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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.
Greg and team were amazing! All interaction via email and text 100% professional. From consult to product recommendation their service was phenomenal!
Installed a Napoleon furnace (ecm dc drive variable 2-stage) and it was a game changer for the whole house. Blended air temperature through and through the entire house and its saving us money by cutting down our utility bill by ALOT!
We purchased a new cooling & heating system from Twintech and the team was fantastic. From sales to installation, the team were great to work with. Friendly (our dog even enjoyed having them over), professional and accommodating. Id recommend Twintech in a heart beat to anyone. Superb customer service.
End to end service. From quote, overseeing installation, contacting and making arrangements for energy audit. Warranty program is comprehensive. Cleaned up mess of assistant walking through my place without proper indoor foot covering when I pointed out that I was not happy about footprints on my floors.
In April we hired Twintech Heating & Cooling to replace our 20 year old water tank & 35 year old air conditioner. We got 5 estimates for the job & decided to go with Twintech for the following reasons.
- The Sales Manager, Dave, was very personable & knowledgeable as all of our questions were answered. (We had a list of questions we asked each of the contractors when we got the estimates)
- We got 5 estimates for the job. All contractors verbally told us they had the required qualifications but Dave was the only one to physically show us their license & insurance documentation.
- Twintech carried the Napoleon air conditioner & we wanted to support Canadian industry as it is assembled in Barrie On.
Safety is important at Twintech as demonstrated when we discussed with Dave, the need to change our install date because of freezing rain. Access was required by navigating a set of outside steps & Dave identified that safety took precedence.
On the installation date, Greg, Peter & Grant showed up on time & methodically accomplished the removal & installation of both units. The guys did a great job cleaning up as well.
When the job was completed we mentioned to Greg that we were pleased with the work they had done & were going to have them come out & do our furnace inspection in Sept. Greg said we can save our money as he had inspected the heat exchanger on the furnace while doing the job & there was no need to have another inspection in Sept. We were very impressed with Gregs initiative. This is top shelf service. Thank you Greg.
As the weather was too cool to complete a functional test of the air conditioner on the installation date, Dave made a follow-up call to us to see how things were going & Greg also came out to check the operation. No problems.
We are very happy we hired professionals like Dave, Greg, Grant & Peter & have no hesitation in recommending Twintech Heating & Cooling. They will now be our "go to" guys.
These guys are the best. From start to finish they exceeded my expectations and delivered a great product. They accommodated the nuances of my 100 year old home which was really appreciated. The install was easy to schedule and done fantastically. Im so excited to have an efficiently heated and cooled home.
Twintech were fast and efficient contractors. It only took 48 hours between an initial home visit and complete installation. The workmen were polite and hardworking. The site was left clean with the old furnace etc. removed. They helped arrange an environmental assessment in order that I could receive the maximum rebate. They even called me within a week to determine if I was satisfied with their work and to reassure me that I could call them anytime I experienced heating difficulties or had any questions. I recommend Twintech for your heating problems.
Courteous and professional service from initial consultation through to the installation. We highly recommend Twintech for outstanding service in the industry. Competitive pricing, professional and accurate advice, attention to detail, respect for their client's home and cleaning up at the completion of installation.
Last night was the coldest day of the year so far and I woke up to my house being 54 degrees... I called Twintech at 2:45am and Greg was on site by 3:30am. The furnace required a part and he returned to his shop and came back to my home around 4:15am, furnace up and running by 4:30am. THANK YOU TWINTECH! Your service is second to none.
After much research & getting 4 quotes, we hired Twintech team for our new furnace installation, prices were fair, they carried great product brands & more importantly installation was expertly done by one of the owners (Greg & his assistant Peter) which gave me an added piece of mind. Dave was very organized & answered all my questions in great detail, especially re: the Enbridge & Govt. rebate program.
My old air conditioner was 20 years old and developed a Freon leak and it was more cost effective to replace rather than repair. There are a large number of heating and air conditioning companies available in my area so I contacted several for quotes. Twintech heating and cooling responded quickly to the inquiry I left on their website and their sales person Dave came by the following day. He was knowledgeable about the field and was able to show copies of the various refrigeration and gas fitting licenses along with workmens compensation, TSSA and other certifications. He also suggested a particular manufacturer and model of AC unit appropriate to my house and gave me a quote. Since the price was reasonable, service had been good and the reviews on the internet were also good, I decided to purchase an AC unit from them. Installation was quickly scheduled. They showed up on time, did a good job installing the new unit including some sheet metal work to get the new heat exchanger to fit in the furnace duct, and cleaned up afterward. In addition, they noticed that my existing AC was installed too close to the furnace exhaust (based on building code) and were able to mount the new AC the appropriate distance from the exhaust. Overall, they did an excellent job and were a pleasure to work with.
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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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