Black & Decker Unveils Their New Thermal Leak Detector

Black & Decker Thermal Leak Detector

(PhysOrg.com) -- Now you can find and plug up those leaks around your home once and for all. Black & Decker is offering an innovative leak detector, in about a month and will be price at around $39.99.

The detector works by simply pointing it at walls, windows, molding, and outlets in your home and determines leaks through color signals. A green light indicates regular temperature, red light shows hot spots, and a blue spot shows you the exact place where cold air is bursting in.

Black & Decker claims their detector can catch temperature changes by as little as one degree Fahrenheit. The thermal leak detector has a user select switch to differentiate between 1, 5 or 10 degree F changes.

According to Energy Star, plugging up leaks and drafts in your home can scythe up to 20-percent from your heating bills; your leak detector will pay for itself. The Black & Decker Thermal Leak Detector is listed as "coming soon" at the company's online store, where it retails for $39.99.

Considering that the gadget will only cost around $40 when it becomes available in a month, it should be a big cash-saver when cutting down your heating cost in the winter months.

© 2008 PhysOrg.com

   

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4.4/5 after 17 votes

• cybrbeast - Dec 12, 2008
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  Blatant commercial
  
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• Rick69 - Dec 12, 2008
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  This compares very favorably to the cost of infrared detectors which are currently in use by utilities, etc, which I believe cost in the neighborhood of thousands of dollars. This will help a lot in the quest to save energy by weatherizing homes. (I have no connection to Black & Decker)
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• M_N - Dec 13, 2008
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  I'm not sure how this differs from the infrared thermometers that can be purchased cheaply (I got mine for $20, and it works well. The IR detectors that cost thousands are generally thermal CAMERAS (which this Black & Decker device is NOT).
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• ThomasS - Dec 13, 2008
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  heat does not equal IR, although IR is good at heating certain things
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• Hoarsesenz - Dec 14, 2008
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  More to the point, how many people who need one will buy it? Or use it? Or be willing to pay for the home improvements to fix problems? People have a few things in their lives they are fixated on: beautifying their kitchen, getting in shape, going on a vacation to where ever. They have limited interest and limited patience in things that aren't on their "short list". More useful than this tool would be software to go with it that lays out repair strategy, cost of fixing, economic return, what tools they'll need, and "How To" instructions. The software would be of more use than (yet another) slightly better piece of hardware to buy.
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