How Kelowna is built
- Before 1961 8%
- 1961–1990 42%
- 1991–2000 16%
- 2001 or later 33%
Why air leakage matters in Kelowna
Kelowna gets about 3,715 heating degree-days a year and has a winter design temperature of −16.1°C, according to NRCan's HOT2000 climate data for Kelowna. That's about 6% less heating demand than the middle of the 70 cities we cover.
Of Kelowna's 41,965 houses (single-detached, semi-detached, row houses and duplexes), 8% were built before 1961 and 50% 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 Kelowna area, the main heating energy is natural gas for 63% 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 Kelowna
- Radon. Sealing shifts the pressure balance between the house and the soil. Health Canada's 2012 survey found 17.4% of 109 homes tested in the Okanagan Health Service Delivery Area health region above the guideline. The larger 2024 Cross-Canada survey reports 28.5% (1 in 3) of houses at or above the guideline for the Kelowna, BC (Kelowna CMA) metro area. Test before and after big air-sealing jobs. Radon testing in Kelowna
What it costs in Kelowna
A blower door test is part of every EnerGuide evaluation rather than a separate purchase. There's no provincial price list; the City of Nanaimo quotes $400–$500 as typical for an existing home. Several B.C. municipalities subsidize evaluations for their residents (see local programs below).
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 Kelowna
A blower door test is part of every EnerGuide evaluation, so any organization below can do one in Kelowna. Ask to walk the house with the advisor while the fan runs.
- Acacia Engineering
- Buildingexpert
- Capital Energy
- City Green Solutions
- EcoLogic Energy Advisors
- Energy Werx Profile
- Enerhome Consulting
- EnerSolution Profile
- EnerVision
- ER Energy Solutions
- GETS Energy
- Green Canada Home Advisors Profile
- Green Think
- Greenbrain Profile
- HomeTech Energy Solutions
- Isle Energy Consulting
- Sensible Home Inspections
- The Energuy Profile
- VerdaTech Energy Management and Consulting
- Capital Home Energy
- HomeStep.ca
Programs that include a blower door test in Kelowna
Blower door test in Kelowna: common questions
Where can I get a blower door test in Kelowna?
Book an EnerGuide evaluation with any of the 21 NRCan-licensed organizations serving Kelowna; the blower door test is part of every evaluation.
How much does a blower door test cost in Kelowna?
It is included in an EnerGuide evaluation. There's no provincial price list; the City of Nanaimo quotes $400–$500 as typical for an existing home. Several B.C. municipalities subsidize evaluations for their residents (see local programs below).
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.