Thermal imaging surveys and leak detection
Thermal imaging by heating engineers covering all London boroughs, Kent and Essex, including Dartford, Bexley, Bromley, Sevenoaks, Tunbridge Wells, Thurrock and Brentwood.
A thermal imaging camera shows the temperature of every surface it looks at, so it finds problems that are invisible to the eye and would otherwise mean lifting floors or opening walls. New Form Plumbing Ltd uses thermal imaging to trace underfloor heating circuits, locate hidden leaks, check radiators and pipework, and show homeowners exactly where their heat is escaping.
What we use thermal imaging for
Finding leaks and blockages without damage
A warm or cold trail through a floor or wall shows where a pipe runs and where water is escaping. We can pinpoint the spot before anything is lifted, which usually turns a destructive search into a small, targeted repair.
Underfloor heating and radiator diagnostics
We can see which circuits are flowing, which are cold and where a manifold is out of balance. On radiators, cold patches show sludge and poor circulation, which tells us whether the system needs a power flush or just balancing.
Heat loss, damp and insulation surveys
Missing loft insulation, cold bridges, draughty windows and damp patches all show clearly on a thermal image. It is the honest way to decide where insulation money should go, and it is a sensible first step before a heat pump.
Our work
Frequently asked questions
What can a thermal imaging camera actually see?
It reads surface temperature, not through walls. What makes it so useful is that a pipe, a leak, a damp patch or a gap in insulation changes the temperature of the surface above it, and the camera shows that difference clearly. In practice it lets us find things that would otherwise mean lifting a floor.
Can you find a leak under my floor without digging it up?
That is one of the most common reasons people call us. We warm the system, scan the floor and follow the heat trail to the fault. It is not magic and some situations still need investigation, but in most cases it turns a whole floor into a single small opening.
Is the survey messy or disruptive?
No. It is completely non invasive. We walk the property with the camera, take images and explain what we are seeing as we go. Nothing is drilled, lifted or removed to carry out the survey itself.
Will you give me a report?
Yes. You get the thermal images alongside normal photographs, an explanation of what each one shows, and a clear recommendation of what to do about it. If the fix is work we can carry out, we will quote for it separately so you are free to compare.
Can it tell me why my radiators are cold at the bottom?
Yes, and it is a good example of what thermal imaging is for. A cold band across the bottom of a radiator is sludge, a cold radiator at the end of a run is usually balancing, and a cold top is air. The camera tells us which, so you are not paying for a power flush you do not need.
Is thermal imaging useful before installing a heat pump?
Very. A heat pump works best in a building that holds its heat, so seeing where the heat is escaping before the design stage lets you fix the cheap things first and size the system correctly. It also gives you evidence for the insulation recommendations on your EPC.
How long does a survey take?
A focused leak trace is often under an hour. A whole house heat loss survey usually takes a couple of hours, and works best when there is a clear temperature difference between inside and outside, so the cooler months give the sharpest results.
Do you work on commercial buildings?
Yes, and a large part of our work is commercial. We hold the accreditations needed to design, install and certify commercial heating, hot water and gas plant, and we have completed projects in schools and churches as well as offices, restaurants, care homes, hospitals, apartment blocks and multi occupancy buildings. We are used to working in occupied buildings and will plan the work around term times, services and opening hours.
Fully accredited commercial contractor
Commercial installations
Commercial work runs through everything we do. We hold the accreditations needed to design, install, certify and maintain commercial heating, hot water and gas systems, and we are used to working in buildings that stay open while we do it.
Schools and churches
We have completed projects in schools and churches, working around term times, services and the people using the building.
Restaurants and commercial kitchens
Commercial catering gas, extraction, interlocks and pipework, installed and certified to the standards environmental health expect.
Blocks, offices and care homes
Plant rooms, risers and distribution pipework for apartment blocks, offices, shops, care homes and hospitals, with planned maintenance afterwards.
Gas Safe registered for commercial work, MCS certified, OFTEC and REFCOM registered, TrustMark and RECC members. Full design, installation, commissioning, certification and maintenance from one team.
Accredited and certified
Areas we cover
We carry out thermal imaging surveys throughout London, Kent and Essex, from our base in Dartford.
London: all boroughs, including Greenwich, Lewisham, Southwark, Lambeth, Wandsworth, Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington & Chelsea, Westminster, Camden, Islington, Hackney, Bromley, Bexley, Croydon, Richmond, Kingston, Ealing, Brent, Barnet, Enfield, Haringey, Newham and Redbridge.
Kent: Dartford, Gravesend, Swanley, Sevenoaks, Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone, Orpington, Longfield, Hartley and the surrounding villages.
Essex: Thurrock, Grays, Purfleet, South Ockendon, Basildon, Brentwood, Romford, Upminster, Hornchurch, Chelmsford and the surrounding towns.
Ready to get started?
Suspect a hidden leak, a cold room or a heating circuit that is not working? Call us or request a quote and we will book a thermal imaging survey.