Thermal cameras for finding leaks, damp and hidden heat problems
What is a thermal camera? A thermal camera (thermal imaging camera or infrared camera) is a non-contact instrument that detects the long-wave infrared energy, about 8 to 14 µm, given off by every surface and turns it into a colour image of surface temperature called a thermogram. Each pixel is a temperature reading, so the camera shows warm and cold patterns that the eye cannot see, such as a leaking hot-water pipe in a wall, a damp patch on a ceiling or missing insulation in a roof.
Ecotao supplies two handheld thermal cameras: the entry-level HT-04D (160 × 120) and the higher-resolution HT-18+ (256 × 192). Both are used by plumbers, home inspectors, builders, facilities teams and maintenance technicians across South Africa and neighbouring countries. This page explains how a thermal camera finds leaks, which model suits which job, and how to get reliable results in local conditions.
Thermal cameras supplied by Ecotao
Both cameras measure in the 8 to 14 µm long-wave infrared band, show a centre-point reading with automatic hot-spot and cold-spot markers, offer five colour palettes and run on a rechargeable 18650 Li-ion battery. They differ in resolution, sensitivity, field of view, speed and reporting features.
HT-18+ Thermal Imaging Camera
More detail across a wider view, plus video and image fusion for reports.
The HT-18+ is the better choice when one picture needs to show a whole wall, ceiling or roof section and the finding has to stand up in a report. Its 256 × 192 vanadium oxide detector takes 49,152 temperature readings in every frame, more than two and a half times as many as an entry-level 160 × 120 camera. The wide 56° × 42° lens takes in roughly a 2.1 × 1.5 m area from 2 m away, which helps in bathrooms, passages and roof voids where you cannot step back.
Thermal sensitivity of 50 mK or better picks up the faint cool edge of a damp patch or a slow seep under tiles before it stains the surface. The refresh rate of up to 25 Hz keeps the image smooth while you sweep along a wall to follow a pipe run. Thermal-to-visual fusion in 25% steps keeps taps, skirtings and fittings recognisable in the saved image. MP4 video recording lets you show a client or insurer how a warm streak runs from the geyser to the leak.
- IR resolution256 × 192 (49,152 px)
- Thermal sensitivity≤50 mK @ 25 °C
- Field of view56° × 42°
- Refresh rateup to 25 Hz
- Temperature range−20 °C to +550 °C (low/high ranges)
- Accuracy±2% or ±2 °C, whichever is greater*
- Visual camera640 × 480, fusion in 25% steps
- Display3.2" colour TFT
- Storage4 GB built-in (Ecotao listing), JPEG + MP4
- Supplied withCarry case, USB cable, battery, manual
Best for: home and pre-purchase inspectors, insurance and damp surveys, roof and ceiling leaks, underfloor heating, larger buildings, and electrical or mechanical checks above 300 °C.
*The manufacturer specifies ±4 °C between −20 °C and −15 °C. Available on backorder; the store listing gives a lead time of 3 to 4 weeks.
HT-04D Entry Level Thermal Imager
A real thermal image, not a single spot, for everyday leak and damp checks.
The HT-04D is the most affordable way to move from a spot infrared thermometer to a true thermal camera. Its 160 × 120 detector measures 19,200 points at once, so a leaking hot-water line shows as a clear warm stripe across a wall or floor instead of one number that is easy to miss. At 1 m from the surface each pixel covers about 4 mm, which is enough to separate a pipe from the tile grout around it.
Thermal sensitivity of 0.07 °C is fine enough for most damp and leak work, and the −20 °C to +300 °C range covers geysers, hot-water pipes, HVAC ducts, motors and distribution boards. The fixed-focus lens is sharp from 0.5 m, so there is nothing to adjust: point, read the hot and cold markers, and save. A built-in 640 × 480 visual camera records what you were looking at, and around 2 million JPEG images fit in the internal memory. Images download over USB.
- IR resolution160 × 120 (19,200 px)
- Thermal sensitivity0.07 °C
- Field of view35° × 26°
- Refresh rate9 Hz
- Temperature range−20 °C to +300 °C
- Accuracy±2% or ±2 °C, whichever is greater
- FocusFixed, from 0.5 m
- Visual camera640 × 480 (0.3 MP)
- Display2.8" colour TFT
- Storage3 GB built-in (approx. 2 million JPEG images)
- Supplied withCarry case, USB cable, battery, manual
Best for: plumbers and leak detection call-outs, homeowners and property managers, HVAC and refrigeration checks, and teams buying their first thermal camera.
