House won't stay cool in summer

The AC runs all day, upstairs never cools, and July bills rival January's.

Loose-fill insulation between attic joists, a yellow ruler showing its depth and frost on the roofing nails above

What it usually means

  • Attic heat load — a 60°C attic over a thin insulation layer is a radiant heater aimed at your bedrooms
  • Duct leakage dumping cooled air into the attic or walls
  • Aging or oversized AC short-cycling

What an audit measures

  • Attic inspection + duct testing find the heat path
  • Cooling load calculation right-sizes replacement equipment

Try first (cheap or free)

  • Close blinds on south/west glass through afternoons
  • Verify attic ventilation isn't blocked

The fix ladder

  1. Attic top-up + duct sealing $$
  2. Heat pump replacing the AC (cooling + heating in one) $$$

$ = under ~$1k · $$ = $1k–$5k · $$$ = $5k+ · $$$$ = $15k+

Rebates that apply

  • HRSP (with assessment) — Up to $10,000 per home for insulation, windows and air sealing, plus $600 back on your assessments — if the follow-up assessment is done by December 31, 2026
  • HRSP (no assessment) — Heat pumps up to $7,500 ($12,000 ground-source), solar with battery up to $10,000, plus attic, thermostat and appliance rebates — no assessment needed

Want it diagnosed properly?

A registered energy advisor measures instead of guessing — blower door, thermal imaging, and a written upgrade report priced against rebates.

Email us what you’re planning, your postal code and the type of building (a house, a duplex or triplex, or a larger multi-unit building) — we’ll reply with registered service organizations for your area and which rebates apply.

Email dave@clickshift.ca

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