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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.
On coldest night of the year our furnace quit. At 8:40 in the morning Greg arrived and gave us a diagnosis and a recommendation. By 2:30 we had a new furnace and were warm again. Great company. Great customer service. Good reasonable price.
Peter, Pickering
Twin tech team was very efficient and prompt. They provided a quote within hours of request and got the job done on time. No disruption to home function. We would highly recommend this team. Job well done.
Our furnace bit the dust, and Twintech came out to troubleshoot and diagnose the problem within a couple of hours. Mitch was super helpful, patient, and answered all of our questions. When we decided to get the furnace replaced, the crew was over first thing the next morning and did a fantastic job. Not only did they complete the job in a few hours, but they cleaned up and respected our house as they went, and answered all of our follow-up questions. I've used Twintech for our HVAC needs in the past and will continue to do so. I'd recommend them to anyone, and it feels good to support a local, family-owned business.
Dave and the Twintech team were fabulous from day 1 and helped us through the process to identifying a new furnace and AC unit. This was our first time through this process and Dave did a thorough job explaining all the components and was very patience answering all our questions. Dave provided great insights and fair pricing.
The Twintech team did an awesome installation. Very clean and efficient. I would highly recommended their service.
We had a new Amana furnace installed by Twintech and we were very pleased with the installation. It is nice to have a warm house again.
Excellent job. Excellent service. Competitive price. Its rare to find a company with the knowledge and professional results we have experienced with Twintech. The clean and neat installation with attention to detail and drop sheers to respect our property is a clear indication of Twintechs high level of integrity. The 1-1/2 gas line upgrade they did for our pool 3 years ago was awesome. Can't say enough. Thank-you Twintech.
Twitch did a great job with the installation of our new furnace. I really appreciated their honesty and I could trust what they were telling me. Another company tried to suggest significantly more work at a greater cost claiming it was necessary to meet current building code. Twintech is very fair. All staff I meet were friendly, polite and trustworthy. I would recommend Twitch for a furnace.
This is a professional team that's easy to deal with. I would strongly recommend them
Very professional firm from start to finish!
They removed the old oil tank and furnace. They installed air conditioning and a new propane furnace.
Professional installation, on time and no mess.
Very pleased with their work and would highly recommend the company. Our house is three stories so they spent the time to do all the calculations to make sure we would have great performance on each floor.
Thank you again!
Upon a routine yearly maintenance, it was discovered there was a leak in the heat exchanger and a I needed a new furnace. I know nothing about these things and was completely stressed out. The company I had the maintenance plan with quoted me a huge number to rent a furnace, I just wanted to cry. Then I spoke to Dave at Twintech. He was so knowledgeable and calming, provided me a fair quote and within a few days I had an amazing crew show up to my house and install my new energy efficient furnace! I have already recommended these wonderful people at Twintech to a good friend of mine. Thank you Twintech!!
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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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