How Edmonton is built
- Before 1961 15%
- 1961–1990 37%
- 1991–2000 10%
- 2001 or later 39%
Why air leakage matters in Edmonton
Edmonton gets about 5,668 heating degree-days a year and has a winter design temperature of −30.8°C, according to NRCan's HOT2000 climate data for Edmonton International, the closest comparable location in that data set (26 km away). That's the 4th-highest heating demand of the 70 cities we cover.
Of Edmonton's 275,750 houses (single-detached, semi-detached, row houses and duplexes), 15% were built before 1961 and 52% 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 Edmonton area, the main heating energy is natural gas for 74% 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 Edmonton
- Radon. Sealing shifts the pressure balance between the house and the soil. Health Canada's 2012 survey found 1.4% of 73 homes tested in the Capital Health health region above the guideline. The larger 2024 Cross-Canada survey reports 16.2% (1 in 6) of houses at or above the guideline for Edmonton Metro Area (Edmonton CMA). Test before and after big air-sealing jobs. Radon testing in Edmonton
What it costs in Edmonton
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 Edmonton
A blower door test is part of every EnerGuide evaluation, so any organization below can do one in Edmonton. Ask to walk the house with the advisor while the fan runs.
- Acacia Engineering
- Air Barrier Canada
- All Season Inspection Profile
- Buildingexpert
- Clean Energy Solutions
- CoEfficient Building Science
- Energy Werx Profile
- Enerhold Engineering Solutions
- EnerHome Consulting
- EnerQuality
- EnerSolution Profile
- Enerspec Energy Consulting and Home Inspections
- EnerVision
- ER Energy Solutions
- Green Canada Home Advisors Profile
- Green Think
- Homesol Building Solutions
- Isle Energy Consulting
- Map Energy
- NRGwise (A1 NRGwise Consulting) Profile
- Sensible Home Inspections
- Sun Ridge Residential
- The Energuy Profile
- VerdaTech Energy Management and Consulting
- Greenbrain Profile
- EcoLogic Energy Advisors
- The Home Inspectors Group Profile
Programs that include a blower door test in Edmonton
Blower door test in Edmonton: common questions
Where can I get a blower door test in Edmonton?
Book an EnerGuide evaluation with any of the 27 NRCan-licensed organizations serving Edmonton; the blower door test is part of every evaluation.
How much does a blower door test cost in Edmonton?
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.