Efficient air conditioning starts with smart maintenance: what you need to know before the heat hits
With summer fast approaching, heatwaves are an unavoidable reality for residents of Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, the North Shore, and the South Shore. A poorly maintained wall-mounted air conditioner or central system can turn your summer comfort into a real nightmare. At AirGreen, we see every year the consequences of neglected or poorly done maintenance. Our hands-on experience, gained from thousands of in-home interventions, allows us to identify the most common mistakes to avoid to ensure your HVAC system works exactly when you need it most.
Why preventive maintenance is essential before summer
Whether you use a wall-mounted air conditioner, a central system, or an integrated heat pump, your system runs non-stop during heatwaves. Poor maintenance not only increases the risk of breakdowns, but also drives up your energy bills.
Here’s what we regularly observe:
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Clogged filters that block proper airflow.
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Outdoor units obstructed by leaves, pollen, or urban debris.
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Condensate not draining properly, leading to leaks inside the home.
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Unbalanced fans causing strange noises and shortening the equipment’s lifespan.
All of these issues are 100% avoidable with thorough and professional HVAC maintenance, adapted to your specific installation.
The 6 most common maintenance mistakes to avoid
1. Forgetting to clean the air filters
The air filter is the first line of defense against dust, allergens, and fine particles. A dirty filter:
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Reduces your system’s energy efficiency by up to 30%.
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Forces the compressor to work harder, which can lead to overheating.
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Encourages mold buildup in the ducts.
AirGreen tip: Clean your filters monthly during heavy use periods. If in doubt, call our team for a full inspection.
2. Leaving the outdoor unit blocked
In Montreal and Laval, outdoor units are often exposed to snow, branches, and pollution. If air can’t flow freely, the system loses efficiency.
What to do?
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Make sure the space around your unit is clear for at least 60 cm all around.
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Avoid placing units in closed-off corners without natural ventilation.
3. Neglecting condensate drainage
In hot and humid weather, your system produces a lot of condensate. If the drain pipe is clogged or improperly angled:
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Water leaks may appear on walls or ceilings.
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Excess humidity promotes mold growth.
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Your flooring or insulation could get damaged.
We’ve seen cases in Brossard where a simple pipe cleaning could have prevented several thousand dollars in damage.
4. Trying to do maintenance yourself without expertise
Many homeowners think a quick vacuum job is enough. But an HVAC system has fragile, technical, and finely tuned components. A wrong move can:
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Damage the fan motor.
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Cause refrigerant leaks.
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Void your manufacturer’s warranty.
At AirGreen, our certified technicians perform maintenance following manufacturer standards (Daikin, Gree, Fujitsu, Lennox, etc.).
5. Ignoring unusual noises or smells
Grinding sounds, a burning plastic smell, or uneven airflow are red flags. Too often, we get emergency calls during a heatwave, even though early warning signs were present.
Practical tip: Schedule an inspection as soon as you notice anything unusual about your system.
6. Not scheduling maintenance before the heatwave
One of the costliest mistakes is putting off maintenance until the hot weather arrives. During peak season, response times are longer, and breakdowns occur at the worst possible moment.
The AirGreen HVAC maintenance service: thorough, local, and reliable
Our team, based in Montreal, responds quickly in Laval, Longueuil, and across the North Shore (Blainville, Saint-Eustache, Terrebonne…) and the South Shore (Boucherville, Saint-Hubert, Saint-Lambert…). We follow a strict maintenance protocol:
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Full check of all electrical components and connections.
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Airflow measurement and component adjustments.
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Professional cleaning of the coils and fan.
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Inspection of refrigerant pressure (R-32, R-410A, R-454B).
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Check of the outdoor unit and condensate evacuation.
Case study: Preventive maintenance on a central system in Laval
Recently, a client in Laval contacted us to maintain their 5-ton Lennox central heat pump before summer. The unit hadn’t been serviced in 3 years. Here’s what we found:
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We removed the equivalent of three handfuls of dust from the ducts.
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The fan was unbalanced, causing vibrations.
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The drain pipe was partially blocked with mineral buildup.
After our service, the unit regained its full cooling capacity, and electricity use dropped by 17%.
What’s at risk if you neglect HVAC maintenance
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Higher electricity bills
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Decreased comfort during the heatwave
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Equipment lifespan reduced by several years
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Risk of breakdowns during the hottest days
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Financial losses from moisture or emergency repairs
Our recommendation: take action today
Don’t let the heat catch you off guard. Every year, dozens of families call us in a panic when their system breaks down in the middle of July. A preventive maintenance service by AirGreen, performed by local experts, guarantees:
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Optimal performance all summer long.
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Controlled energy consumption.
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Peace of mind for you and your family.
A service tailored to every type of air conditioner
Whether you have a central system, a wall-mounted heat pump, or a multi-zone setup, we tailor our service to your unit’s specs: Fujitsu, Gree, Daikin, Mitsubishi, Goodman, Bosch, and more.
Don’t let the heatwave call the shots: trust AirGreen with your air conditioner maintenance. Our teams are ready to help throughout Greater Montreal. Call us or book online now for a complete system check-up.