How Yellowknife is built
- Before 1961 3%
- 1961–1990 54%
- 1991–2000 21%
- 2001 or later 22%
Why air leakage matters in Yellowknife
Yellowknife gets about 7,856 heating degree-days a year and has a winter design temperature of −39.2°C, according to NRCan's HOT2000 climate data for Yellowknife. That's the highest heating demand of the 70 cities we cover.
Of Yellowknife's 5,225 houses (single-detached, semi-detached, row houses and duplexes), 3% were built before 1961 and 57% 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 5.4% of 185 homes tested in the Northwest Territories health region above the guideline. Test before and after big air-sealing jobs. Radon testing in Yellowknife
What it costs in Yellowknife
A blower door test is part of every EnerGuide evaluation rather than a separate purchase. The Arctic Energy Alliance delivers subsidized EnerGuide evaluations: $200 + GST for a single-family existing home.
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 Yellowknife
In the Northwest Territories, the Arctic Energy Alliance, a non-profit, is the licensed service organization for Yellowknife.
A blower door test is part of every EnerGuide evaluation, so any organization below can do one in Yellowknife. Ask to walk the house with the advisor while the fan runs.
- Arctic Energy Alliance
Blower door test in Yellowknife: common questions
Where can I get a blower door test in Yellowknife?
Book an EnerGuide evaluation with any of the 1 NRCan-licensed organizations serving Yellowknife; the blower door test is part of every evaluation.
How much does a blower door test cost in Yellowknife?
It is included in an EnerGuide evaluation. The Arctic Energy Alliance delivers subsidized EnerGuide evaluations: $200 + GST for a single-family existing home.
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.