Quebec · Energy · checked September 28, 2026

Duct leakage testing in Montréal

If some rooms never get warm, the problem is often the ductwork, not the furnace. In the Montréal area, only 10% of households heat with a forced-air furnace, so the test matters mainly for homes with ducts or those adding a ducted heat pump.

Get matched in Montréal → 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

10%

Electric baseboards

54%

Houses built before 1991

86%

How Montréal is built

Montréal's houses by when they were built Ten house shapes, one for each tenth of Montréal's 221,340 houses. Before 1961: 48%, 1961–1990: 38%, 1991–2000: 6%, 2001 or later: 8%. Older houses glow hotter.
  • Before 1961 48%
  • 1961–1990 38%
  • 1991–2000 6%
  • 2001 or later 8%
Each house stands for one in ten of Montréal's 221,340 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 Montréal

In the Montréal area, 54% of households heat mainly with electric baseboards, 15% with a heat pump, 10% with a forced-air furnace and 6% with a boiler and radiators; electricity is the main heating energy for 71% of households, natural gas for 5% and oil for about 2% (Statistics Canada, 2023).

Electric baseboards outnumber furnaces here, and a baseboard-heated house has no ducts to test. The test matters if you have forced air, or before you add a ducted heat pump to existing ductwork.

Of Montréal's 221,340 houses (single-detached, semi-detached, row houses and duplexes), 48% were built before 1961 and 86% 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 Montréal

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

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 Montréal

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 Provincial Hydro-Québec LogisVert Heat pump grants scaled to capacity — $50–$120 per 1,000 BTU/h — plus appliances and solar, no audit needed Open Federal CMHC Eco Improvement premium refund 25% back on your CMHC mortgage insurance premium after $20,000 of energy renovations Open Federal Canada Greener Homes Affordability Program Free retrofits for low-to-median-income households in BC, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, PEI and Quebec — not available in Ontario Open · deadline

Duct leakage testing in Montréal: common questions

How much does duct leakage testing cost in Montréal?

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 Montréal

Duct leakage testing in Laval11 kmDuct leakage testing in Longueuil14 kmDuct leakage testing in Terrebonne23 kmDuct leakage testing in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu35 kmDuct leakage testing in Trois-Rivières124 km All 70 cities →

Sources

Checked September 28, 2026. Census figures are for the municipality (Quebec); climate data is NRCan's HOT2000 station Mctavish (5 km away).

Get matched with a registered advisor in Montréal

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