How St. John's is built
- Before 1961 22%
- 1961–1990 42%
- 1991–2000 11%
- 2001 or later 26%
Why air leakage matters in St. John's
St. John's gets about 4,578 heating degree-days a year and has a winter design temperature of −12.8°C, according to NRCan's HOT2000 climate data for St-John's International. That's about 16% more heating demand than the middle of the 70 cities we cover.
Of St. John's's 42,120 houses (single-detached, semi-detached, row houses and duplexes), 22% were built before 1961 and 64% 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 St. John's area, the main heating energy is oil for 12% 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 St. John's
- Radon. Sealing shifts the pressure balance between the house and the soil. Health Canada's 2012 survey found 4% of 100 homes tested in the Eastern Regional Integrated Health Authority health region above the guideline. In the City of St. John's free test-kit program, about 345 kits went out in November 2024 and 278 homes completed testing over the winter; about one in ten of them were above Health Canada's 200 Bq/m³ guideline. The participants were volunteers, so it isn't a random survey. Test before and after big air-sealing jobs. Radon testing in St. John's
What it costs in St. John's
A blower door test is part of every EnerGuide evaluation rather than a separate purchase. There's no province-wide price; takeCHARGE lists the service organizations working in the province without prices.
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 St. John's
A blower door test is part of every EnerGuide evaluation, so any organization below can do one in St. John's. Ask to walk the house with the advisor while the fan runs.
- AmeriSpec Profile
- Canada Energy Audit Profile
- CLEAResult
- Homesol Building Solutions
- Sustainable Housing and Education Consultants Incorporated
- ThermalWise Green Building Cooperative
- Ecostep Energy Services
Programs that include a blower door test in St. John's
Blower door test in St. John's: common questions
Where can I get a blower door test in St. John's?
Book an EnerGuide evaluation with any of the 7 NRCan-licensed organizations serving St. John's; the blower door test is part of every evaluation.
How much does a blower door test cost in St. John's?
It is included in an EnerGuide evaluation. There's no province-wide price; takeCHARGE lists the service organizations working in the province without prices.
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.