How Calgary is built
- Before 1961 10%
- 1961–1990 38%
- 1991–2000 17%
- 2001 or later 36%
Why air leakage matters in Calgary
Calgary gets about 4,876 heating degree-days a year and has a winter design temperature of −26.2°C, according to NRCan's HOT2000 climate data for Calgary International. That's about 24% more heating demand than the middle of the 70 cities we cover.
Of Calgary's 379,710 houses (single-detached, semi-detached, row houses and duplexes), 10% were built before 1961 and 47% before 1991, according to the 2021 Census. Older houses usually test leakier than newer ones, and an EnerGuide report compares your result with homes of the same era, so you can see whether your house is typical or a problem.
After you seal: two checks
- Combustion safety. In the Calgary area, the main heating energy is natural gas for 73% of households. A tighter house changes how fuel-burning appliances vent, so the spillage check should be repeated after serious air sealing. Combustion safety testing in Calgary
- Radon. Sealing shifts the pressure balance between the house and the soil. Health Canada's 2012 survey found 8.1% of 86 homes tested in the Calgary Health Region health region above the guideline. The larger 2024 Cross-Canada survey reports 15.5% (1 in 6) of houses at or above the guideline for Calgary Metro Area (Calgary CMA). Test before and after big air-sealing jobs. Radon testing in Calgary
What it costs in Calgary
A blower door test is part of every EnerGuide evaluation rather than a separate purchase. There's no provincial rebate or price list; the City of Edmonton's guidance is to expect more than $400 and to get two or three quotes.
How the test works
- A calibrated fan is fitted into an exterior door and pulls air out until the house is at 50 pascals, the standard test pressure.
- The result is air changes per hour at 50 Pa (ACH50): how many times an hour the whole volume of air would leak out and be replaced at that pressure.
- While the fan runs, you and the advisor walk the house and feel for leaks at the attic hatch, rim joists, pot lights, trim and plumbing and wiring penetrations.
- A second test after the work shows what changed, and it is what most rebates pay on.
NRCan-licensed service organizations serving Calgary
A blower door test is part of every EnerGuide evaluation, so any organization below can do one in Calgary. Ask to walk the house with the advisor while the fan runs.
- Acacia Engineering
- All Season Inspection Profile
- AmeriSpec Profile
- Buildingexpert
- Clean Energy Solutions
- CoEfficient Building Science
- Energy Werx Profile
- EnerHome Consulting
- EnerQuality
- EnerSolution Profile
- EnerVision
- GETS Energy
- Green Canada Home Advisors Profile
- Green Think
- Isle Energy Consulting
- Map Energy
- Sensible Home Inspections
- The Energuy Profile
- VerdaTech Energy Management and Consulting
- Enerspec Energy Consulting and Home Inspections
- Homesol Building Solutions
- NRGwise (A1 NRGwise Consulting) Profile
- Air Barrier Canada
- Greenbrain Profile
- Enerhold Engineering Solutions
- The Home Inspectors Group Profile
Blower door test in Calgary: common questions
Where can I get a blower door test in Calgary?
Book an EnerGuide evaluation with any of the 26 NRCan-licensed organizations serving Calgary; the blower door test is part of every evaluation.
How much does a blower door test cost in Calgary?
It is included in an EnerGuide evaluation. There's no provincial rebate or price list; the City of Edmonton's guidance is to expect more than $400 and to get two or three quotes.
What is a good blower door result?
Lower is better. Your EnerGuide report compares your air changes per hour at 50 Pa with homes of the same era, which is more useful than a single target number.
Does air sealing affect radon?
It can. Tightening a house changes the pressure difference with the soil, so test for radon before and after major air sealing.