Available on backorder; the store listing gives a lead time of 3 to 4 weeks.
How a thermal camera finds a water leak
A thermal camera cannot see water or see through a wall. It reads the surface temperature, and a leak changes that temperature in ways you can predict:
- Hot-water leaks show warm. Water escaping from a geyser supply or hot-water pipe heats the plaster, screed or tiles above it, showing as a warm line along the pipe route or a spreading warm bloom where it pools.
- Wet material usually shows cool. Moisture evaporating from a damp wall or ceiling cools the surface. Wet material also holds more heat, so it warms up and cools down more slowly than the dry material around it.
- Cold-water leaks need a temperature difference. Mains-cold water shows best when the room is warmer than the supply, for example on a warm afternoon or with the heating on.
Create a temperature difference
Run the hot water for 10 to 15 minutes, or switch on underfloor heating, so a leak has time to warm the surrounding material.
Scan wide, then move in
Sweep walls, floors and ceilings from a distance to find unusual warm or cool shapes, then move closer for detail. A wet patch has soft, irregular edges; a pipe shows as a straight line.
Rule out false readings
Check for reflections on shiny tiles and chrome, sun-warmed walls, and condensation. A dew point meter shows whether a cold surface is simply below the dew point, which is condensation, not a leak.
Confirm with a moisture meter
A thermal camera shows where to look; a moisture meter confirms the material is wet before anyone breaks a wall.
Trace the pipe and open up once
Once the leaking area is found, a pipe and cable locator traces the exact pipe route so you open the wall or floor in one place.
What thermal cameras are used for
Below is what the camera shows in each kind of job, and why it is faster than the alternative.
Plumbing leaks in walls and slabs
South African homes commonly run hot-water pipes inside brick walls and concrete floors. A thermal camera follows the warm line from the geyser and shows where it spreads into a bloom, which narrows the search from a whole room to a small patch before any tiles are lifted.
Roof leaks and damp ceilings
After winter rain, wet ceiling boards and insulation show cooler than dry areas. Scanning the ceiling from below, or the roof void from the hatch, shows how far water has travelled from the entry point, which is often a metre or more from the visible stain.
Rising and penetrating damp
Damp at the base of walls, around window frames and below parapets shows as a cool band or patch. A thermal image records how far the damp extends, which helps plan the repair and shows whether a treatment has worked.
Insulation and energy loss
Missing or slumped ceiling insulation, gaps around downlights and air leaks around doors and windows show as clear warm or cold areas when there is a good indoor-outdoor temperature difference.
Home and pre-purchase inspections
Inspectors use thermal images to check for hidden moisture, plumbing leaks and overheating electrical points, and include the images in the report so buyers, sellers and insurers can see the evidence.
HVAC, refrigeration and underfloor heating
A thermal camera checks supply and return temperatures, finds blocked or unbalanced ducts and radiators, locates underfloor heating loops before drilling, and shows failing door seals on cold rooms.
Electrical and mechanical maintenance
Loose terminals, overloaded circuits, failing bearings and slipping belts run hot. For electrical and industrial surveys, see our thermal imaging cameras guide for electrical and industrial work.
Solar geysers and heat pumps
Collector panels, heat pump pipework and geyser connections can be checked for uneven heating, blocked tubes and heat loss from uninsulated pipe runs.
How to choose a thermal camera
1. Resolution decides how much you see per image
Both cameras resolve about 4 mm per pixel at 1 m. The HT-18+ has more pixels spread across a wider 56° × 42° view, so each image covers nearly three times the area. That matters for whole walls, ceilings and roofs. For a bathroom wall or a single pipe run at 1 to 2 m, the HT-04D's 160 × 120 is enough.
2. Thermal sensitivity matters most for damp
A damp patch may be only a degree or two cooler than the dry wall around it. The HT-18+'s ≤50 mK separates these faint differences more cleanly than the HT-04D's 70 mK, especially on cool, overcast days when contrast is low.
3. Temperature range rarely limits building work
Geysers, hot-water pipes and heating systems stay well under 100 °C, so both ranges are more than enough for leak and damp work. Choose the HT-18+'s 550 °C ceiling only if you also inspect hot plant, exhausts or severely overheated electrical connections.
