Air sealing in Newmarket is one of those things people don’t think about until winter hits, and they’re standing near a window, wondering why their house feels like a refrigerator. The furnace is running. The thermostat says 21 degrees. But it’s still cold in certain spots. That’s drafts. That’s air leaking in from outside. And it’s costing money every single day from November to March.
Newmarket Winters Are Not Forgiving
Anyone who’s lived here a few years knows the drill. January rolls in, and it drops hard. Minus 15, minus 20 some nights. Wind chill makes it worse. Your house is taking a beating from the outside, and anything that’s not properly sealed just lets that cold pour in.
Older homes in Newmarket especially feel it. A lot of houses around Huron Heights, Summerhill Estates, and Gorham-College Manor were built decades ago. Back then, nobody was thinking about air tightness the way they do now. Gaps around windows. Gaps near the attic. Around electrical outlets on outside walls. That stuff adds up.
Air sealing in Newmarket fixes all of that. Not with a major renovation. Not by tearing out walls. Just by finding the gaps and closing them.
What Is Air Sealing and How Does It Work
Simple version. Your house has gaps. Some are obvious like under a door. Some are hidden, like where a pipe comes through your basement wall or in the rim joist area. Air sealing means you find all those spots and you close them off.
A contractor comes in, does an inspection, and sometimes uses a blower door test. That test pressurizes the house temporarily and makes it easy to find exactly where air is moving through. Then they seal it. Caulk for small cracks. Weatherstripping for doors and windows. Expanding foam for bigger gaps.
The whole job can take half a day or a full day. Nothing major. No big mess. You go about your day, and they handle it.
Where the Leaks Are Hiding
Most people think of windows and doors. Those are obvious. But the real culprits in most Newmarket homes are spots you’d never think to check.
- The attic hatch. Pull it down, and you’ll feel cold air dropping into your house. Most attic hatches have zero insulation and terrible sealing.
- Electrical outlets on outside walls. Put your hand near one on a cold day. You’ll feel it.
- The rim joist in the basement. That’s where your foundation meets the framing. Big gap, lots of cold air.
- Around pipes where they come through walls. The gaps around them are usually wider than they look.
Where ducts pass through floors and ceilings. Another spot that gets missed all the time. A pro doing air sealing in Newmarket knows every one of these spots. They’re not guessing. They’ve seen the same patterns in hundreds of homes.
The Money Part
Heating a home in Ontario is not cheap. Gas bills, hydro, whatever you’re using. If your house is leaking warm air, your furnace is running more than it needs to.
Most homes with significant air leaks can save 10 to 25 percent on heating after getting sealed up. If you’re paying $250 a month in winter, that’s $25 to $60 a month back in your pocket. Per month. For five months of winter, that’s $125 to $300 per season.
A proper air sealing job usually costs between $500 and $1,500, depending on the size of the house and how many problem spots there are. Do the math. Two or three winters, and the job has paid for itself.
Comfort Is the Real Win
The money is great, but honestly, the comfort is what people notice first. No more cold spots in certain rooms. No more sitting on the couch with a blanket on because the living room is always chilly near the wall. No more kids complaining their bedroom is cold even though the heat is on.
Air sealing in Newmarket homes makes the temperature consistent across the whole house. The furnace doesn’t have to keep catching up because warm air isn’t escaping as fast. It just works better.
Works Better With Insulation
Air sealing and insulation work together. If you only add insulation without sealing, air still leaks through gaps and around the insulation. If you only seal without insulating, you stop drafts, but heat still escapes through the walls and attic.
The best results come from doing both. Seal first, then insulate. That’s the order that makes sense. Jarrah Contracting Services handles both, so you don’t need separate contractors coming in at different times.
Why Call Jarrah for Air Sealing in Newmarket
Jarrah started in Newmarket. That’s home base. The office is right on Gorham Street. The team has been doing insulation and air sealing in Newmarket and the surrounding York Region for over 15 years.
They know the housing stock here. They know what older Newmarket homes typically struggle with. They’re not a company from out of town trying to figure it out. They’ve already seen your type of house dozens of times.
Call Before Winter Gets Worse
If the house is cold in certain spots, if the heating bill seems high, or if you just want to know where the gaps are – get an inspection. Jarrah offers free assessments. Air sealing in Newmarket doesn’t have to wait until spring. Doing it now means you feel the difference this winter, not next year.
Call (905) 251-1141 or visit jarrahcs.com. The office is at 1225 Gorham St, Newmarket.
FAQs
How do I know if my house needs air sealing?
Cold spots in rooms. Drafts near windows or doors. High heating bills that don’t match the size of your house. These are signs. A blower door test will confirm it and show you exactly where.
Does it take long?
Half a day to a full day, usually. Depends on how many leaks. No overnight stays. No major disruption.
My house is newer. Do I still need it?
Newer homes are tighter but not perfect. Construction leaves gaps. Settling opens cracks over time. Worth checking, especially if you’re seeing higher bills than expected.
Does it help in summer too?
Yes. The same gaps that let cold air in during winter let hot air in during summer. Your AC runs less. It works year-round.
Will it make my house feel stuffy?
No. Professionals know the difference between random leaks and proper ventilation. They don’t seal your vents or block airflow. Your home stays fresh, just not leaky.
Are there any rebates in Ontario?
Sometimes yes. Enbridge Gas has run rebate programs for air sealing and insulation work. Jarrah can walk you through what’s available when you call.