[greggsy]

Get an infrared thermometer camera. I have a FLIR add-on for iPhone that lets me see studs, gaps in insulation, leaks... it's amazing what shows up.

It won't show cables, unless they're hot. You can use an AC stud finder for that.

You can flip the photo between the actual and IR image, and it overlays an outline over the image.

I make a video in and out of the house on the hottest and coldest days.

[sleepybrett]

get a cheap 30$ endoscope from amazon. You can go in through power outlets/lightswitches etc. (probably want to cut the breaker first though). Handy tool to have around for all kinds of tasks.

[greggsy]

I do have a cheap one, and hate it with an absolute passion. The problem is that it’s 30ft long making it an unwieldy thing to manoeuvre, and the wifi connection means I have to hold the phone at the same time.

I’ll definitely just get a trigger style one that’s only 3-6ft max next time.

[hnrodey]

What have been your top discoveries with the FLIR device?

[fignews]

Used my Infriray while house hunting. Possibly saved me big time €. Great also for spotting leaks any water in/on surfaces shows up quite clearly. In the same vein I use it to spot pet accidents.

The infriray is the Chinese knockoff brand which is actually better than flir because they don’t have to follow the US weapons law. So with it I get 30(?) fps instead of the ~5 with flir. Resolution is better too. It’s very sensitive and can clearly show a hand print on a surface for a minute or so even if you only touch it for 1/2 a second.

[kukkeliskuu]

How did it save you money when house hunting? What kind of things did you detect?

[fignews]

I saved money by not buying a badly insulated house. There were some walls that shocked me in how little they were insulated. Also found a roof leak in another house