4. Decide whether you need reports and video
If the result goes to a client, body corporate or insurer, image fusion and video make the finding easier to understand. The HT-18+ blends thermal and visual images and records MP4 video. The HT-04D saves JPEG thermal and visual images.
5. Refresh rate affects how fast you can scan
At up to 25 Hz, the HT-18+ gives a smooth live image while you sweep along a wall. At 9 Hz, the HT-04D works well if you move steadily and pause on anything suspicious.
HT-04D vs HT-18+ compared
← Scroll to see full table →
| Specification | HT-04D | HT-18+ |
|---|---|---|
| IR resolution | 160 × 120 (19,200 px) | 256 × 192 (49,152 px) |
| Thermal sensitivity | 0.07 °C (70 mK) | ≤50 mK @ 25 °C |
| Field of view | 35° × 26° | 56° × 42° |
| Area covered from 2 m (calculated) | approx. 1.3 × 0.9 m | approx. 2.1 × 1.5 m |
| Refresh rate | 9 Hz | up to 25 Hz |
| Temperature range | −20 to +300 °C | −20 to +550 °C |
| Accuracy | ±2% or ±2 °C | ±2% or ±2 °C |
| Visual camera | 640 × 480 | 640 × 480 |
| Thermal and visual fusion | Ask Ecotao | Yes, in 25% steps |
| Video recording | Not listed (JPEG images) | Yes, MP4 |
| Display | 2.8" colour TFT | 3.2" colour TFT |
| Best suited to | Plumbing call-outs, first thermal camera | Inspections, reports, larger buildings |
Thermal camera vs other leak-finding tools
← Scroll to see full table →
| Tool | What it measures | What it tells you | Limitation | Use it to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thermal camera | Surface temperature over thousands of points | Where a leak, damp patch or pipe is likely to be | Needs a temperature difference; does not confirm water | Find the area quickly without damage |
| Infrared thermometer | Average temperature of one spot | Temperature at a point you already suspect | Easy to miss a narrow pipe or small patch | Check a known point |
| Moisture meter | Moisture content of the material | Whether the material is actually wet | Reads one small area at a time | Confirm what the camera found |
| Dew point meter | Air temperature, humidity, dew point | Whether a cold surface is gathering condensation | Does not locate leaks | Rule out condensation |
| Pipe and cable locator | Signal along a pipe or cable | The exact route of the pipe | Does not show where it leaks | Open up in the right place |
Getting reliable thermal images in South African conditions
- Plan around the temperature difference. For insulation and building envelope checks, a commonly used rule of thumb is at least 10 °C between inside and outside. Early winter mornings on the Highveld and in the Western Cape give the best contrast.
- Avoid solar loading. Strong sun heats north- and west-facing walls and roofs for hours. Scan exterior walls early in the morning, or several hours after the sun has left them, so sun-warmed brick does not hide damp or insulation patterns.
- Use the Cape winter for roof leaks. Scanning ceilings within a day or two of rain, while material is still wet, shows the full spread of water from a roof or flashing leak.
- Watch for reflections. Glazed tiles, chrome, stainless steel and aluminium window frames reflect infrared from around them, including your body heat. Change your angle, or put matt tape on the surface and measure the tape.
- Mind the dew point. In humid coastal areas such as Durban and the Cape coast, cold walls and pipes can collect condensation that looks like a leak. Check with a dew point meter before calling a plumber.
Not for fever screening. The HT-04D and HT-18+ are building and maintenance instruments with ±2 °C accuracy. They are not medical devices and should not be used to measure body temperature or screen for fever.
Thermal cameras finding leaks: videos
These videos show how a leak looks through a thermal camera and how an inspector follows the temperature pattern to the source.
A home inspector uses an infrared camera to find the cause of a leak.
A water leak shown as a temperature pattern on a building surface.
Thermal camera FAQ
What is a thermal camera?
A thermal camera, also called a thermal imaging camera or infrared camera, is a non-contact instrument that detects the long-wave infrared energy (about 8 to 14 µm) that every surface gives off and converts it into a colour image of surface temperature called a thermogram. Every pixel in the image is a temperature measurement, so you can see warm and cold patterns, such as a leaking hot-water pipe or a damp patch, that are invisible to the eye.
