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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.
Our hot water tank died and with an after hours phone called Bob the sales guy jumped into action. Friendly, courteous and genuinely wanted to do whats best for our house hold we were given options and he awaited an answer with no pressure.
We decided on what we wanted and it was installed asap and Greg and team worked and cleaned up so well, you would never know there was a hot water tank there before!
We love our hot water tank and being able to have back to back to back showers without having to wait for the hot water tank to heat the water!
I had heard of Twin Tech from a good friend of mine.
I needed to get a new Air Conditioner. It was not working properly and was 19 years old. I decided to get a new furnace at the same time.
I gave them a call on Saturday June 28.
I spoke to Bob Graham. I made arrangements for him to attend my house the following day.
I saw him on Sunday June 29 at 1100 AM.
He was on time and looked professional.
He spent 2 hours with me going over what I needed. He also suggested that I purchase a Humidifier. He gave me a quote of just under $11,000.00 for the purchase and installation of a Air Conditioner, Furnace and Humidifier. He was not pushy and gave me time to speak to my wife.
I called Bob on Monday June 30 and made arrangements to have it installed by the end of the week.
On Friday June 3 they arrived at 830 AM.
Again, right on time.
Greg and Mitch worked all day and finished the installation by 430 PM.
They made sure that everything was working properly and the basement was just as clean as it was before they came.
I will now be using Twin Tech to perform any maintenance needed on this equipment.
I was completely satisfied from start to finish with the service provided.
Thank You,
Gary Grieves.
Upchurch Ave.
Ajax.
We contacted TwinTech after having another ductless air-conditioning company come in to quote on a solution for our townhouse. We had a unique problem where my office was a hot spot - it's at the front of the unit and gets a lot of sun. If it's 20C outside, It's 29C in my office. The other company could not build a solution that would get a ductless unit to that room because of the location - the AC unit would have to be at the rear, and ductless systems would have to be on that side of the interior. TwinTech suggested a hybrid solution to fit our unique problem, where the ductless unit would move cold air to an air exchanger installed in our bedroom closet, and then they built a ducted vent system between all the upper rooms. This was less intrusive than building a central air system, and less expensive. Each room has a vent that I can close off, so I can push more cold air to my office when needed. We really didn't want ductless units sitting on the walls, and this looks and works better. I really appreciate the extra thought and care that went into the design of a solution, and the attention to detail in the installation. They answered all of our questions, and were able to do a bit extra by installing the ducts around the vents and painting them for us. It cost more than we originally planned for, due to our unique needs, but the fact that they offered financing helped us budget for more.
The job was done fast (I think we got lucky with timing where it wasn't the AC install busy season yet), and the team was very friendly and professional. They arrived and finished each day when they said they would. My office is now running at a comfortable temperature! I'm extremely happy with the experience and would whole heartedly recommend them.
How lucky are we to have this team come save us from our broken down, under sold, poorly installed previous unit (mind you there is a reason SEARS went bankrupt). Bob arrived on time to give us a detailed review of our unit and furnace; very knowledgeable. Greg arrived as planned with the new unit and reiterated what Bob explained how our furnace is equipped to handle the new unit and we didnt need to spend more money on a variable speed air conditioner. Cant say enough on how professional, efficient and personable this team is. Thank you so much guys!
We used Twintech for our replacement AC. Bob did a great job assessing what we needed and organized the install and showed up on install date. Greg and Mitch were on time and were very neat. They covered the traffic areas with a drop cloth and did an excellent install. Great clean up after install complete. Would recommend Twintech for heating and cooling.
They were fantastic, clean, freindly, great service. Would definitely recommend. Answered ally questions and more.
We woke up at about 7 a.m. the Sunday morning before Valentine's Day to a house that was barely 15 degrees Celsius on a really cold day. We tried to call some other suppliers but no answer or call back. We did a quick google search and Twintech came up. Had never dealt with them before. They had a chat line and lo & behold, someone answered; Greg. Helped us diagnose that our 40 year old furnace pilot light was out and walked us through how to relight it. All worked well; he even called me during this process. No charge I was told when asked.
15 minutes later, the pilot went out. It would not stay lit. Greg had Bob call us and we set up a meeting for about 11 a.m. that same Sunday.
Bob walked us through the options and even brought 3 electric space heaters for us to use. By Tuesday afternoon, we had a new Furnace and central air installed.
The team was helpful, responsive and respectful. Very glad we found them by accident and looking forward to a nice cool summer after a warm winter.
Thanks guys!
Dealing with Bob and the installation crew was a pleasure. They took the time to explain everything. What would benefit us the most and the price difference. They were in and out in a reasonable time frame and fit us in within a couple days of original meeting. Quality of work is excellent as well.
A pleasure dealing with Bob ,Spencer and Mitch . They are professional and they also observe the covid 19 precautions . Bob explained the whole process and got the new furnace up the next day . Highly recommend
Would like to thank TwinTech for their quick response to our furnace repair. We used TwinTech to install a new furnace and AC a few years
back. Our furnace started to have problems early in the evening of extremely cold night. Contacted TwinTech and they were able make a service call later that evening. They got the furnace going and came the next day to replace a part. The part was under warranty and there was
no charge for either service call!
We are extremely happy with their customer service and would highly recommend them.
Gary & Kelly
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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!
Here's the sitch.I've replaced my igniter 3-4 times in the last year. Figured I'd just gotten cheap ones. Maybe I got oil on it, maybe chemicals/moisture from nearby washing machine/shower (there's talk of this online, idk). Anyway, I bought a beefie
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