Why Calgary homes lose more heat through gaps than most
Calgary has one of the most demanding climates for building envelope performance in Canada. Temperatures can swing 30°C in a single day during Chinook events — the caulk around a window frame expands and contracts with every cycle. Over 5–10 years, that movement cracks and pulls the caulk away from the substrate, creating gaps that let cold air in and allow moisture to sit against the framing.
The real cost isn't the drafts you feel — it's the moisture infiltration you don't notice until mold appears or the window frame starts to rot. Water getting into a wood frame in October, freezing in November and thawing in March accelerates wood decay far faster than a dry climate. Recaulking every 5–7 years is the cheapest form of home maintenance in Alberta.
Weatherstripping is a similar story. The foam and rubber seals on entry doors compress over years of use. A door that sealed perfectly when installed now has a visible gap at the bottom in winter — and that gap is responsible for a surprisingly large fraction of your home's heat loss.