How Whitehorse is built
- Before 1961 8%
- 1961–1990 41%
- 1991–2000 16%
- 2001 or later 35%
Why air leakage matters in Whitehorse
Whitehorse gets about 6,522 heating degree-days a year and has a winter design temperature of −36.4°C, according to NRCan's HOT2000 climate data for Whitehorse. That's the 2nd-highest heating demand of the 70 cities we cover.
Of Whitehorse's 9,485 houses (single-detached, semi-detached, row houses and duplexes), 8% were built before 1961 and 48% 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 19.6% of 225 homes tested in the Yukon health region above the guideline. The larger 2024 Cross-Canada survey reports 27.8% (1 in 4) of houses at or above the guideline for Whitehorse, YK (Whitehorse census agglomeration). Test before and after big air-sealing jobs. Radon testing in Whitehorse
What it costs in Whitehorse
A blower door test is part of every EnerGuide evaluation rather than a separate purchase. Yukon's Good Energy program arranges reduced-cost assessments with local energy advisors: $50 for a pre-renovation assessment and $50 for the return visit.
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 Whitehorse
In Yukon, the territorial government's Energy Branch is the licensed service organization and arranges assessments with local energy advisors.
A blower door test is part of every EnerGuide evaluation, so any organization below can do one in Whitehorse. Ask to walk the house with the advisor while the fan runs.
- Government of Yukon Energy Mines and Resources
Blower door test in Whitehorse: common questions
Where can I get a blower door test in Whitehorse?
Book an EnerGuide evaluation with any of the 1 NRCan-licensed organizations serving Whitehorse; the blower door test is part of every evaluation.
How much does a blower door test cost in Whitehorse?
It is included in an EnerGuide evaluation. Yukon's Good Energy program arranges reduced-cost assessments with local energy advisors: $50 for a pre-renovation assessment and $50 for the return visit.
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.