Wall temperature anomaly

[Curtis Hildebrand]

I inspected a home today where the general surface temperature of the interior walls were around 16 degrees Celsius. The outdoor temperature was -28 degrees Celsius. But there was a 3 foot by 6 inch section of the wall that registered 22 degrees. Could this be anything else except an overheated wire in the wall? It was right next to a window with nothing else nearby and about 4 feet above a baseboard heater which was not on. I know this needs to be remedied by a qualified professional, but the cause of it baffles me. Any thoughts?

[Joe Funderburk, CMI]

What is Celsius?

[Curtis Hildebrand]

Okay, for my American friends: The outdoor temperature was -18 degrees F, The wall was 60 degrees F and the warm spot was 72 degrees F. I hope this helps.

[Gerry Pallotta]

Possibility of mold.

[Anthony Divello]

Being a building/remodeler 30 years I have seen plumbing in exterior walls and not well insulated, and dark siding in sun can add 20 degrees.

[David A. Andersen]

What was the orientation of this thing?

How did you measure this temp rise?

Most high temp rise in the wall due to electrical wiring originate at a wall outlet connection.

I often find Hot water lines, heat pump lines, interior wall air leakage from the building heat source(air ducts leaking from below)...

None of which "sounds" like what you are describing.

More info. available?

[Jeffrey Moore]

Do you have images you could post?

[Anthony Divello]

Also look for a missing fire block in framing below, letting heat rise

[Vaughn Hill]

It was a ghost to you do thermo?

[Curtis Hildebrand]

This home only has baseboard heat. I did find mold in some of the other rooms along this wall. It had a central air unit outside with makeshift ducting and the plenum in the attic. It was a North wall with light grey colored siding. The house was vacant so the thermostat was turned down to 60 degrees. I read the temperature using my laser thermometer. I do not have an infrared camera. The spot on the wall stopped about 2 feet above the baseboard heater. There were no outlets nearby and no sources of water which makes the possibility of water lines pretty unlikely. The sun was not shining - it was dark outside. There were no visible signs of the temperature spike by looking at the wall although the lino around the heaters was severely burned. There was nothing visible by looking at the wall but I included a picture of the temperature reading and the wrapped up plenum. The basement was insulated with 3/4 inch styrofoam at the interior. The main floor walls were 2 X 4. It was a 70's home with incomplete vapor barrier in the attic. The poly was about as thick as Saran Wrap. There was evidence of severe water damage at every window along this wall including crumbling gyproc and poor repair work. The windows were basically new. Is there anything else I could mention?

[Bob Elliott]

Originally Posted by childebrand

This home only has baseboard heat. I did find mold in some of the other rooms along this wall. It had a central air unit outside with makeshift ducting and the plenum in the attic. It was a North wall with light grey colored siding. The house was vacant so the thermostat was turned down to 60 degrees. I read the temperature using my laser thermometer. I do not have an infrared camera. The spot on the wall stopped about 2 feet above the baseboard heater. There were no outlets nearby and no sources of water which makes the possibility of water lines pretty unlikely. The sun was not shining - it was dark outside. There were no visible signs of the temperature spike by looking at the wall although the lino around the heaters was severely burned. There was nothing visible by looking at the wall but I included a picture of the temperature reading and the wrapped up plenum. The basement was insulated with 3/4 inch styrofoam at the interior. The main floor walls were 2 X 4. It was a 70's home with incomplete vapor barrier in the attic. The poly was about as thick as Saran Wrap. There was evidence of severe water damage at every window along this wall including crumbling gyproc and poor repair work. The windows were basically new. Is there anything else I could mention?

Ok you just said enough.
You were getting a bad reading and why in the heck would you use a infrared therm for that.?

I can see that is not flat paint in the picture and looks like a gloss.

[Christopher Currins]

Originally Posted by belliott

Ok you just said enough.
You were getting a bad reading and why in the heck would you use a infrared therm for that.?

I can see that is not flat paint in the picture and looks like a gloss.

Heat reflecting off of the light.

[William J. Decker]

Cold spot with ice (wall surface below dew and freeze point) reflecting infrared.

Gotta watch out for those reflections.

Did you measure the same spot from different perspecives?

[Curtis Hildebrand]

It was not a bad reading. The wall was warm to the touch. That is why I took a reading in the first place. I was feeling the damaged drywall around it and noticed this. All the walls, (interior and exterior) showed up as 60 degrees except this spot. If it was just heat reflecting off the light all the walls would have shown this.

[Robert W. Jude]

why would you even be checking random places in the walls with a thermometer?

maybe its a metal box full of money or a dead animal... it could be anything and you wont know without opening up the wall.