Kent libraries lending free thermal cameras to spot heat loss at home

Householders across Kent can now borrow a device that shows exactly where warmth is leaking out of their walls, windows and roofs — without paying a penny. Kent County Council has launched a Thermal Imaging Camera Loan Scheme through selected libraries across the county, giving residents a practical way to check their home’s insulation before deciding whether to splash out on improvements.

The cameras connect to a compatible smartphone or tablet and show heat patterns invisible to the naked eye. Point one at a draughty door frame or a suspiciously cold patch of wall and you’ll see the problem laid out in colour. Each loan comes with a user guide, and the free FLIR ONE app offers inspection guides, examples of common household faults and step-by-step advice on carrying out a full home survey.

Richard Palmer, Kent County Council Cabinet Member for Communities and Regulatory Services, said the trial would give residents free access to a practical tool for identifying areas where heat may be escaping. Which, given what energy bills have been doing to household budgets lately, is not nothing.

A 12-month trial. It launched during Green Libraries Week, which ran from 21 to 28 October.

Where to borrow one

Twenty cameras available across selected library locations. Participating libraries are: Ashford, Folkestone, Hythe, Herne Bay, Canterbury, Dover, Deal, Margate, Ramsgate, Sevenoaks, Eden Centre, Kent History and Library Centre, Dartford, Gravesend, Sittingbourne, Sheerness, Tonbridge, Southborough and Cranbrook.

Key information

• Who can borrow: Kent Libraries members aged 16 and over
• Loan period: Up to seven days, free of charge
• How to find your nearest library: Search “Kent Libraries” to locate your branch and check camera availability
• Trial length: 12 months from launch in October 2026

*The cameras can identify temperature differences and potential heat loss, but do not diagnose structural defects or guarantee energy savings.*