HomeFinds
Thermal Camera 

Thermal Camera 

Check it out on Amazon

Whole Home · Tools

Plug this into your iPhone and you can see where heat is leaking out of your house, which outlet is running hot, or where the pipe actually runs behind the wall.

RoomEvery room

Good forDrafts, insulation gaps, electrical checks

SpacePocket sized

UpkeepNone, uses a free app

What problem does it solve?

Lots of home problems are invisible: cold air sneaking in around windows, a missing patch of insulation, a breaker or outlet getting warmer than it should.

The Fluke iSee turns your phone into a thermal camera so you can actually see temperature differences. This TC01C version plugs into iPhones with a USB C port.

What living with it is like

  • Great on a cold day. Thermal cameras work best when there’s a big difference between inside and outside, so winter is perfect for draft hunting.
  • Clear enough to be useful. 256 x 192 resolution and a smooth 25 Hz picture, per Pro Tool Reviews.
  • Wide range. Reads from about 14°F up to 1022°F, so it covers drafts, appliances and even engines.
  • Light as nothing. Under an ounce. It lives in a drawer until you need it.

Before you buy

Get the right version for your phone. Fluke also makes Android and Lightning iPhone models.

It shows surface temperatures, not what’s inside the wall, so use it to find problems and then call a pro for electrical issues.

Is it worth it for your home?

If you’re trying to lower heating bills or track down a draft, it can pay for itself by showing exactly where to caulk, seal or add insulation.

For a one time check, renting one from a hardware store might make more sense.

If it’s not quite right

Budget

Topdon TC001

A popular cheaper phone thermal camera.

Wireless

FLIR One Edge Pro

Clip on version that connects without plugging in.

Free option

Utility energy audit

Many power companies offer free or cheap home energy audits with thermal scans.

Our take Home Score 8/10

One of the most useful gadgets a homeowner can keep in a drawer. You’ll find problems you never knew were there.

Keep it if you own your home and want to find drafts or check electrical hot spots.
Pass if you rent and wouldn’t fix what you find anyway.

What we looked at: Fluke’s Amazon listing and Pro Tool Reviews’ write up of the iSee.

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