Home energy audits and home testing in Halifax

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

• 173 mm of rain fell in Bedford in six hours on July 21–22, 2023, a national record.
• The June 2023 Tantallon wildfire destroyed about 150 homes in the Halifax area.
• About 10 days a year with freezing rain or drizzle.
• Dorian (2019) affected 80% of Nova Scotia Power customers.

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.