HVAC Maintenance and Tune-Ups in Waterloo Region

Regular maintenance is the cheapest way to avoid a no-heat call in January or a dead AC in July. A tune-up catches worn parts, dirty components and safety issues before they turn into breakdowns.

Our HVAC maintenance membership costs $30 a month or $330 a year and includes:

• Two tune-ups a year: heating in the fall, cooling in the spring
• Two filter changes a year, done at your tune-ups
• Annual condenser coil cleaning for your AC or heat pump
• Thermostat check for settings, batteries and operation
• Priority scheduling when you need a repair
• 10% off repairs

It covers homes across Waterloo, Kitchener, Cambridge and Guelph and the surrounding townships.

A furnace tune-up checks safety first, then performance. A gas furnace that hasn't been looked at in years can develop problems you can't see, including cracked heat exchangers and blocked venting.

Our technician inspects and cleans the burners and flame sensor, tests the igniter, checks gas pressure and combustion, inspects the heat exchanger, tests the safety and limit switches, checks the inducer and blower motors, measures temperature rise, clears the condensate drain and trap, and inspects the venting inside and out. We also check for carbon monoxide around the furnace. If we find a hazard, Ontario rules require us to shut the appliance off until it's fixed; our guide to a red-tagged furnace explains what that means.

A cooling tune-up keeps your air conditioner or heat pump efficient and catches the failures that usually strike on the hottest day of the year. Heat pumps need it twice a year, because they work in both seasons.

We clean the outdoor condenser coil (cottonwood fluff and grass clippings clog these quickly in Waterloo Region yards), test the capacitor and contactor, check refrigerant pressures and temperatures, measure airflow and the temperature drop across the indoor coil, and clear the condensate drain. For heat pumps, the fall visit also checks the reversing valve, defrost controls and backup heat. If something fails between visits, see AC repair or heat pump repair.

For most homes with a furnace and an AC or heat pump, yes. Two separate tune-ups a year typically cost a couple of hundred dollars or more in the region, before filters, and the plan adds coil cleaning, priority scheduling and 10% off repairs.

The real savings come from repairs you avoid and equipment that lasts longer. A dirty flame sensor caught in October is a two-minute fix; the same sensor failing in January means a cold house and a service call. Many manufacturer warranties also expect regular professional maintenance, so keeping records protects your coverage. Check your warranty terms for details.

Check your furnace filter every one to three months and replace it when it's grey or clogged. Keep the outdoor unit clear of leaves in fall and snow and ice in winter, with about 60 cm of clearance on all sides. Keep the furnace intake and exhaust pipes outside clear of snowdrifts. Test your carbon monoxide and smoke alarms monthly.

If you're planning for a replacement in the next few years, ask us at your tune-up. We'll tell you honestly how much life your equipment has left, and you can look at furnace installation options before it fails.