Finding Hidden Drafts in an Old House — With a Thermal Camera

Living in a 19th-century home means discovering little mysteries in walls, floors, and ceilings. Over the past few months I’ve been sealing gaps and cracks around the house, trying the usual handyman tricks — candles, incense smoke, the “wave your hand slowly and hope you feel something” method. They help, but none of them gave me real confidence.

So I finally picked up a FLIR One (USB-C) thermal camera. I wasn’t entirely sure it would work with the iPad, but it did — instantly. Download the app, plug it in, and point it at whatever you’re troubleshooting. Within minutes I found two things:

1. A warm, happy Bert

1. A very cold, very obvious gap in the ceiling where insulation foam was missing

Honestly? I was amazed at how simple and effective it was. This little tool is now part of the permanent home-repair kit.