Prince Edward Island · 16 local services · checked September 28, 2026

Home energy audits and home testing in Charlottetown

Charlottetown gets about 4,404 heating degree-days a year (a long heating season), 20% of its houses were built before 1961, and 5 NRCan-licensed service organizations list its postal codes. Pick a service for the local details.

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Colourful wooden row houses on a steep street above a foggy Atlantic harbour

How Charlottetown is built

Charlottetown's houses by when they were built Ten house shapes, one for each tenth of Charlottetown's 10,405 houses. Before 1961: 20%, 1961–1990: 46%, 1991–2000: 12%, 2001 or later: 22%. Older houses glow hotter.
  • Before 1961 20%
  • 1961–1990 46%
  • 1991–2000 12%
  • 2001 or later 22%
Each house stands for one in ten of Charlottetown's 10,405 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. More snow in the drawing means more heating degree-days: a longer, colder heating season. Sources: Statistics Canada 2021 Census (table 98-10-0233-01), NRCan HOT2000 climate data.

Charlottetown at a glance

Climate

Charlottetown gets about 4,404 heating degree-days a year, a measure of how much heating its climate needs, and its winter design temperature, the cold day heating systems are sized for, is −19.3°C. Those figures come from the climate data for Charlottetown in HOT2000, the home-energy software Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) gives energy advisors. A long heating season: air sealing and insulation pay back well, and every leak costs money for months.

Housing

Of Charlottetown's 10,405 houses (single-detached, semi-detached, row houses and duplexes), 20% were built before 1961 and 66% before 1991, according to the 2021 Census. The typical house dates from 1971–1980.

Heating

In Prince Edward Island, 36% of households heat mainly with a heat pump, 16% with a boiler and radiators, 14% with a forced-air furnace and 10% with electric baseboards; oil is the main heating energy for 28% of households, electricity for 18% and wood for 8% (Statistics Canada, 2023).

Radon

Health Canada's 2012 survey found 3.5% of 113 homes tested in the Prince Edward Island health region above the guideline. The larger 2024 Cross-Canada survey reports About 1 in 5 at or above the guideline (unweighted value for PEI.

Atlantic Canada Maritimes and Newfoundland

What homes in Charlottetown need

Damp, windy, icy winters and costly oil: switch to heat pumps, seal, test for radon.

Atlantic winters are wet, windy and icy rather than extremely cold, and summers are mild. Heating oil is still common and its price rose sharply in 2026, while heat pumps already heat many homes. An EnerGuide evaluation here should plan the move off oil, seal wind-driven leaks, fix moisture before insulating, and include a radon test.

In Charlottetown: Charlottetown gets about 15 days a year of freezing rain and heavy, wet snow, so seal the attic against ice dams and keep backup heat for outages. Heat pumps are now PEI's leading heating system, but about 28% of homes still use oil.

What drives bills and comfort here

  • Wind drives heat out: damp, windy winters push cold air through gaps in the house, and freezing rain is frequent.
  • Oil still heats 28% of homes in Nova Scotia and PEI; heat pumps heat 31% in NS, about 41% in PEI and 48% in NB.
  • Heating oil jumped 65% to 81% in a year: by September 2026 it averaged about $2.00 to $2.60 a litre in Atlantic cities.
  • Electricity costs about 15.6¢/kWh in St. John's to 20.5¢ in Halifax (April 2025).

Local risks to plan for

  • Snowiest January on record in 2022, with 150.9 cm.
  • Fiona (2022) caused storm-surge damage along PEI's north shore and wide outages.
  • About 70 days a year with 10 cm or more of snow on the ground.
  • Radon: about 1 in 5 PEI homes tested at or above the guideline in 2024.

What to check first, and why

  1. Plan your move off oil

    Oil prices rose 65% to 81% in a year, and corrosion is a leading cause of oil tank leaks. Cold-climate heat pumps can be up to three times as efficient as oil heating.

    Ask your energy advisor: Ask the advisor to note your oil tank's age and condition, and to size a cold-climate heat pump with a backup plan.

