Alberta · Energy · checked September 28, 2026

Duct leakage testing in Calgary

If some rooms never get warm, the problem is often the ductwork, not the furnace. In the Calgary area, 74% of households heat with a forced-air furnace, so duct losses affect many Calgary homes.

Get matched in Calgary → Duct leakage and airflow testing
A duct-testing fan on a basement floor connected by flexible duct to a furnace, a pressure gauge hanging from a joist

Typical cost

$200–$450

Forced-air furnaces

74%

Electric baseboards

Not published

Houses built before 1991

47%

How Calgary is built

Calgary's houses by when they were built Ten house shapes, one for each tenth of Calgary's 379,710 houses. Before 1961: 10%, 1961–1990: 38%, 1991–2000: 17%, 2001 or later: 36%. Older houses glow hotter.
  • Before 1961 10%
  • 1961–1990 38%
  • 1991–2000 17%
  • 2001 or later 36%
Each house stands for one in ten of Calgary's 379,710 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.

Who needs it in Calgary

In the Calgary area, 74% of households heat mainly with a forced-air furnace and 8% with a boiler and radiators; natural gas is the main heating energy for 73% of households and electricity for 13% (Statistics Canada, 2023).

Of Calgary's 379,710 houses (single-detached, semi-detached, row houses and duplexes), 10% were built before 1961 and 47% before 1991, according to the 2021 Census. Ducts in older houses often run through unheated spaces with taped or unsealed joints, and supply runs to the far rooms are the first to suffer.

What the test shows

  • Total duct leakage, as a share of the system's airflow, measured with a duct-pressurization fan.
  • Airflow at each register, which explains why one bedroom is always cold.
  • Whether sealing and balancing will fix comfort problems before you buy bigger equipment.

Duct leakage testing in detail.

What it costs

About $200–$450 (a September 2026 planning range; quotes vary). It isn't part of a standard EnerGuide evaluation, so ask for it when you book if comfort is your main complaint.

NRCan-licensed service organizations serving Calgary

Duct leakage testing isn't part of a standard EnerGuide evaluation. Some of these organizations offer it, as do HVAC contractors with duct-testing equipment, so ask when you call.

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 Calgary

Provincial Clean Energy Improvement Program (Alberta) Property-tax financing for efficiency and renewable upgrades in participating Alberta municipalities — check your municipality's current intake Open · deadline Federal CMHC Eco Improvement premium refund 25% back on your CMHC mortgage insurance premium after $20,000 of energy renovations Open

Duct leakage testing in Calgary: common questions

How much does duct leakage testing cost in Calgary?

Plan on about $200–$450. It is usually a separate service from an EnerGuide evaluation.

Is duct cleaning the same thing?

No. Cleaning removes dust; it doesn't find or seal leaks. A leakage test measures where air is lost.

Should I close vents in unused rooms?

Usually not. Closing registers raises duct pressure and can increase leakage elsewhere in the system.

Duct leakage testing near Calgary

Duct leakage testing in Red Deer136 kmDuct leakage testing in Lethbridge177 kmDuct leakage testing in Sherwood Park279 kmDuct leakage testing in Edmonton280 kmDuct leakage testing in Kelowna399 km All 70 cities →

Sources

Checked September 28, 2026. Census figures are for the municipality (Alberta); climate data is NRCan's HOT2000 station Calgary International (8 km away).

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