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HVAC Preventative Maintenance & Why its important


What is preventative maintenance?

Preventative maintenance is a yearly service for residential HVAC equipment that allows a licensed technician to examine the components of your equipment, clean various parts, adjust as needed, check pressures and complete a full system diagnostic to ensure everything is working optimally.

Why is Preventative Maintenance Important?


Most homeowners who purchase new equipment don’t feel that it’s necessary to complete annual maintenance on their equipment. The consensus from a lot of homeowners is that its not needed, or its new and under warranty and shouldn’t be required. Although this thinking is very common, it is also completely inaccurate. Having a licensed technician check your equipment can prevent unexpected equipment failures, extend the life of the

equipment and is a common requirement for many manufacturers to ensure validity of an extended labour warranty. During these maintenance visits a qualified technician will adjust the equipment to ensure that it’s performing as efficiently as possible, saving the homeowner costs associated with operating the equipment.

Can I complete a maintenance myself?


No, only a licenced technician will have the tools and knowledge to take readings required to understand whether the equipment is functioning correctly and within defined parameters. However, a homeowner can ensure that air flow filters are changed regularly and that the AC unit is clean by gently hosing off any stuck-on dirt and debris, just be mindful of the electrical components.

Does spending money on regular HVAC maintenance really pay off?

Yes, absolutely it does. Regular inspections and tune ups will prevent breakdowns, extend the life of the equipment, and can even save money on energy bills. 

Here’s an example: When dirt and debris build up on the air conditioners coils, fan blades and other parts, the metal begins to corrode. This can lead to refrigerant leaks and system failure. It also creates a strain on the system, forcing your unit to run constantly to keep the space cool, using more electricity in the process.

The same is true for furnaces. Air is constantly moving over the components inside the furnace. Blower motor blades, the circuit board and other electrical components can become caked with dust, which can lead to shorts and malfunctioning switches. Excessive dust in the unit can also lead to hot spots on the heat exchanger causing potential cracks which result in toxic gases being released into the air in your home. 

  • What’s the difference between a maintenance call and a service call?

    The primary reason for a service call is to diagnose and repair a specific problem – such as a loud blower motor, or an air conditioner not cooling. 

    During a maintenance call the technician will go through a multi point check list to ensure that all components are functioning properly, as well as cleaning internal parts that are not easily accessible and making changes to settings to optimize the systems performance and efficiency.

  • Does a hot water tank or tankless water heater require maintenance?

    Yes they do, although water heaters are often overlooked when it comes to annual maintenance. Manufacturers recommend annual draining of hot water tanks to reduce build up of sediment which inhibits the rate at which the water can be heated. This also improves the overall water quality coming out of your taps. Picture a kettle that has never been cleaned – there is often white build up on the bottom from calcium and lime in our water. Depending on the hardness of your tap water the rate at which these deposits build up can vary. 

    Although most people never flush their hot water tanks and never experience any noticeable issues, it is still recommended.

    Tankless or “On Demand” hot water heaters also require annual flushing and maintenance due to their complex design. Annual flushing with food grade descaler will ensure that the system is operating at its peak performance as well as vastly increase the lifespan of the unit. Most relatively handy individuals can do these types of maintenances – flushing of the system, however only a licenced technician will be able to diagnose any potential problems as well as checking the air filter and heat exchanger among other components.

  • What other HVAC equipment requires maintenance?

    Anything that you want to last – humidifiers require pad replacement and cleaning, HRV and ERV’s require the cells and prefilters to be cleaned, indoor air quality items like UV bulbs should be replaced according to manufacturer's recommendations, boilers should be looked at annually, heat pumps and ductless units should be maintained like an AC. In short, if you depend on a piece of equipment it should be maintained to ensure that it is working well and ready for use.

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