Etekcity Dual Laser Digital Infrared Temperature Gun
Infrared temperature guns have become so accurate and affordable, that it doesn’t make sense not to have one. While an HVAC technician might need a top-of-the-line professional unit, 99% of people don’t need the extra options that you’re paying extra for.
I purchased this heat gun to diagnose what appeared to be a coolant system overheating issue on my diesel Kubota zero turn mower. Within seconds, I was able to accurately check the temperature of the upper and lower radiator hoses, the radiator core itself, the thermostat housing, the cylinder head, engine block, and the oil pan.
An infrared heat gun is useful for diagnosing exhaust, brake, wheel bearing, heating, differential, and air conditioning systems on a vehicle. I recently started to hear a slight dragging noise coming from the rear brakes on my daily driver, but I wasn’t able to tell which side it was coming from. I aimed the laser at each rotor and discovered that the driver side brake rotor registered 40 degrees hotter than the passenger side. I quickly and correctly diagnosed the problem as a failing brake caliper – problem solved.
Most people wouldn’t think of an infrared heat gun as a housewarming gift, but what could be more useful than a tool that can do so much to enable first-time homeowners to stay on top of their maintenance?
Here are just a few things I have used this for around the house:
1. Scanning the attic for temperature differences that could reveal inadequate insulation in certain spots.
2. Checking the temperature of the walls around our wood stove to verify that the adhesive that I was planning on using for my Airstone project would be suitable for the application.
3. Recording the temperature of the surface of the soil in various garden beds at different times of the day to determine the best location for different vegetables based on when each bed started to receive late afternoon shade.
4. Checking my fryer’s oil temperature to ensure perfectly golden homemade onion rings.
5. Teaching my kids about how light, heat, and energy are related.
