Black & Decker TLD100 Thermal Leak Detector

by Black & Decker

• Uses infrared sensors to measure surface temperatures
• Helps homeowners track down power-draining drafts
• Sold with a 5-step guide to fixing basic energy leaks and comes with the thermal leak detector
• Plugging leaks can save up to 20 percent on heating and cooling costs
• Backed by a two-year warranty

Product Description

Amazon.com

The Black & Decker thermal leak detector helps you increase the efficiency of your home's insulation by finding leaky areas that can lead to higher heating and cooling bills. You'll instantly identify problem areas around drafty windows and doors, and uncover hidden leaks and insulation "soft spots" around your home. Check windows, ducts, and walls with the thermal reference light that indicates hot and cold spots. You can even use the detector to diagnose engine misfires or check your refrigerator and freezer settings.

The TLD100 lets you identify weak spots that can lead to high energy bills. View larger.

Easy-to-Read Color Coding and Screen
The thermal leak detector makes it easy to monitor your home's energy efficiency by finding areas that let heat out and cold air in. Simply set the detector's temperature tolerances to one, five, or 10 degrees and scan the light across the area you want to inspect. The light will change to red for warmer spots and blue for cooler spots to detect air leaks in both warm and cool weather. The detector also displays temperatures in either Fahrenheit or Celsius on the LCD screen. Check for drafts or leaks around your fireplace, recessed lighting, electrical outlets, along floor molding, or any place that may have improper seals, caulking, or seams that aren't immediately visible. An included booklet gives you tips and instructions on how to seal leaks and improve insulation.

Cut Energy Bills and Improve Your Home's Efficiency
Sealing the leaks and improving insulation in your home can help you save as much as 20 percent on your heating and cooling bills. An efficient, greener home will stay cooler in summer and warmer in winter, increasing its resale value.

Multiple Uses to Handle Uncommon Tasks
Use the thermal leak detector to check your refrigerator and freezer temperatures and efficiency. Diagnose engine problems related to overheating or coolant leaks to avoid costly repairs and mechanic bills down the road. The thermal leak detector can also check the operation of your HVAC system, so you can perform preventative maintenance as needed.

The Black & Decker thermal leak detector is covered by a two-year warranty.

What's in the Box
Thermal leak detector, five-step guide on how to insulate and seal your house

Sealing leaks and improving your home's insulation can help you save as much as 20 percent on energy bills.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

301 of 308 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This meter is a dandy, especially if you're tech-nerd October 7, 2009

By G. Stelzenmuller

Amazon Verified Purchase

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.

329 of 341 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Some comparisons with the KINTREX Infrared Thermometer July 3, 2010

By Lombard Street

Amazon Verified Purchase

Since the KINTREX IRT0421 Non-Contact Infrared Thermometer is the main competition, let me provide some comparisons of the two products.

I purchased this Black and Decker product because it has an innovative feature: A LED spot is projected on the surface that you are scanning. If the surface temperature is higher by 1 degree (or 5, 10 degrees) than a reference point you set, the LED color will turn red. Similarly if the temperature is lower, the color will turn blue. This saves me a lot of neck pain because I would not need to keep looking up and down between the ceiling I am scanning and the LCD screen on the device.

However, the KINTREX device is far more technologically advanced (not surprising as KINTREX specializes in making precise measurement devices while Black and Decker is just a home and garden gadget makers.

The disadvantaged of the Black and Decker product vs. KINTREX:

Measurement Range: -22 to 302 °F (-30 to 150 °C) vs. -76 to 932 °F (-60 to 500 °C), i.e., useless for measuring your oven.
Distance to Spot Ratio: 6:1 vs. 12:1, which means you will have to stay twice closer to what you are measuring.
Battery: 9V alkaline battery (not included and costs about $5) vs. 2 AAA battery (included). KINTREX also claims that because of the low voltage its battery life is 60% longer.
Padded Nylon Carrying Case with Belt Loop: not included vs. included.

203 of 216 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Works great and is very easy to use November 30, 2010

By Bob Tobias #1 HALL OF FAMETOP 10 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Amazon Verified Purchase

Length: 2:38 Mins

Lots of details have already been presented by other excellent reviews. The accompanying video provides some details that may have been overlooked and shows how simple this is to use.

BTW, I feel that honest, effective reviews, accompanied by detailed videos, can take the place of first-hand experiences that are often lacking in online shopping. I've always appreciated the help I've received from other reviewers and try to return the favor as best as I can. I hope you found this review helpful and the video at least entertaining. If there was anything you thought was lacking or unclear leave a comment and I'll do what I can to fix it.