The Unexpected Phone Accessory That Can Save You Money On Heating During Winter

Keeping your house warm and cozy during winter is a priority, but constantly fiddling with your thermostat can feel like a chore. If you want to stop your electric bill from climbing, try using a thermal camera to simplify how you warm up your home in the cold. A thermal camera is a tool that reads how much heat is in a room. It then translates the heat spots into an image on its screen, so you can clearly see the result. Also known as a thermal imager, thermal cameras use colors as a way to depict how hot something is. They include a ray sensor that can detect an accurate temperature reading from a sizable distance away by reading the infrared radiation that objects give off. These cameras pick up on higher frequencies based on how hot a specific item is — and an accurate reading can be given in mere seconds.

Results are often depicted in a visual that reflects the color spectrum. Much like with interior design, warm hues include reds, oranges, and yellows. Blues, purples, and dark greens are on the opposite side, symbolizing cool tones. Thermal cameras have a similar key to depict results, where hotter objects are seen as bright orange and colder temperatures are illuminated as dark blue or purple. 

In the cold winter months, you'll need to make adjustments if certain areas of the home feel colder than others. However, a thermostat may not be as exact or as quick to update as desired. Instead, thermal cameras can be used to read the temperature of a room so appropriate changes can be made for warmth. Even HGTV's Mike Holmes considers it one of the best tips for preventing heat loss and wasted energy at home. Similar to a contactless thermometer, a thermal camera is much like a spot temperature checker — but for your house!

You can buy your own thermal camera tool or download a convenient, easy-to-use thermal camera app directly onto your phone in seconds. The app will require a small add-on camera accessory that can be clipped onto your device. Just point your phone towards an object or area of the room that you'd like to inspect, and the thermal camera will analyze it. 

This makes it simple to determine temperatures from around the space and compare which areas are exposed to chillier air than others, rather than relying solely on a thermostat that can't give you temperature readings for specific areas of your home. From there, all you need to do is utilize a few tricks for staying warm in your home during winter. The use of a thermal camera allows anyone the chance to take temperature control into their own hands — and lower their energy bill in the process.