    Heat-loss calculationEnergy bill analysisCombustion safety test

  2. Seal wind-driven leaks and the attic

    Wind pushes cold air through gaps, and heavy, wet snow with frequent freezing rain makes a leaky attic prone to ice dams.

    Ask your energy advisor: Ask for a blower door test on a calm day, with a thermal scan to find wind-driven leaks.

    Blower door testInfrared (thermal) scanAttic inspection

  3. Fix moisture before you insulate

    Halifax, St. John's, Saint John and Charlottetown get enough wind-driven rain that new walls must have a rainscreen. Stop water getting into walls and basements before adding insulation.

    Ask your energy advisor: Ask the advisor to check the basement, attic sheathing and walls under windows for damp, and how bath fans vent.

    Mould and humidity checkVentilation assessment

  4. Test for radon

    Atlantic Canada had the highest radon of any region in the 2024 national survey: about 1 in 3 homes at or above Health Canada's guideline, and more than 1 in 3 in Nova Scotia.

    Ask your energy advisor: Run a 3-month test in the heating season, and retest after air sealing or other upgrades.

    Radon test

  5. Plan for storms and power outages

    Dorian in 2019 affected 80% of Nova Scotia Power customers, and Fiona in 2022 cut power to over 600,000 homes and businesses. Keep backup heat until a heat pump has proven itself.

    Ask your energy advisor: Ask where the outdoor unit should sit to stay clear of drifting snow and ice, and how you'd heat during an outage.

Tests that matter most here

  • Blower door test Finds wind-driven leakage paths; a before-and-after test shows what sealing achieved. Best timing: December to March, on a calm day.
  • Infrared (thermal) scan Shows insulation gaps and air leaks. Best timing: December to March, on a calm, overcast day with at least 10°C between inside and outside.
  • Combustion safety test Checks that the oil burner and chimney vent safely, especially once air sealing changes indoor air pressure. Best timing: Before winter, and again after air sealing.
  • Ventilation assessment Damp air and heavy rain make moisture the main risk; this checks fans, indoor humidity and signs of mould. Best timing: Late fall or the spring wet season.
  • Radon test High regional radon. Best timing: At least 91 days in the heating season; retest after upgrades.

Upgrades that usually pay off here

  1. Cold-climate heat pump to replace oil or baseboards. Ductless mini-splits or a ducted system cut heating costs and add summer cooling. They're already common: mini-splits heat 38% of homes in the Moncton area. Keep the oil system or baseboards as backup until the heat pump has handled a cold snap and an outage.
  2. Air sealing plus attic insulation. Cuts wind-driven heat loss and helps prevent ice dams. Today's new-home attic minimum here is about R-49.
  3. Basement insulation after moisture control. Basements can be about 20% of heat loss; dry the basement first, then insulate.
  4. HRV for balanced ventilation. Removes winter moisture from a tighter house while recovering much of the heat.
  5. Replace a corroded oil tank, or remove it. Corrosion is a leading cause of tank leaks, and spill cleanups are expensive and can affect resale. If you keep oil, check the tank and lines for leaks after each fill.

Heating and cooling equipment

  • Use a cold-climate heat pump, and keep existing oil or electric baseboards as backup for cold snaps and outages.
  • If oil stays as backup, set its thermostat below the heat pump's so the heat pump does most of the work.
  • Choose demand-defrost controls, which NRCan says are generally more efficient than timed defrost.
  • An HRV usually suits damp coastal homes better than an ERV, which is suggested mainly for high cooling loads or dry indoor air.

Health and comfort

  • Radon is a major hidden health risk here: the 2024 survey found about 1 in 3 Atlantic homes at or above 200 Bq/m³, the highest of any region.
  • Damp and mould: run bath and kitchen fans, and keep winter relative humidity low enough to avoid condensation.
  • Carbon monoxide: install CO alarms near oil appliances or a wood stove, and in each bedroom area.
  • Wildfire can reach city edges: the June 2023 Tantallon fire destroyed about 150 homes in the Halifax area.