Can a thermal camera find water leaks behind walls and under floors?
Yes, indirectly. A thermal camera cannot see water itself or see through a wall, but a leak changes the surface temperature above it. Leaking hot-water pipes show as a warm streak or bloom, and wet plaster or screed usually shows cooler than dry material because evaporation cools it and the extra water slows how fast it heats up and cools down. The camera shows where to look. Confirm the area with a moisture meter, then trace the pipe route with a pipe and cable locator before opening up.
Can a thermal camera see through walls?
No. A thermal camera only measures the temperature of the surface it is pointed at. It detects pipes, studs, leaks and missing insulation behind a wall only because they change the temperature of the wall surface. Glass and shiny metal reflect infrared, so a thermal camera cannot see through a window either.
What is the difference between a thermal camera and an infrared thermometer?
An infrared thermometer gives one average temperature for a single spot. A thermal camera measures thousands of spots at once: 19,200 on the HT-04D and 49,152 on the HT-18+. That lets you see the shape of a temperature pattern, such as the line of a pipe or the edge of a damp patch. An infrared thermometer is useful for checking one known point. A thermal camera is the right tool when you do not yet know where the problem is.
What thermal camera resolution do I need for leak detection and home inspections?
160 x 120 (the HT-04D) is a practical starting point for plumbing leaks, damp patches and single-room inspections, where you can stand 1 to 2 m from the surface. 256 x 192 (the HT-18+) covers a much wider area per image, holds more detail for whole walls, ceilings and roofs, and produces clearer images for reports to clients and insurers. Both cameras resolve about 4 mm per pixel at 1 m. The HT-18+ has more pixels across a wider 56° x 42° view, so each image covers more of the surface.
What does NETD or thermal sensitivity mean on a thermal camera?
NETD (noise equivalent temperature difference) is the smallest temperature difference the camera can separate from image noise. A lower number is better. The HT-18+ is rated at 50 mK (0.05 °C) or better at 25 °C, and the HT-04D at 0.07 °C. Sensitivity matters most for building and damp work, where a wet patch may be only a degree or two cooler than the dry wall around it.
Why does my thermal camera show the wrong temperature on tiles, taps or metal pipes?
Shiny surfaces such as glazed tiles, chrome taps, polished stainless steel and bare copper or aluminium have low emissivity. They reflect infrared from their surroundings, including your own body heat, instead of emitting their own. Set the camera's emissivity to suit the surface, change your viewing angle to check for reflections, or stick a piece of matt electrical tape or masking tape on the surface and measure the tape.
When is the best time to scan a building with a thermal camera in South Africa?
Thermal imaging needs a temperature difference to work with. For insulation and building envelope checks, a commonly used rule of thumb is at least 10 °C between inside and outside, which makes early winter mornings ideal on the Highveld and in the Western Cape. Avoid walls that have had direct sun in the past few hours, because solar heating masks damp and insulation patterns. For hot-water leaks, run the hot water for 10 to 15 minutes first so the pipe and any leak warm up.
Can a thermal camera be used to measure body temperature or screen for fever?
The HT-04D and HT-18+ are industrial and building inspection instruments with an accuracy of ±2 °C or ±2%. They are not medical devices and should not be used to diagnose fever or for health screening, where much tighter accuracy and medical certification are required.
Can the HT-04D and HT-18+ record video?
The HT-18+ saves both JPEG images and MP4 video, and blends thermal and visual images in 25% steps. Ecotao's HT-04D listing specifies JPEG images only. Contact Ecotao if video recording is a requirement for your work.
Where can I buy a thermal camera in South Africa?
Ecotao supplies the HT-04D and HT-18+ thermal cameras from Cape Town to customers throughout South Africa and neighbouring countries, including Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho and Eswatini. Both are listed on the Ecotao online store. Contact sales@ecotao.co.za or +27 21 911 5835 for stock and lead times.
Not sure which thermal camera you need?
Tell us what you need to find, whether it's leaks, damp, insulation gaps or electrical hot spots, and the size of the building. We'll recommend the right camera and any instruments to pair with it. Delivery throughout South Africa and neighbouring countries.
- Head Office: +27 21 911 5835
- Zak: 086 142 8716
- Zaid: 082 390 3989
- sales@ecotao.co.za
- aqua@ecotao.co.za