How Thunder Bay is built
- Before 1961 43%
- 1961–1990 41%
- 1991–2000 7%
- 2001 or later 9%
When to book in Thunder Bay
Thunder Bay gets about 5,405 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 −28.6°C. Those figures come from the climate data for Thunder Bay in HOT2000, the home-energy software Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) gives energy advisors. That gives Thunder Bay a long window, roughly late fall to early spring, when the inside-outside difference comfortably exceeds the 10°C an infrared scan needs.
What the camera finds in Thunder Bay houses
Of Thunder Bay's 37,935 houses (single-detached, semi-detached, row houses and duplexes), 43% were built before 1961 and 84% before 1991, according to the 2021 Census. Older houses are where the camera earns its keep: empty or settled wall cavities, gaps at the top of walls, and cold corners where framing bridges the insulation. Run it with the blower door test depressurizing the house and every leak shows up as a cold streak.
What it costs
Most EnerGuide advisors include an infrared scan with the evaluation, but it isn't required, so confirm when you book. Typical Ontario prices are about $500–$700 for the initial EnerGuide evaluation and $200–$450 for the follow-up, plus HST where it applies. Windfall Ecology Centre charges $500 + HST for the initial evaluation and $250 + HST for the follow-up, Reep Green Solutions charges $540 and $406 with no HST, and City-backed programs in Ottawa and London quote $500–$700 as typical for the first visit. Only assessments from the seven HRSP-approved organizations qualify for the $600 Home Renovation Savings rebate, and none of the seven publishes a price.
Very Cold East Northern Ontario, Saguenay, Quebec City
What this means in Thunder Bay’s climate
Deep, snowy winters: stop ice dams, and pair a cold-climate heat pump with backup heat.
Why it matters here: Shows missing insulation and air leaks clearly in the cold.
Best timing: November to March, on calm days with little sun on the walls being scanned.
- Stop ice dams at the attic. NRCan says the best way to prevent ice dams is sealing attic air leaks and insulating thoroughly, so roof snow stays frozen. Snow loads here are the heaviest of any region we cover. Ask: Ask the advisor to trace attic bypasses with the blower door and thermal camera, and to check insulation depth.
- Insulate the basement and rim joists. Basements can be about 20% of a home's heat loss, and the long cold season makes the savings add up. Rim joists are often among the leakiest spots. Ask: Ask whether the basement is dry enough to insulate from inside, and how much the rim joist leaks.
What else homes in Thunder Bay need →
Sources for this climate guide · checked October 26, 2026
- National Building Code of Canada 2020, climate data (NRC)
- Canadian Climate Normals 1991–2020 (ECCC)
- Keeping the Heat In (NRCan)
- Air-Source Heat Pump Sizing and Selection Guide (NRCan)
- Heating and Cooling With a Heat Pump (NRCan)
- Heat pumps, Canada Greener Homes (NRCan)
- Heat pump basics (NRCan)
- Primary heating systems by household, Table 38-10-0286-01 (Statistics Canada)
- 2024 Cross-Canada Survey of Radon Exposure
- Guide for Radon Measurements in Homes (Health Canada)
- Canada's top weather stories of 2023 (ECCC)
- Conditions for thermal scans, ASTM C1060 summary (Cx Associates)
NRCan-licensed service organizations serving Thunder Bay
A service organization is a company that Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) licenses to deliver EnerGuide evaluations; its registered energy advisors do the home visit. Most EnerGuide advisors bring an infrared camera, but it isn't a required part of the evaluation, so confirm when you book. The scan is most useful with the blower door running.
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.
- Energy Werx HRSP-approved: Yes Profile
- Green Think HRSP-approved: No
- Greenbrain HRSP-approved: Yes Profile
- The Energuy HRSP-approved: Yes Profile
- All Season Inspection HRSP-approved: No Profile
- EnerSolution HRSP-approved: No Profile
- Sensible Home Inspections HRSP-approved: No
Programs and local help in Thunder Bay
Thermal imaging inspection in Thunder Bay: common questions
When is the best time for a thermal imaging inspection in Thunder Bay?
Late fall through early spring, when it is at least 10°C colder outside than inside. Cold, overcast days with no direct sun on the walls give the clearest images.
Can a thermal camera see through walls?
No. It reads surface temperatures. Missing insulation or an air leak shows up because it changes the temperature of the wall or ceiling surface.
Who does thermal imaging in Thunder Bay?
Most of the 8 NRCan-licensed organizations serving Thunder Bay bring an infrared camera to an EnerGuide evaluation; confirm when you book.
Is thermal imaging the same as a thermographic inspection?
Yes. Thermography, thermal imaging and infrared scanning all mean reading surface temperatures with an infrared camera.