By Mario Vaghei, General Manager, Aire One Peel Heating & Cooling · Published October 13, 2026 · Facts verified October 13, 2026
This page is for Mississauga and Peel Region homeowners with a ducted or ductless heat pump: what a yearly maintenance visit covers, what you can look after yourself, the best time of year to book, and when a problem is a repair call rather than maintenance.
On this page
What the visit covers · Maintenance or repair? · Between visits · When to book · Plan or single visit · FAQ
Short answer
Book one professional heat pump maintenance visit a year. Natural Resources Canada says to have a qualified contractor do annual maintenance on the unit, and that the best time is the end of summer, before the next heating season. Carrier, whose heat pumps we install, recommends service at least once a year and ideally twice, in spring and in fall, because a heat pump both heats and cools.
Aire One Peel maintains ducted and ductless heat pumps of all major makes, including cold-climate systems. Call 905-564-8545 to book a visit.
What a heat pump maintenance visit covers
Our tune-up covers cleaning the coils, checking refrigerant pressures and defrost operation, testing electrical parts and confirming airflow. Carrier publishes a 12-point heat pump service checklist, which is also a fair way to judge any contractor's visit. Its points fall into five groups:
- Refrigerant and airflow: the refrigerant charge, a check for leaks, and proper airflow.
- Electrical and mechanical: the electrical connections and components, the physical connections of individual parts, and the run capacitor.
- Outdoor unit: cleaning and inspecting the unit and its coil, and checking the reversing valve, the part that switches the system between heating and cooling.
- Winter operation: a test of the defrost cycle and of the auxiliary heat.
- Indoor side: the indoor coil, the condensate drain, the blower and the air filter.
Carrier notes that many contractors provide a written summary of the results after the service. Ask for one.
Maintenance or repair? What to book
Maintenance is for a heat pump that works. Only the first row of this table is a maintenance call.
| What you notice | What to book |
|---|---|
| The heat pump heats and cools normally and its last service was a year ago or more | A maintenance visit, ideally before the heating season |
| The filter is dirty or three months old | Nothing: change or clean it yourself |
| Steam from the outdoor unit and a short pause on a cold day | Usually nothing: see why a heat pump steams and ices up in winter |
| Snow has drifted over or around the outdoor unit | Clear the loose snow from around it; if the unit stays covered in ice, book a repair |
| The unit is locked in solid ice, blows cool air for more than a few minutes, trips its breaker or will not run | A repair call: heat pump repair |
Between visits: four jobs that stay yours
- The filter. Natural Resources Canada says to change or clean it every three months, because a clogged filter decreases airflow and reduces the system's efficiency. Your owner's manual gives the interval for your model.
- Vents and registers. Keep them clear of furniture and carpet; poor airflow can shorten the equipment's life and reduce its efficiency.
- The outdoor unit. Keep it clear of leaves and debris, and during the winter check for excessive ice or snow build-up on or around it. A unit covered in ice or snow cannot work properly until it is cleared.
- One temperature. Natural Resources Canada advises setting the thermostat at one temperature, because constant adjusting can raise utility costs, especially in the colder season.
Refrigerant checks, electrical testing and mechanical repairs are not homeowner jobs: Carrier says they should be performed by a qualified HVAC professional. Who is allowed to work on a heat pump in Ontario is covered in our guide to heat pump warranties in Ontario.
When to book
Late summer or early fall is the best time for the main visit. Natural Resources Canada puts it at the end of summer, before the next heating season, so that anything the visit finds is fixed before the heat pump is working its hardest. If you follow Carrier's twice-a-year schedule, the second visit goes in spring, before the cooling season.
Keep the paperwork from each visit: documented maintenance also protects your warranty, as our heat pump warranty guide explains.
A plan or a single visit
You can book a single maintenance visit by phone. Our protection plans include an annual preventative maintenance and tune-up; the plans page lists them for furnaces and air conditioners, so ask us which one fits a heat pump before you enrol.
We serve Mississauga, Brampton, Etobicoke, Milton, Georgetown, Caledon and Bolton.
Heat pump maintenance: frequently asked questions
How often should a heat pump be serviced?
Once a year at minimum. Natural Resources Canada says to have a qualified contractor do annual maintenance, and Carrier recommends professional service at least once a year, ideally twice: in spring for cooling and in fall for heating.
What does a heat pump tune-up include?
Carrier's 12-point service checklist covers the refrigerant charge and leaks, airflow, electrical and physical connections, the run capacitor, the outdoor unit and coil, the reversing valve, the defrost cycle, the auxiliary heat, the indoor coil, the condensate drain, the blower and the air filter. Aire One Peel's tune-up covers cleaning the coils, checking refrigerant pressures and defrost operation, testing electrical parts and confirming airflow.
Can I do heat pump maintenance myself?
Partly. Changing or cleaning the filter, keeping vents and registers unblocked, and keeping the outdoor unit clear of debris and snow are homeowner jobs. Carrier says refrigerant checks, electrical testing and mechanical repairs should be performed by a qualified HVAC professional.
When is the best time to service a heat pump in Ontario?
Late summer or early fall. Natural Resources Canada says the best time to service the unit is at the end of the summer, before the start of the next heating season. A spring visit before the cooling season is the second one if you follow Carrier's twice-a-year schedule.
How do I book heat pump maintenance in Mississauga?
Call Aire One Peel at 905-564-8545 or request a visit on our contact page. We maintain ducted and ductless heat pumps of all major makes and serve Mississauga, Brampton, Etobicoke, Milton, Georgetown, Caledon and Bolton.
Sources and references
- Natural Resources Canada, Heating and cooling with a heat pump, modified December 24, 2025.
- Natural Resources Canada, Air-source heat pumps, modified October 7, 2025.
- Carrier, Heat Pump Service & Maintenance Tips, read October 13, 2026.
- Aire One Peel, Heat pump repair and Protection plans, as listed on October 13, 2026.