Infrared Thermometers, Useless for Investigations

Almost every paranormal investigator has an infrared thermometer in their investigation kit. In my former career as an aircraft mechanic, I used infrared thermometer guns to troubleshoot windshield heat problems, locate blown ducts, troubleshoot anti-ice problems, and various other aircraft systems. It was a very useful tool in certain situations. However, for paranormal investigations, I think they are next to useless.

My main issue with using an infrared thermometer is they must reflect off a solid surface to get a reading. They cannot read a temperature from a void in the center of a room. If you're aiming your infrared thermometer toward the center of the room, what you are actually measuring is the temperature of the wall that’s in the direction that you're aiming at.

If you point your infrared thermometer at a window on a cold day, you may think you have found a cold spot. Also, the diagram on the side shows distance and diameter. The farther you are from an object, the greater the surface area you are measuring, and the less accurate your reading becomes. As the surface area grows, the measurement becomes more of an average than a precise reading.

If you are looking to stock your kit with temperature measuring equipment, use simple digital thermometers. They measure the air temperature of the immediate area. If your group likes to set up a command center, you can buy a set of digital thermometers that relays the temperature of the area they are monitoring back to an easy-to-read display. Digital thermometers also show the room's humidity. If there is high humidity, the greater the chance of mist in your photos. I have recently noticed that during investigations, the perceived cold spots are not temperature changes but changes in humidity. Digital thermometers also record the maximum and minimum temperatures in a given area, so if you miss a temperature change, the thermometer will record it for you.

One last thing: digital thermometers are usually several times cheaper than a good infrared thermometer. For the same price, you can monitor temperatures in several areas in real time. If you want to go totally old school. Then there are always the old mercury thermometers.

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