Get Your HVAC System Ready for the Heat: The Essential Spring Maintenance Steps You Can’t Skip
With spring arriving across Greater Montréal, many homeowners focus on cleaning the outside of their home but overlook a crucial step: seasonal maintenance of their HVAC system. Yet, a neglected heat pump or wall-mounted air conditioner can lead to higher energy use, reduced performance, or even costly breakdowns in the summer. At AirGreen, we see this all too often: systems left dirty, clogged, or misadjusted, which harm both comfort and energy efficiency. In this article, we’ll break down what most people forget to do in the spring… and how to avoid these common mistakes.
Why Spring Maintenance Is Vital for Your Comfort and Your Wallet
Spring is the ideal time to get your heating and cooling system ready. The gradually warming weather gives you the perfect window to perform all necessary checks before the heat waves of June, July, and August. Too often, homeowners wait until the first heatwaves to realize their wall-mounted or central heat pump isn’t working properly—or at all.
A complete spring HVAC maintenance ensures:
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Optimal cooling performance from the very first warm days;
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Longer lifespan for your equipment;
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Lower energy bills thanks to improved efficiency;
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Prevention of costly mid-season breakdowns.
The Most Common Mistakes Homeowners Make
Despite the seemingly simple process, here are the most commonly forgotten steps:
Deep Cleaning the Outdoor Unit
The outdoor heat pump unit collects dirt, dead leaves, pollen, and debris throughout the winter. Still, many homeowners don’t clean it properly or just rinse it with water—nowhere near enough to dislodge embedded grime.
🔧 Our solution at AirGreen: a controlled high-pressure cleaning using a biodegradable product that dissolves grease and stubborn contaminants.
Checking the Condensation Drain
Water accumulates during normal operation and must drain correctly. A blocked or poorly angled drain can cause water leaks inside the home or even damage the unit’s electronics. This is frequently overlooked.
Replacing or Cleaning Air Filters
Clogged filters directly affect indoor air quality and restrict airflow through the system, reducing cooling capacity. This easy step is often skipped or done poorly.
💡 At AirGreen, we recommend changing your filter every 2–3 months—or monthly if you have pets, allergies, or lots of dust.
Checking Refrigerant Levels
Spring is the best time to make sure your refrigerant level is stable. Low refrigerant can lead to higher energy use, weaker performance, or even compressor failure.
We recently completed a maintenance visit in Longueuil on a Gree Extreme 18,000 BTU wall-mounted heat pump, installed in 2022. Even though the unit was silent and showed no error codes, it wasn’t cooling effectively. Our inspection revealed a micro-leak that had caused a refrigerant loss. After sealing and refilling, the unit was fully functional again… but if this client had waited until July, the repair would’ve cost far more.
Our Recommendations for Successful HVAC Maintenance
Step 1: Full Visual Inspection
First, our technicians carefully inspect all components: outdoor unit, wall-mounted unit, drain, ducts, connectors, wires, and the electrical panel. We look for any visible signs of issues.
Step 2: Complete Interior and Exterior Cleaning
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Cleaning the wall unit: filters, fan, evaporator coil.
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Cleaning the outdoor unit: condenser, fan blades, housing.
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Sanitizing the drainage system.
Step 3: Performance Testing
We measure refrigerant pressure, air output temperature, temperature difference, energy usage, and fan speeds. This allows us to verify the unit’s actual efficiency.
Step 4: Detailed Maintenance Report
At AirGreen, every customer receives a digital report that includes:
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The system’s overall condition;
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All services performed;
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Our recommendations;
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Before/after photos;
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Forecast for the upcoming season.
The Role of Grants in Keeping Your System Maintained
Did you know that programs like Hydro-Québec’s LogisVert may require a maintenance history to qualify for subsidized equipment replacement? Keeping your system up-to-date and well maintained is not only key to its performance, but also to staying eligible for certain financial assistance.
Real-World Maintenance Examples by AirGreen
We’ve recently performed preventive maintenance on the following installations:
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Montréal, Plateau-Mont-Royal: Fujitsu KZAH 12,000 BTU wall-mounted heat pump installed in 2021.
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Laval, Duvernay: Bosch BOVA 5T central unit serviced in spring 2024.
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Brossard, South Shore: Sharp ZU1 18,000 BTU wall-mounted air conditioner with full cleaning and connected thermostat calibration.
These visits allowed our clients to cut summer energy use by an average of 15%, according to our post-season follow-ups.
Why Choose AirGreen?
At AirGreen, we specialize in residential and commercial HVAC maintenance throughout Greater Montréal: Montréal, Laval, Longueuil, the North Shore and South Shore. Our experienced teams use professional equipment and follow the strictest protocols to ensure the durability and efficiency of your systems.
We tailor every service to your specific equipment model, your unique needs, and the history of your system. Thanks to our expertise and meticulous approach, you avoid unpleasant surprises during heat waves.
Key Takeaways
Spring isn’t just a time to open windows and fire up the BBQ: it’s a key moment to protect your HVAC system’s health. With a full maintenance service, you’re investing in comfort, lower energy bills, and longer-lasting equipment.
Don’t be part of the 90% of homeowners who overlook this crucial step.
Call AirGreen today to schedule your spring maintenance.