Replies

1. 
   jonblakemore | Jan 17, 2009 08:46pm | #1

   First four results from Google:

   http://www.flirthermography.com/rentals/default.asp

   http://www.infraredcamerarentals.com/rent-infrared-camera/thermal-imaging-camera-rentals.asp

   http://www.americaninfrared.com/

   http://www.infrared-cameras.org/Rental/Camera.html

    

   Jon Blakemore

   RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA

1. 
   cameraman | Jan 18, 2009 10:35pm | #5

   Our local on call fire dept. has a small hand held unit. Gave demonstration when our sons boy scout troop toured the fire hall.
   Not sure what you want to do, IE locate a run of pex in a slab, ect...If you knew some one on a FD , maybe for a donation to the equipment fund they would come out and give it a try???????

2. 
   Clewless1 | Jan 18, 2009 08:37pm | #2

   Good ones may be a bit pricey ... but for multiple applications and for sleuthing out unusual situations ... may be well worth it. I talked to one guy and he said they do rent them ... like $700 a week or something like that if I recall. Good ones are expensive to buy.

1. 
   etherhuffer | Jan 18, 2009 08:56pm | #3

   Yikes! That is way spendy. My curiosity will have to be indulged otherwise!http://www.etherhuffer.typepad.com

1. 
   Clewless1 | Jan 18, 2009 09:32pm | #4

   25 years ago good thermal imagers started at $13K up to $25K and they were a bit large and bulky. Now they start at around maybe $2K and go up to $7K for hand held technology if I recall right (but sometimes my recaller is on the fritz).

   But if you are doing a bunch of work w/ potential energy savings that is significant, it may be worth the expense. You may be able to hire a local consultant w/ a device that may do it for a couple hundred ... depending on your local consulting resources (urban areas a better bet than rural).

   More specifically what kind of things are you looking for (i.e. what kinds of problems)? You may not need technology to find simple to questions like ... are my walls insulated or not? Consider thinking again about what it is you are trying to do/achieve.

1. 
   etherhuffer | Jan 18, 2009 10:37pm | #6

   I was thinking of looking at my water runoff piping, some drains that pull water off a wet area, and some exterior areas of the walls. I think the energy audit folks at the utility can do this too. Maybe they need a call.http://www.etherhuffer.typepad.com

1. 
   Clewless1 | Jan 18, 2009 10:55pm | #7

   Good ideas ... see the guy that posted about the fire dept, too.

   Utilities often use these primarily for electrical connections inspections, transformers, disconnects, etc. They are great for finding potential failure points in these devices. They will often help out a customer that gently prods them for assistance. Another source might be city/county governments that have a use for such a device.

2. 
   cameraman | Jan 19, 2009 12:05am | #8

   I should have read the entire post!! Then I would have known what you wanted to do!Next time I will read.

3. 
   reinvent | Jan 21, 2009 04:37pm | #9

   You could scan your whole neighborhood from the comfort of your living room.;-)http://www.imaging1.com/thermal/UAV.html

3. 
   mrsludge | Jan 21, 2009 11:23pm | #10

   I've been thinking about this for a while. My work uses a couple of equipment rental places for instruments. I've checked their rates, and one shop was reasonable for one of the basic units ($300/wk for Flir BCAM); the other had a bigger variety, up to the camcorder types, all at wacky prices (that'd pay for one of those $20k units in less than a year).

   So, I haven't done it yet- the idea was to get a group of friends/co-workers and do everyone's houses on one cold/hot week. A unit that would store images would work, as long as you kept a log of what was shot where to keep track.

   I also have been wondering if IR film would work, since I already have the camera.

   But, if you can find a free option, more power to you.