Black & Decker Unveils Their New Thermal Leak Detector

December 12, 2008 by John Messina weblog
Black & Decker 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


4.4 /5 (17 votes)  

Filter


Move the slider to adjust rank threshold, so that you can hide some of the comments.


Display comments: newest first

cybrbeast
Dec 12, 2008

Rank: 3.7 / 5 (6)
Blatant commercial
Rick69
Dec 12, 2008

Rank: 4 / 5 (5)
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)
M_N
Dec 13, 2008

Rank: 4.5 / 5 (2)
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).
ThomasS
Dec 13, 2008

Rank: 2 / 5 (2)
heat does not equal IR, although IR is good at heating certain things
Hoarsesenz
Dec 14, 2008

Rank: 5 / 5 (1)
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.
Rank 4.4 /5 (17 votes)
Related Stories
Relevant PhysicsForums posts
  • How to tilt a object
    created4 hours ago
  • How to calculate total compressibility in liquid porous solid system
    created9 hours ago
  • Need help reading 3-D
    createdFeb 11, 2012
  • A way to send and receive wireless data
    createdFeb 11, 2012
  • Calling function with no input argument
    createdFeb 10, 2012
  • Force free body diagram problem on gym equipment
    createdFeb 10, 2012
  • More from Physics Forums - General Engineering

More news stories

Japan scientist makes 'Avatar' robot

A Japanese-developed robot that mimics the movements of its human controller is bringing the Hollywood blockbuster "Avatar" one step closer to reality.

Electronics / Robotics

created Feb 10, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (9) | comments 12

Intel packs performance and reliability into its latest SSD 520 series

Intel Corporation announced today its fastest, most robust client/consumer solid-state drive (SSD) to date, the Intel Solid-State Drive 520 Series (Intel SSD 520), a 6 gigabit-per-second (gbps) SATA III SSD ...

Electronics / Hardware

created Feb 07, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 4

Google rumored to have built Heads-Up-Display glasses prototype

(PhysOrg.com) -- 9to5Google is reporting that they have received a tip from someone they believe to be a reliable source saying that Google is working on a Heads-Up-Display (HUD) pair of eye-glasses. The per ...

Electronics / Consumer & Gadgets

created Feb 08, 2012 | popularity 4.3 / 5 (9) | comments 2 | with audio podcast weblog

New Kindle Touch is an impressive e-reader

When it comes to reading digital books, tablets are all the rage. But there's a lot to like about simple e-readers, which over the past year have become both a lot cheaper and a lot less clunky.

Electronics / Consumer & Gadgets

created Feb 09, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (4) | comments 1

Apple to debut 'iPad 3' in March: report

Apple will unveil a new version of its market-ruling iPad table computer in March, according to a report in Dow Jones-owned technology blog All Things D.

Electronics / Consumer & Gadgets

created Feb 09, 2012 | popularity 1.9 / 5 (21) | comments 0


Scientists discover molecular secrets of 2,000-year-old Chinese herbal remedy

For roughly two thousand years, Chinese herbalists have treated Malaria using a root extract, commonly known as Chang Shan, from a type of hydrangea that grows in Tibet and Nepal. More recent studies suggest that halofuginone, ...

New method to examine batteries -- MRI from the inside

There is an ever-increasing need for advanced batteries for portable electronics, such as phones, cameras, and music players, but also to power electric vehicles and to facilitate the distribution and storage of energy derived ...

Google might launch Drive for cloud storage soon

(PhysOrg.com) -- Google's next big move, according to the Wall Street Journal, is a cloud storage service called Drive. Hardly first to the plate, Google is simply catching up to introducing its cloud reposi ...

A mitosis mystery solved: How chromosomes align perfectly in a dividing cell

Although the process of mitotic cell division has been studied intensely for more than 50 years, Whitehead Institute researchers have only now solved the mystery of how cells correctly align their chromosomes during symmetric ...

Lab study raises questions over nano-particle impact

Tests involving chickens have raised questions about the impact on health from engineered nano-particles, the ultra-fine grains commonly used in drugs and processed foods, scientists said on Sunday.

Starve a virus, feed a cure? Findings show how some cells protect themselves against HIV

A protein that protects some of our immune cells from the most common and virulent form of HIV works by starving the virus of the molecular building blocks that it needs to replicate, according to research published online ...