A climbing Alberta heating bill usually isn't the furnace - it's the envelope leaking the heat the furnace makes. Chasing a bigger furnace or a lower thermostat treats the symptom; sealing the leaks treats the cause. Here's how to find and fix the real losses.
Where the heat actually goes
- The attic - the biggest single loss in most homes (see attic heat loss).
- Rim joists - the leakiest band, right at the basement-to-outdoors transition.
- Air leaks everywhere - gaps around windows, outlets, top plates that wind drives cold through.
Fix the biggest losses first
A thermal-imaging scan shows exactly where your home bleeds heat, so you spend on the leaks that matter. Then air-seal them - foam at the rim joist and attic penetrations usually delivers the fastest, largest bill reduction.
Why sealing beats adding R
In a cold, windy climate, stopping infiltration cuts the bill more than piling on insulation that the wind blows through. See thermal imaging and cold floors. Get a quote.