How Québec City is built
- Before 1961 20%
- 1961–1990 50%
- 1991–2000 11%
- 2001 or later 19%
Why air leakage matters in Québec City
Québec City gets about 4,754 heating degree-days a year and has a winter design temperature of −24.8°C, according to NRCan's HOT2000 climate data for Ste-Foy. That's about 21% more heating demand than the middle of the 70 cities we cover.
Of Québec City's 121,435 houses (single-detached, semi-detached, row houses and duplexes), 20% were built before 1961 and 70% 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
- Radon. Sealing shifts the pressure balance between the house and the soil. Health Canada's 2012 survey found 8.8% of 160 homes tested in the Région de la Capitale-Nationale health region above the guideline. The larger 2024 Cross-Canada survey reports 18.1% (1 in 5) of houses at or above the guideline for the Quebec, QC (Québec CMA) metro area. Test before and after big air-sealing jobs. Radon testing in Québec City
What it costs in Québec City
A blower door test is part of every EnerGuide evaluation rather than a separate purchase. In Quebec, EnerGuide evaluations are booked through the provincial Rénoclimat program: the pre-retrofit evaluation costs $150 plus taxes, reimbursed when you receive financial assistance under the program, and the first post-retrofit evaluation is free.
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 Québec City
In Quebec, EnerGuide evaluations for existing homes run through the provincial Rénoclimat program; the organizations below are the ones NRCan lists for Québec City postal codes.
A blower door test is part of every EnerGuide evaluation, so any organization below can do one in Québec City. Ask to walk the house with the advisor while the fan runs.
- Expertbâtiment Services-Conseils
- Legault-Dubois
- Expertise en batiment Champagne
- Habite-Co 2000
Programs that include a blower door test in Québec City
Blower door test in Québec City: common questions
Where can I get a blower door test in Québec City?
Book an EnerGuide evaluation with any of the 4 NRCan-licensed organizations serving Québec City; the blower door test is part of every evaluation.
How much does a blower door test cost in Québec City?
It is included in an EnerGuide evaluation. In Quebec, EnerGuide evaluations are booked through the provincial Rénoclimat program: the pre-retrofit evaluation costs $150 plus taxes, reimbursed when you receive financial assistance under the program, and the first post-retrofit evaluation is free.
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.