How Saskatoon is built
- Before 1961 19%
- 1961–1990 44%
- 1991–2000 7%
- 2001 or later 30%
Why air leakage matters in Saskatoon
Saskatoon gets about 5,695 heating degree-days a year and has a winter design temperature of −32.5°C, according to NRCan's HOT2000 climate data for Saskatoon International. That's the 3rd-highest heating demand of the 70 cities we cover.
Of Saskatoon's 76,685 houses (single-detached, semi-detached, row houses and duplexes), 19% were built before 1961 and 63% 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 Saskatoon area, the main heating energy is natural gas for 78% 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 Saskatoon
- Radon. Sealing shifts the pressure balance between the house and the soil. Health Canada's 2012 survey found 7.9% of 76 homes tested in the Saskatoon Regional Health Authority health region above the guideline. The larger 2024 Cross-Canada survey reports 17.8% (1 in 6) of houses at or above the guideline for the Saskatoon, SK (Saskatoon CMA) metro area. Test before and after big air-sealing jobs. Radon testing in Saskatoon
What it costs in Saskatoon
A blower door test is part of every EnerGuide evaluation rather than a separate purchase. There's no provincial rebate; the City of Saskatoon quotes $500–$600 as typical for the initial EnerGuide evaluation and $300–$400 for the follow-up.
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 Saskatoon
A blower door test is part of every EnerGuide evaluation, so any organization below can do one in Saskatoon. Ask to walk the house with the advisor while the fan runs.
- Buildingexpert
- Canada Energy Savings Comfort and Retrofit Strategies
- Clean Energy Solutions
- CoEfficient Building Science
- Energy Werx Profile
- Enerhold Engineering Solutions
- EnerQuality
- Green Think
- Isle Energy Consulting
- NRG Inspections and Consulting
- Sensible Home Inspections
- Sun Ridge Residential
- The Energuy Profile
- All Season Inspection Profile
- EnerVision
- Verdatech
- EnerSolution Profile
- Ecostep Energy Services
Programs that include a blower door test in Saskatoon
Blower door test in Saskatoon: common questions
Where can I get a blower door test in Saskatoon?
Book an EnerGuide evaluation with any of the 18 NRCan-licensed organizations serving Saskatoon; the blower door test is part of every evaluation.
How much does a blower door test cost in Saskatoon?
It is included in an EnerGuide evaluation. There's no provincial rebate; the City of Saskatoon quotes $500–$600 as typical for the initial EnerGuide evaluation and $300–$400 for the follow-up.
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.