Black & Decker TLD100, Once I figured out how to..

Overall Rating4.674.674.674.674.67

Once I figured out how to use it…

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R15P615A2IDMLL It seems like a very good product, though I have nothing to compare it to because I didn’t have a clue what a thermal detector was before I bought this. The biggest problem I had with it is the almost complete lack of instructions (once again, I didn’t know anything about how it worked or how to use it before I bought it.)

It took me an hour or so of playing with it to figure it out. I did quickly realize that it’s really only usable when there is a significant difference between the temperatures inside and outside. I tried to use it in the unheated hallway between the apartments in our four-plex without much success, but in the heated living areas I was able to confirm that, yes indeed, all of my windows leak cold air. This wasn’t a big surprise, though, sitting next to one of them is like sitting in front of an open refrigerator!

I know all of my doors and windows leak air (and occasionally water,) so that’s not why I got it. I got it to check my work after I make repairs, insulate or seal around the doors and windows. I found that a new door we just installed leaks badly! Since it’s in the back of the kitchen, we probably wouldn’t have noticed the draft. Now it’s double-weather-stripped and the readings are much better.

I really like this tool and find it very educational to use… I just wish it had better instructions for the thermal-detector-challenged, like myself.

I am posting some more videos of how we used it around our house on my blog. FYI.

PS - It always makes my day to know that people find these reviews helpful. So, please vote (The “Was this review helpful to you: Yes or No” buttons) and leave a comment if you’d like, even if it’s just to say, Hi!”) When you leave a comment, I can go to your reviews and pay you the same courtesy.

Thanks, Claire

Update (5/19/2012):

The featured review for this product, Black & Decker TLD100 Thermal Leak Detector Tools & Hardware, was written by Claire Jordan.

The average rating for this item is 4.7 out of 5 stars, according to 3 reviews.

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Reviews (3)

Claire Jordan

April 14th, 2010 at 4:04 am    


Overall Rating44444

Once I figured out how to use it…
Rated 4 stars.


D. Campbell

May 14th, 2010 at 3:12 pm    


Overall Rating55555

heat detector works great
It is a great improvement over the regular thermal detectors (I have a craftsman gave me as a gift already.) Instead of trying to keep looking at the evolving digital playback - This tool allows you to look right where you are pointing to see the changes in hot or cold. Fun and much easier to use than the regular variety.


G. Stelzenmuller

May 14th, 2010 at 10:16 pm    


Overall Rating55555

This meter is a dandy, especially if you’re tech-nerd
Even if you are an unfortunate non-tech “regular” person. Man, what fun to aim and read this dandy little hand-held temperature detector. This device reads the temperature difference between a “reference point” and wherever else it is pointed around the house (probably only from the inside!). The trick here is to see where temperatures are somewhat lower than the reference point. The reference point, by the way, should be some wall or surface that you suspect is kind of the “average” temperature of the house. This means that the home owner can more easily track down places where cold outdoor air could be leaking in, or where the insulation does not stop heat losses like they should. Leaks almost certainly will be the big heat loss killers (or heat gain into an air conditioned space inside in the summer).

Once leaks and losses are narrowed down, then a trip to the hardware store to get some caulk, weather stripping, and limited insulation for hopefully less than one hundred dollars will go a long way to spending less on heating and cooling.

A couple notes on this instrument:
- This can read temperature differences up to about 300 degrees Fahrenheit, so there is plenty of range. This can be important for finding dangerous HOT spots around the house, and having little to do with energy savings: heating or stove problems hidden from view, electrical shorts behind the wall, etc.
- You can set the infrared beam to indicate temperature differences of either 1 degree, 5 degrees, or 10 degrees, giving you a good choice of the sensitivity you are inspecting; and the differences are visual - a green spot for temperature within allowed limits, red spot for too hot, and blue spot for cold beyond the limited tested.
- Windows and transparent surfaces (and probably shiny surfaces) will not test well with the instrument. Not a big deal.

This tool is an excellent buy.


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