HVAC System Maintenance Etobicoke: Year-Round Comfort Starts Here
A family in Humber Valley signed up for our maintenance plan four years ago after their furnace died in February and their AC quit in July the same year. Two emergency repairs in six months cost them over $2,000. Since joining our plan, they've had zero breakdowns. Their energy bills dropped 18%. They tell everyone they know to stop skipping maintenance.
HVAC system maintenance covers both your heating and cooling equipment. Two visits per year keep everything running smoothly through all four seasons. Fall service prepares your furnace for winter. Spring service gets your AC ready for summer. This simple schedule prevents most breakdowns and saves money long-term.
What Complete HVAC Maintenance Includes
Our maintenance plans aren't just filter changes. We inspect, clean, test, and tune both your furnace and air conditioner to keep them operating at peak performance.
During fall furnace maintenance, we inspect the heat exchanger for cracks, clean burners and flame sensors, test gas pressure and ignition, check electrical connections, lubricate the blower motor, examine venting systems, measure combustion efficiency, and test all safety controls. We also change your filter and verify safe carbon monoxide levels.
Spring AC maintenance covers the outdoor condenser unit and indoor evaporator coils. We clean both coils thoroughly, check refrigerant levels and look for leaks, test the compressor and fan motors, inspect electrical connections, measure airflow and temperature drop, clean the condensate drain, and test your thermostat calibration.
Each visit takes about an hour. You get a written report detailing our findings with photos of any issues we discover. If repairs are needed, we provide clear pricing so you can decide how to proceed.
Why Twice-Yearly Maintenance Matters
Your HVAC system runs year-round. Furnaces work hard through winter. Air conditioners battle summer heat and humidity. Both systems need regular attention to stay reliable and efficient.
Maintenance catches small problems before they become expensive failures. A dirty flame sensor might cause nuisance shutdowns that get worse over time. Caught early during maintenance, it's a $20 cleaning. Ignored until the sensor fails completely, you're paying $300 for an emergency repair call on a Saturday night.
Clean, well-maintained equipment also runs more efficiently. Dirty coils, clogged filters, and poorly adjusted burners waste energy. Most customers see 10-20% lower utility bills after starting regular maintenance. Over a year, those savings often exceed the maintenance plan cost.
Your equipment lasts longer too. Furnaces and air conditioners are designed for 15-20 years with proper care. Neglected systems often fail at 10-12 years. Regular maintenance adds years to your equipment's lifespan by reducing wear and preventing premature component failures.
The Real Cost of Skipping Maintenance
We see it constantly. Someone skips maintenance to save $150. Six months later, their furnace quits and needs a $800 blower motor replacement. Or their AC compressor fails, costing $1,500 to fix.
Skipped maintenance also voids most manufacturer warranties. Lennox, Carrier, Trane, and other major brands require proof of annual professional service to honor warranty claims. Without maintenance records, you pay full price for repairs that should have been covered.
Energy waste adds up too. A neglected furnace might use 20% more gas than a maintained one. That's $200-300 extra per winter just in wasted fuel. Air conditioners with dirty coils can increase cooling costs by 30%. The money you "save" by skipping maintenance gets eaten by higher bills and eventual repairs.
READY TO UPGRADE YOUR HVAC SYSTEM?
How Etobicoke's Climate Affects Your HVAC
Living near Lake Ontario means your HVAC system faces unique challenges. High humidity works your air conditioner harder, causing more condensate that can clog drain lines. We clean these drains during maintenance to prevent water damage and system shutdowns.
Long, cold winters put serious strain on furnaces. Your heating system runs more hours here than in milder climates. More runtime means more wear on components. Regular maintenance helps catch this wear before parts fail.
Salt air from the lake accelerates corrosion on outdoor AC units, especially in neighborhoods like Long Branch, Mimico, and Humber Bay Shores. During maintenance, we check for rust and corrosion, treating it early before it causes refrigerant leaks or cabinet failures.
Older homes in areas like Kingsway and Islington Village often have ductwork issues that make HVAC systems work harder. Leaky ducts waste energy. Undersized returns restrict airflow. We identify these problems during maintenance and recommend solutions.
Our Maintenance Plan Benefits
Annual maintenance plans include two visits: fall furnace service and spring AC tune-up. Plan members also get priority scheduling, which means faster service when you need repairs. No waiting weeks for an available appointment.
Members receive 15% off all repair parts and labor. This discount often pays for the entire annual plan with a single repair. You also get no overtime charges for after-hours service and extended warranty coverage on our work.
We keep detailed service records for plan members. This history helps us diagnose problems faster and track equipment condition over time. When it's time to replace your system, we have years of data showing exactly how it performed.
Most importantly, you never forget to schedule maintenance. We contact you when service is due and book appointments at your convenience. Set it and forget it.
DIY Maintenance Tasks Between Visits
You can handle some basic tasks yourself to keep your system running smoothly between professional maintenance visits. Change your furnace filter every month during heating season and AC filter monthly during cooling season. Dirty filters restrict airflow and make your system work harder.
Keep outdoor AC units clear of leaves, grass clippings, and debris. Trim bushes and plants at least two feet away from the unit. Good airflow around the condenser helps it run efficiently.
Check your thermostat batteries twice a year. Dead batteries cause system shutdowns that look like equipment failures but are actually just power issues. Keep vents and registers clear of furniture, curtains, and storage items.
But leave the technical work to professionals. Testing combustion, checking refrigerant, inspecting heat exchangers, and measuring gas pressure all require specialized equipment and training. These jobs are why you need professional HVAC system maintenance.
When to Call Between Maintenance Visits
Don't wait for your next scheduled maintenance if you notice problems. Strange sounds like grinding, squealing, or banging mean something's wrong. Weak airflow from vents indicates blockages or motor issues. Rooms that won't heat or cool properly suggest duct or equipment problems.
Odd smells are warning signs. Gas odors mean potential leaks. Burning smells might indicate electrical problems or overheating. Musty odors suggest mold growth in ductwork. Any of these warrant immediate service calls.
Rising energy bills despite similar usage patterns often mean your system is working harder due to developing problems. Frequent cycling on and off, ice forming on equipment, or water leaking around your furnace or AC all need attention before your next maintenance visit.
FAQs
How much does an HVAC maintenance plan cost?
Annual plans covering both furnace and AC run $200-280 per year depending on equipment type and home size. This includes two complete service visits plus member discounts and benefits.
Can I just do maintenance myself?
You can change filters and keep units clear of debris, but professional maintenance requires specialized tools and training. Heat exchanger inspections, refrigerant testing, combustion analysis, and safety checks need licensed technicians.
What happens if you find problems during maintenance?
We explain what's wrong, why it matters, and provide clear repair pricing. You decide whether to fix issues immediately or schedule repairs later. We never perform unauthorized work.
Do I really need maintenance twice a year?
Yes. Your furnace and AC are separate systems with different maintenance needs. Fall service prepares heating for winter. Spring service gets cooling ready for summer. Both visits prevent breakdowns and keep equipment efficient.
What if I only have a furnace or only have AC?
We offer single-system maintenance plans. Furnace-only plans include one annual fall visit. AC-only plans include one annual spring visit. Pricing is lower than combined plans.
Does maintenance really prevent breakdowns?
Not all of them, but it catches most problems before they cause failures. Components can still wear out between visits, but regular maintenance dramatically reduces unexpected breakdowns and extends equipment life.