Octopus Energy's thermal camera loan scheme for its customers is closed for this winter, the consumer body Which? reported on 21 January 2026. Which? said the scheme is "so popular that it's now closed for this winter" and that customers keen to borrow a camera should apply to the waiting list as soon as it reopens1. Octopus Energy has not been reported as giving a reopening date.
A thermal camera detects infra-red radiation and converts it into a visible image showing surface temperatures, so cold spots inside a home and hot spots outside reveal where heat is escaping1. Which? said surveys work best when the outside temperature is below 10°C and the home is heated to around 19-20°C, with a difference of around ten degrees between inside and outside air needed for a clear reading1. The cameras cannot see through walls, but can show temperature differences on a wall surface caused by damp or rodents behind it1.
For households that cannot borrow a camera, Which? set out the alternatives and their costs:
| Option | Cost as reported |
|---|---|
| London Library of Things network, around 20 locations | From £15 a day |
| Tool hire shops, usually by the week | Around £100 to £200, plus a security deposit of £500 or more |
| Buying a phone plug-in camera | Less than £200, lower quality than professional equipment |
| Professional thermographic survey | From around £300 for a small property to more than £750 for the largest homes |
Which? said professional surveyors use cameras costing upwards of £10,000, which can detect temperature differences as low as 0.02°C, against around 1.5°C for an entry-level camera1. It also said some local councils run their own loan schemes, and that community energy groups may lend or hire cameras or carry out surveys for a fee1.
Which? gave figures for the fixes a survey might point to: draughtproofing typically saves around £35 to £50 a year on energy bills, installing 270mm of loft insulation saves £180 to £340 a year depending on the size of the home, and cavity wall insulation saves up to £370 a year1. It added that where failed cavity wall insulation is found, householders should check the age of the insulation, because if it is still under warranty, usually 25 years, the installer or insurer should fix it before anyone else is paid to remove or replace it1.
Why it matters for households
Finding where heat leaves a home is the first step to keeping more of it, and a thermal survey is one of the few ways to locate gaps, missing insulation and failed seals that are not visible. The closure of the largest customer loan scheme removes the cheapest route to that information for Octopus customers this winter, leaving paid hire, community lending or a professional survey. The timing matters because the survey conditions Which? describes, an outside temperature below 10°C and a heated home, fall within the winter months. Acting on what a survey finds is where the money is: the savings Which? reports for draughtproofing and insulation are annual figures, and insulation installed under warranty may be someone else's cost to put right. For a household weighing up energy suppliers and household energy independence, knowing where a home loses heat is part of judging how much of its comfort it can supply from its own walls rather than from the meter.
What happens next
Which? said the scheme is closed for this winter and that customers should apply to the waiting list as soon as it reopens1. No reopening date has been reported.