How Winnipeg is built
- Before 1961 37%
- 1961–1990 40%
- 1991–2000 6%
- 2001 or later 17%
Why air leakage matters in Winnipeg
Winnipeg gets about 5,542 heating degree-days a year and has a winter design temperature of −31.3°C, according to NRCan's HOT2000 climate data for Winnipeg International. That's the 6th-highest heating demand of the 70 cities we cover.
Of Winnipeg's 202,915 houses (single-detached, semi-detached, row houses and duplexes), 37% were built before 1961 and 77% 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 Winnipeg area, the main heating energy is natural gas for 56% 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 Winnipeg
- Radon. Sealing shifts the pressure balance between the house and the soil. Health Canada's 2012 survey found 12.1% of 66 homes tested in the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority health region above the guideline. The larger 2024 Cross-Canada survey reports 37.4% (1 in 3) of houses at or above the guideline for the Winnipeg, MB (Winnipeg CMA) metro area. Test before and after big air-sealing jobs. Radon testing in Winnipeg
What it costs in Winnipeg
A blower door test is part of every EnerGuide evaluation rather than a separate purchase. Efficiency Manitoba rebates $400 on a pre-retrofit EnerGuide evaluation if you own the home, it has Manitoba Hydro residential service and you plan at least one upgrade within 12 months. Apply within 90 days.
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 Winnipeg
A blower door test is part of every EnerGuide evaluation, so any organization below can do one in Winnipeg. Ask to walk the house with the advisor while the fan runs.
- CoEfficient Building Science
- Energy Werx Profile
- EnerQuality
- EnerSolution Profile
- Green Think
- Greenbrain Profile
- NRG Inspections and Consulting
- prairieHOUSE Performance
- The Energuy Profile
- Buildingexpert
- Isle Energy Consulting
- Sensible Home Inspection
Programs that include a blower door test in Winnipeg
Blower door test in Winnipeg: common questions
Where can I get a blower door test in Winnipeg?
Book an EnerGuide evaluation with any of the 12 NRCan-licensed organizations serving Winnipeg; the blower door test is part of every evaluation.
How much does a blower door test cost in Winnipeg?
It is included in an EnerGuide evaluation. Efficiency Manitoba rebates $400 on a pre-retrofit EnerGuide evaluation if you own the home, it has Manitoba Hydro residential service and you plan at least one upgrade within 12 months. Apply within 90 days.
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.