HVAC in St. James

St. James at a glance

St. James-Assiniboia, often just called St. James, is a large community area in far west Winnipeg, bounded by the Assiniboine River to the south and the RMs of Rosser and Headingley to the north and west. St. James Street runs through it.

What that means for your heating

Much of St. James was built in the decades after the Second World War, with rows of bungalows and storey-and-a-half homes. Many have original ducts and second- or third-generation furnaces. A load calculation before replacing equipment often shows a smaller, more efficient furnace will do; see furnace replacement.

Near the airport

Winnipeg's airport sits in this part of the city, and open land around it means wind and drifting snow in winter. Check that furnace and HRV vents on outside walls stay clear; see frozen furnace vents.

Several towns in one

The area began in 1886 as the Rural Municipality of Assiniboia. The RM of St. James split off in 1921 and the Village of Brooklands in 1922; St. James became a city in 1956, absorbed Brooklands and merged with Assiniboia in 1969 before joining Winnipeg in 1972. Older homes here often have humidity problems in winter, from dry air to frosty windows; see humidifiers and HRVs.