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Your Pre-Winter Heat Pump Checklist

As temperatures begin to fall in the Durham Region and Toronto, now is the perfect time to make sure your heat pump is ready for the demands of winter.
A little preparation before the cold arrives can improve efficiency, prevent surprises, and keep your home consistently comfortable all season long.
Here’s a practical, easy-to-follow pre-winter heat pump checklist to help you get the most from your system.
1.
Inspect and Clean the Outdoor Unit
Before snow and ice become a daily challenge, check the outdoor heat pump unit.
Make sure it’s clear from anything that could block airflow.
Look for and remove:
Leaves and twigs
Overgrown plants
Dirt or debris around the base
A clear, open area helps the unit operate efficiently throughout winter.
2.
Replace or Clean Air Filters
Your heat pump’s air filter plays a major role in both performance and indoor air quality.
Dirty filters restrict airflow and force the system to work harder.
Check the filter now, and plan to replace or clean it every 4–6 weeks during winter.
3.
Ensure Vents and Indoor Units Are Unblocked
Whether you have a ducted heat pump or ductless mini-splits, make sure nothing is blocking airflow indoors.
Furniture, curtains, or decor placed too close to vents or wall units can reduce efficiency and create uneven heating.
Even a few inches of clearance can make a noticeable difference.
4.
Double-Check Thermostat Settings
Before winter starts, ensure your thermostat is set up properly for cold weather.
Use HEAT mode, and avoid the “AUTO” temperature mode if possible, as it can sometimes cause the system to switch unexpectedly.
If you have a programmable thermostat, adjusting schedules now can save you money later.
5.
Check Drainage and Condensate Lines
During operation, heat pumps create condensation.
Make sure the condensate line is clear and draining properly.
A quick inspection now helps prevent leaks or moisture issues once the system is running more frequently.
6.
Test the System Before Freezing Temperatures Hit
Turn on your heat pump before the first true cold spell.
This gives you time to notice anything unusual, such as strange noises, weak airflow, or temperature irregularities.
If anything feels off, it’s better to fix it now than during a January cold snap.
7.
Clean the Indoor Coil (or Have It Professionally Cleaned)
Dust buildup on the indoor coil can affect performance and air quality.
Some light dust can be wiped from accessible areas, but deeper cleaning should be handled by a technician to avoid damaging delicate components.
A clean coil improves efficiency and helps the system heat more evenly.
8.
Inspect the Outdoor Unit for Leveling and Stability
Heat pumps work best when the outdoor unit sits level on its pad.
Over time, soil can shift, causing the unit to tilt.
A slight adjustment now can protect the compressor and improve performance during winter’s demanding conditions.
9.
Schedule Professional Maintenance
Even with great at-home care, nothing replaces a professional tune-up.
A technician will inspect electrical components, test operation, clean internal parts, and ensure everything is winter-ready.
At Twintech Heating & Cooling, we prepare heat pumps across Durham Region and Toronto so homeowners stay comfortable regardless of how cold it gets.
Stay Comfortable, Efficient, and Winter-Ready
A few quick checks now can help prevent mid-winter breakdowns and keep your heat pump running efficiently all season.
If you’d like help preparing your system or want a full winter tune-up, Twintech Heating & Cooling is here to keep your home warm and worry-free.
We are very happy with our new furnace. The service was excellent the guys worked 6 hours straight through and there was no mess at all they took the old furnace boxs etc with them they then explained everything to us they were very helpful and pleasant , when we need a new air conditioner we know who to call!
The crew from sales to installation was very professional and had great attention to detail
We couldnt have been more impressed with Twintech - from our first service call with Mitch who took the time to thoroughly diagnose the issue with our furnace, to Dave who proposed a well thought out solution to meet our needs and finally Greg and team who acted quickly to install given we had no heat.
We did our due diligence by soliciting quotes from alternate providers and were shocked and disappointed by the aggressive and manipulative tactics used.
Twintech was honest in their approach, detailed in their product knowledge, reasonably priced, diligent in their follow-up and valued our business.