Common mistakes in this climate

  • Ignoring an old oil tank. Corrosion is a leading cause of leaks, and cleanups are expensive and can hurt resale.
  • Removing all backup heat too soon. Keep a backup until the heat pump has proven itself through a cold snap and a power outage.
  • Insulating a damp basement from the inside. Trapped moisture can rot new framing and feed mould. Fix water entry first.
  • Air sealing a damp house without ventilation. A tighter house holds more moisture; add fans or an HRV at the same time.

When to book: Book the evaluation from December to March, on a calm day, for the best blower door and thermal scan results. Have oil equipment checked before winter, and start a 3-month radon test in fall.

Sources for this climate guide · checked October 26, 2026

Local service guides for Charlottetown

Energy audits and tests

An energy advisor’s kit on a front-hall bench: infrared camera, pressure gauge with tubing, tape measure, headlamp and a floor sketch

Home energy audit

5 licensed organizations Companies NRCan licenses to do EnerGuide evaluations
A red blower-door panel with a large fan fitted into the front doorway of a brick bungalow, a pressure gauge on a stool inside

Blower door test

4,404 degree-days A long heating season
Hands holding an infrared camera aimed at a ceiling corner beside a frosty window; the screen shows a cold streak

Thermal imaging inspection

4,404 degree-days A long heating season
A kitchen table with a house floor plan, a laser measure, a tape measure and a laptop showing the plan

Heat loss calculation

Design temp −19.3°C The cold day heating is sized for
A duct-testing fan on a basement floor connected by flexible duct to a furnace, a pressure gauge hanging from a joist

Duct leakage testing

14% forced-air Share of homes with ducts that can leak
A gloved hand inserting a combustion analyzer probe into a furnace flue pipe in a basement

Combustion safety test

No piped gas
A heat recovery ventilator on a basement wall with four insulated ducts running up between the joists

Ventilation and humidity assessment

22% built since 2001 Newer, tighter homes rely on fans or an HRV
Loose-fill insulation between attic joists, a yellow ruler showing its depth and frost on the roofing nails above

Attic insulation inspection

66% built before 1991 Older attics usually need more insulation
Utility bills and a phone showing a monthly energy-use chart on a kitchen table

Energy bill analysis

Maritime Electric Download 12 months of usage from your account

Home health tests

A small digital radon monitor on a bookshelf in a finished basement family room

Radon testing

1 in 5 at or above guideline (2024) Neighbours' results don't predict yours: test
A carbon monoxide alarm on an upstairs hallway wall outside the bedrooms at night

Carbon monoxide testing

No rule found Install alarms anyway
A moisture meter pressed into water-stained basement drywall, an air-sampling pump on a tripod nearby

Mould and indoor air quality testing

66% built before 1991 Older homes have more damp spots
A gloved hand holding a sealed sample bag above vermiculite insulation between attic joists

Asbestos and vermiculite testing

66% built before 1991 Common in materials until about 1990
A gloved hand swabbing layers of cracked old paint on a wooden window sill

Lead paint testing

20% built before 1961 Pre-1960 paint probably contains lead
Filling a water-sample bottle at a farmhouse kitchen tap with the aerator removed, snowy fields and a barn outside

Well water testing

Wells rare Only homes on private wells need it

For businesses and buildings

An auditor walking between rooftop heating and cooling units on a snowy commercial roof

Commercial energy audit

1 incentive program

Who does energy evaluations in Charlottetown

5 NRCan-licensed service organizations list Charlottetown postal codes. See the list with phone numbers and coverage →

Rebates and financing for Charlottetown homes

Provincial · needs an evaluation efficiencyPEI home programs A $99 + HST home energy assessment unlocks insulation, window, door and air-sealing rebates; heat pump rebates ended April 15, 2026 Open Federal National Heat Pump Rebate Announced October 8, 2026 and opening early 2027: up to $10,000 below the median income, $2,000 for other eligible homeowners Announced · opens 2027 Federal CMHC Eco Improvement premium refund A 25% energy-efficiency rebate 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 through provincial partners in BC, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, PEI and Quebec (Quebec's 2026–27 intake has closed) — not available in Ontario Open · deadline

Cities near Charlottetown

Moncton134 kmHalifax184 kmSaint John247 kmFredericton274 kmLévis624 kmQuébec City629 km All 70 cities →

Sources

Checked September 28, 2026.

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