Spent $400 on a thermal camera and it's not the game-changer everyone says

I keep seeing guys talk about thermal cameras like they're a must-have for every sweep, so I finally bought the FLIR One Pro last fall. Everyone said it would show me hidden cracks and blockages I couldn't see otherwise. Honestly, after using it on maybe two dozen jobs around Springfield, I'm not sold. It shows heat patterns, sure, but a good inspection mirror and a bright light still give me the clearest picture of the actual flue condition. The camera mostly just confirms what I already knew from the draft and the debris. For a $400 tool, I expected it to find something big I was missing, but it hasn't. It feels like an extra step that doesn't add much for the cost. Has anyone else found a specific job where the thermal imaging actually told you something your standard tools didn't?

3 comments

3 Comments

miller.thomas18h ago

Totally, mine just collects dust now too.

mileslane18h ago

My old Xbox 360 has been in the same closet for like eight years. I keep telling myself I'll hook it up for some old Halo games, but I never do. The controllers probably need new batteries anyway. It's just easier to play stuff on my phone now.

bailey.jennifer17h ago

Oh man, that reminds me of my friend Dave. He dug his 360 out last month to show his kids some racing game he loved. The power cord was missing, so he spent an hour looking for it. He finally found it, but then the console just flashed a red light and wouldn't start. The whole thing was a huge letdown. He said it felt like losing a piece of his past, all because it just sat there for too long.