DIY Insulation Check: Finding Drafts and Cutting Heating Costs in Your Century Home

If you live in a classic Montreal house with high ceilings and old brick, you know that winter can be “extra” cold. Did you know that tiny cracks around your windows and doors can waste up to 10% of your heating bill? That is like leaving a window cracked open all winter long!

With Hydro-Québec rates going up by 3% this year, now is the perfect time to go on a “draft hunt.” Here is how you can do it yourself without any fancy tools.

1. The Magic Candle Test

On a windy day, light a candle or a stick of incense. Walk slowly around your house. Hold it near the edges of your windows, door frames, and even electrical outlets.

• What to look for: If the flame flickers or the smoke blows sideways, you’ve found a leak!
• The Fix: Use “caulking” (it looks like a tube of toothpaste) or “weatherstripping” (sticky foam tape) to seal those spots.

2. The Paper Test

This is great for your front or back doors. Take a five-dollar bill and put it in the door frame, then close the door.

• What to look for: Try to pull the money out. If it slides out easily, cold air is getting in.
• The Fix: You may need a “door sweep.” This is a small strip of rubber or bristles that screws onto the bottom of your door to block the wind.

3. Check the “Hidden” Spots

In old Montreal homes, the coldest air often comes from the basement or the attic hatch.

• Basements: Check where the stone or concrete wall meets the wood of the house.
• The Attic: Make sure your attic door has a good seal around it so the heat from your living room doesn’t float up and away.

Why do this now?

The Quebec government is currently offering big help through programs like LogisVert and Rénoclimat. If your “DIY fixes” aren’t enough, you could get thousands of dollars back for installing a new heat pump or adding professional insulation.

Saving money on heating doesn’t just help your wallet today—it also makes your home worth more when you decide to sell!