snow on the roof.  That kind of sparked the interest of the local drug unit and they start an investigation and finally got a warrant and a raid and netted a large grow operation.
Title: Re: Take advantage of the cold and check for leaks
Post by: vaskidmark on January 07, 2014, 06:44:36 PM
I thought there was a court case that ruled checking thermal fingerprint violated 4th Amendment protections.   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyllo_v._United_States

Was that changed again?

Not that I have any reason to be paranoid about it.  Just thought I'd make that clear up front. [tinfoil]

stay safe.
Title: Re: Take advantage of the cold and check for leaks
Post by: freakazoid on January 07, 2014, 07:24:04 PM
I thought there was a court case that ruled checking thermal fingerprint violated 4th Amendment protections.   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyllo_v._United_States

Was that changed again?

Not that I have any reason to be paranoid about it.  Just thought I'd make that clear up front. [tinfoil]

stay safe.

They just work back to cover their tracks about how they discovered it.
Title: Re: Take advantage of the cold and check for leaks
Post by: DustinD on January 08, 2014, 11:37:15 PM
Quote
Would it help to cover the insides of the room in tinfoil? Maybe on a frame that's somewhat smaller than the room itself?
Just need extra insulation. Dense extruded polystyrene should do it. If they wanted to be extra paranoid, and what pothead doesn't, they could have a well insulated green room, with an unheated gap that is also well insulated, and eject the air in between the two layers out the furnace exhaust. That would only be necessary if there is supposed to be a vented space in the attic to control humidity. Can't have too much warm moist air exiting from the roof.
Title: Re: Take advantage of the cold and check for leaks
Post by: Firethorn on January 09, 2014, 02:04:14 AM
That's how they look for indoor pot growing operations. Just copter over a neighborhood, and look for the rooftops that light up on FLIR, and then cross-reference it against electric bills.

The higher efficiency of LED lighting is cutting into the efficacy of that tactic somewhat, but generally the greenhouse conditions still ause something of a giveaway.

I keep wanting to start a 'large' hydroponic strawberry grow operation with the 'true' money source being with the settlements with the cops when they bust my place...