Well done Twintech! You made this a positive experience for us and our new furnace works beautifully!
We recently purchased an Amana high efficiency furnace and humdifier through Twintech. The work was completed very professionally and the quality of the workmanship was high. There was some additional sheet metal work required to complete the installation, which they were able to complete themselves. Overall I am very pleased with the work and would highly recommend Twintech for a furnace replacement.
We were very pleased with every aspect of the work that was done. They were very professional and polite. They arrived when they said they would and job was completed on estimated time
We would highly recommend them to whoever needed a recommendation
We have a very large dog and they were very understanding and respectful of him being around
The blower on our furnace stopped working leaving us with a cold house. Dave from TwinTech responded immediately to our HomeStars service request. From beginning to end Dave was nothing but helpful, friendly and professional, he did a great job of walking us through the quote and scope of work.
The replacement of the furnace went smoothly. The Guys did a great job, everyone was very friendly and polite. There were no hiccups, or unexpected costs. The only surprise was they left the work area cleaner than it was before they started.
Was a great experience with the whole TwinTech team. Its been a couple of months since the new furnace has been installed and its working great!
I heard about TwinTech when researching new furnaces at furnaceprices.ca. After contacting them about my broken down furnace, Dave came to my house the next day to assess my situation and requirements for a new furnace. He recommended one that had stainless steel heat exchangers which sold me since my previous furnace had issues with a rusted secondary heat exchanger that had to be replaced. Dave also set me up with an appointment with an energy audit company so that I could take advantage of a rebate to help improve the energy efficiency of my home and get some money back. A few days later, Greg, Grant, and Mitch came to install the new furnace and remove the old one. When delivering and removing the furnaces, they were very careful not to damage my floors and walls, and even laid out red carpeting to protect the floors. They were very friendly and professional. The installation was completed in the time they said it would take and they cleaned up their work areas. Within a week, Dave called to follow-up to see how everything was going. I have already recommended them to several friends and family members who may need new furnaces soon.
Twintech did a great job, from Dave the Sales Rep to the Office staff and The Professional Technicians who did the installation. They were professional, courteous, knowledgable and informative. From beginning to follow up we were completely satisfied with everything. Thanks Again. Sincerely The Laytons
Great product, great service, great follow-up. The Twintech Heating and Cooling arranged removal of my existing oil tank and they installed the new gas furnace Amana (made in USA). I am very happy with the final result and support I received throughout the process. My thanks go to the entire Twintech team for their professionalism, great communication and follow-up.
We've had Twintech provide us with work in the past, for an inground pool heater and required rough-in for a new gas stove. More recently they provided the same friendly, professional, timely and clean installation of our new furnace.
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We are very happy to recommend this company to everyone. Our furnace broke down on Sunday morning. We phoned them and before noon Grant the owner showed up. He worked on the furnace for about a hour not wanting to give up to fix the problem. The furnace was 17 years old. I was the one talking about replacing it. End result was the next day it was all done. On the Sunday Bob came over with heaters to warm up the house. We decided to replace the water heater at the same time. Thanks Grant for the excellent work. Thumbs up.
Right on time. Explained how to work the HRV in a different way so the house would not be so dry. Changed my whole house water filter for me as well. Friendly, helpful, caring service!
Very pleased with the professional service that TwinTech Heating and Cooling provided in replacing my furnace. I got several quotes from different service providers. Their price was excellent and they explained the features very well. We are very glad we went with TwinTech and highly recommend their services.
We were new homeowners in need of a second opinion. TwinTech Heating & Cooling were Amazing and professional. Very knowledgeable and great service all around. Recommend to anyone looking for honest and reliable services. Treated with respect and care. Thank you Greg, Mitch and Bob!
TwinTech is an excellent and honest company! I called them for a second opinion after being told by another company that I needed to replace my furnace. Turns out this was not the case at all! I did not need a new furnace. TwinTech did not push to make an unnecessary sale and saved me from a huge expense. Bob and Mitch were extremely professional and above all honest! I definitely recommend TwinTech!
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