Quebec · Energy · checked September 28, 2026

Combustion safety testing in Québec City

A combustion safety test checks that your furnace, water heater and fireplace vent their exhaust outside instead of into the house, which matters most right before and after you tighten the house up.

Get matched in Québec City → The combustion safety and spillage check
A gloved hand inserting a combustion analyzer probe into a furnace flue pipe in a basement

Cost

Included with an evaluation

Natural gas heat

Not published

Gas distributor

Énergir

CO alarms required (existing homes)

No

How Québec City is built

Québec City's houses by when they were built Ten house shapes, one for each tenth of Québec City's 121,435 houses. Before 1961: 20%, 1961–1990: 50%, 1991–2000: 11%, 2001 or later: 19%. Older houses glow hotter.
  • Before 1961 20%
  • 1961–1990 50%
  • 1991–2000 11%
  • 2001 or later 19%
Each house stands for one in ten of Québec City's 121,435 houses (single-detached, semi-detached, row and duplex), drawn by when it was built. The glow shows the usual pattern: older houses tend to be leakier and less insulated. Snowfall scales with heating degree-days. Sources: Statistics Canada 2021 Census (table 98-10-0233-01), NRCan HOT2000 climate data.

Why it matters in Québec City

In the Québec area, 64% of households heat mainly with electric baseboards, 12% with a heat pump and about 8% with a forced-air furnace; electricity is the main heating energy for 78% of households (Statistics Canada, 2023).

The risk rises after air sealing: a tighter house plus a strong exhaust fan or dryer can pull exhaust back down a chimney. That's why advisors test for spillage during an evaluation and why it should be repeated after serious tightening.

The CO alarm rule in Quebec

Quebec has no province-wide rule requiring CO alarms in existing houses: provincial rules cover larger multi-unit buildings, and for houses it's up to each municipality's by-law, so ask your local fire service.

What the check involves

  • Worst-case depressurization: exhaust fans and the dryer on, doors set to make the appliance room as negative as it gets.
  • A spillage and draft check at each appliance, with a CO reading.
  • A plan if anything fails: often a sealed-combustion appliance or a fix to the venting, done by a licensed gas or oil technician.

The combustion safety check in detail.

NRCan-licensed service organizations serving Québec City

In Quebec, EnerGuide evaluations for existing homes run through the provincial Rénoclimat program; the organizations below are the ones NRCan lists for Québec City postal codes.

Energy advisors check for combustion spillage during an evaluation; fixing a venting problem is work for a licensed gas or oil technician.

Source: NRCan list of licensed service organizations, checked September 28, 2026. Call to confirm your street is covered and ask about wait times.

Programs in Québec City

Provincial · needs an evaluation Rénoclimat (Quebec) Quebec's audit-linked path: an assigned evaluator for $150 + tax (refunded except the tax when you receive assistance), then rebates for insulation, air sealing, doors and windows Open

Combustion safety test in Québec City: common questions

Are CO alarms required in Québec City homes?

Quebec has no province-wide rule requiring CO alarms in existing houses: provincial rules cover larger multi-unit buildings, and for houses it's up to each municipality's by-law, so ask your local fire service.

Who does combustion safety testing?

Energy advisors check for spillage during an EnerGuide evaluation. Repairs to venting or appliances are done by a licensed gas or oil technician.

I have CO alarms. Isn't that enough?

Alarms warn you once CO is already in the house. A spillage test finds a venting problem before it produces CO.

Combustion safety test near Québec City

Combustion safety test in Lévis13 kmCombustion safety test in Trois-Rivières113 kmCombustion safety test in Sherbrooke167 kmCombustion safety test in Saguenay172 kmCombustion safety test in Terrebonne221 km All 70 cities →

Sources

Checked September 28, 2026. Census figures are for the municipality (Quebec); climate data is NRCan's HOT2000 station Ste-Foy (7 km away).

Get matched with a registered advisor in Québec City

Tell us your postal code and what you’re planning. We’ll connect you with one licensed service organization serving your area. No spam, no shared lead lists.

Email us what you’re planning, your postal code and the type of building (a house, a duplex or triplex, or a larger multi-unit building) — we’ll reply with registered service organizations for your area and which rebates apply.

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