Ontario · Energy · checked September 28, 2026

Duct leakage testing in Peterborough

If some rooms never get warm, the problem is often the ductwork, not the furnace. In the Peterborough area, 72% of households heat with a forced-air furnace, so duct losses affect many Peterborough homes.

Get matched in Peterborough → 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

72%

Electric baseboards

Not published

Houses built before 1991

74%

How Peterborough is built

Peterborough's houses by when they were built Ten house shapes, one for each tenth of Peterborough's 26,940 houses. Before 1961: 38%, 1961–1990: 36%, 1991–2000: 9%, 2001 or later: 17%. Older houses glow hotter.
  • Before 1961 38%
  • 1961–1990 36%
  • 1991–2000 9%
  • 2001 or later 17%
Each house stands for one in ten of Peterborough's 26,940 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 Peterborough

In the Peterborough area, 72% of households heat mainly with a forced-air furnace; natural gas is the main heating energy for 68% of households (Statistics Canada, 2023).

Of Peterborough's 26,940 houses (single-detached, semi-detached, row houses and duplexes), 38% were built before 1961 and 74% 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 Peterborough

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.

Only assessments from the seven HRSP-approved organizations qualify for the $600 Home Renovation Savings rebate and its assessment-path upgrade rebates; each listing below says whether it's one of them.

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 Peterborough

Provincial · needs an evaluation Home Renovation Savings — Home Energy Assessment path Up to $10,000 per home for insulation, windows and air sealing, plus $600 back on your assessments — if the follow-up assessment is done by December 31, 2026 Open · deadline Provincial Home Renovation Savings — direct rebates (no assessment) Heat pumps up to $7,500 ($12,000 ground-source), solar with battery up to $10,000, plus attic, thermostat and appliance rebates — no assessment needed Open Federal CMHC Eco Improvement premium refund 25% back on your CMHC mortgage insurance premium after $20,000 of energy renovations Open Municipal Better Homes Peterborough loan City of Peterborough program (delivered with EnviroCentre) with two financing streams: a local improvement charge loan of $10,000 to $50,000 at 4.50% fixed over 15 years, or a Kawartha Credit Union loan up to $50,000 at 4.95% variable over 5 years; $450 application fee either way. For detached, semi, townhouse and low-rise (3 storeys or fewer) buildings. A pre-retrofit EnerGuide assessment is required, and projects must include air sealing plus a whole-home cold-climate heat pump, solar, or upgrades cutting energy use or emissions by at least 25%. Page updated May 2026. Municipal Better Homes Peterborough performance incentives Up to $3,600 in incentives for homes that achieve sizable energy and GHG reductions after the retrofit, plus a $250 air-sealing rebate, for program participants who complete a retrofit and are not getting a similar rebate. Stacking with other energy renovation programs is allowed.

Duct leakage testing in Peterborough: common questions

How much does duct leakage testing cost in Peterborough?

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 Peterborough

Duct leakage testing in Clarington53 kmDuct leakage testing in Oshawa63 kmDuct leakage testing in Whitby69 kmDuct leakage testing in Ajax77 kmDuct leakage testing in Pickering82 km All 70 cities →

Sources

Checked September 28, 2026. Census figures are for the municipality (Ontario); climate data is NRCan's HOT2000 station Peterborough (11 km away).

Get matched with a registered advisor in Peterborough

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