British Columbia · Energy · checked September 28, 2026

Duct leakage and ductwork pressure testing in Richmond

If some rooms never get warm, the problem is often the ductwork, not the furnace. In the Vancouver area, 32% of households heat with a forced-air furnace, so duct losses affect many Richmond homes.

Get matched in Richmond → Duct leakage and airflow testing
A duct-testing fan on a basement floor connected by flexible duct to a furnace, a pressure gauge hanging from a joist

Typical cost

$200–$450

Forced-air furnaces

32%

Electric baseboards

31%

Houses built before 1991

49%

How Richmond is built

Richmond's houses by when they were built Ten house shapes, one for each tenth of Richmond's 46,950 houses. Before 1961: 5%, 1961–1990: 45%, 1991–2000: 21%, 2001 or later: 31%. Older houses glow hotter.
  • Before 1961 5%
  • 1961–1990 45%
  • 1991–2000 21%
  • 2001 or later 31%
Each house stands for one in ten of Richmond's 46,950 houses (single-detached, semi-detached, row and duplex), drawn by when it was built. The glow shows the usual pattern: older houses tend to be leakier and less insulated. Snowfall scales with heating degree-days. Sources: Statistics Canada 2021 Census (table 98-10-0233-01), NRCan HOT2000 climate data.

Who needs it in Richmond

In the Vancouver area, 32% of households heat mainly with a forced-air furnace, 31% with electric baseboards, 12% with a boiler and radiators and 5% with a heat pump; natural gas is the main heating energy for 42% of households and electricity for 39% (Statistics Canada, 2023).

Of Richmond's 46,950 houses (single-detached, semi-detached, row houses and duplexes), 4% were built before 1961 and 49% before 1991, according to the 2021 Census. Ducts in older houses often run through unheated spaces with taped or unsealed joints, and supply runs to the far rooms are the first to suffer.

What the test shows

  • Total duct leakage, as a share of the system's airflow, measured by pressure-testing the ductwork with a calibrated duct-pressurization fan.
  • Airflow at each register, which explains why one bedroom is always cold.
  • Whether sealing and balancing will fix comfort problems before you buy bigger equipment.

Duct leakage testing in detail.

What it costs

About $200–$450 (a September 2026 planning range; quotes vary). It isn't part of a standard EnerGuide evaluation, so ask for it when you book if comfort is your main complaint.

NRCan-licensed service organizations serving Richmond

Duct leakage testing isn't part of a standard EnerGuide evaluation. Some of these organizations offer it, as do HVAC contractors with duct-testing equipment, so ask when you call.

Source: NRCan list of licensed service organizations, checked September 28, 2026. Call to confirm your street is covered and ask about wait times.

Programs in Richmond

Provincial · needs an evaluation BC Home Energy Improvement Bonus $20 for every percentage-point your home improves — $750 minimum, $2,000 maximum — or $300 for any two upgrades Open Provincial CleanBC Energy Savings Program Income-tiered CleanBC rebates paid through registered contractors: up to $13,000 toward a heat pump and up to $3,500 for a heat pump water heater — rebates, not free installs Open · deadline Federal National Heat Pump Rebate Announced October 8, 2026 and opening early 2027: up to $10,000 below the median income, $2,000 for other eligible homeowners Announced · opens 2027 Federal CMHC Eco Improvement premium refund A 25% energy-efficiency rebate on your CMHC mortgage insurance premium after $20,000 of energy renovations Open Federal Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program Free retrofits for low-to-median-income households through provincial partners in BC, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, PEI and Quebec (Quebec's 2026–27 intake has closed) — not available in Ontario Open · deadline Municipal City of Richmond residential heat pump rebate and electrical upgrade top-up City page: owners of single-family homes, duplexes and townhomes get a $350 City rebate on top of CleanBC rebates when switching from oil, natural gas or propane to an electric heat pump, plus up to $500 more for a needed electrical system upgrade. The page was last published Sept 2024; the City's heat pump story map (updated Aug 2026) still says incentives and electrical-upgrade top-ups are available but gives no amounts. Treat 2026 availability and amounts as unconfirmed.

Duct leakage testing in Richmond: common questions

How much does duct leakage testing cost in Richmond?

Plan on about $200–$450. It is usually a separate service from an EnerGuide evaluation.

Is duct cleaning the same thing?

No. Cleaning removes dust; it doesn't find or seal leaks. A leakage test measures where air is lost.

What is ductwork pressure testing?

The same thing as a duct leakage test: registers are sealed, a calibrated fan pressurizes the ducts, and the airflow needed to hold the test pressure shows how leaky they are.

Should I close vents in unused rooms?

Usually not. Closing registers raises duct pressure and can increase leakage elsewhere in the system.

Duct leakage testing near Richmond

Duct leakage testing in Vancouver11 kmDuct leakage testing in Delta11 kmDuct leakage testing in Burnaby14 kmDuct leakage testing in Coquitlam21 kmDuct leakage testing in Surrey22 km All 70 cities →

Sources

Checked September 28, 2026. Census figures are for the municipality (British Columbia); climate data is NRCan's HOT2000 station Vancouver International (5 km away).

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