Unbeknownst to many homeowners, appliances often require seasonal or annual maintenance. For example, a hot water tank is recommended to be flushed at least every 6 months at min and ideally more if water is extremely hard. The furnace, too, can have both significant energy savings and increased longevity simply by annual maintenance. Here’s a full list of spring home appliance maintenance to help them to last as long as possible:
Hot Water Heater
Check for leaks
Flush if needed (most manufacturer recommend every 6 months) usually only a portion of the tank is needed to be drained and refilled.
If tankless, they have their own seasonal maintenance requirements – flushing the mineral deposits & cleaning or changing the sediment screen if any (some units have); if not descaled the unit can overheat on tankless units
If tank or tankless units are set to higher temperature settings or extreme hard water is present, manufacturers recommend additional maintenance schedules
Furnace
Annual Maintenance (if not done in Autumn)
Change Air Filter
Check for air leaks
Air Conditioner
Switch the thermostat from air to heating
Clean & uncover exterior portion (if a cover was placed over the unit in autumn)
Remove Leaves & Debris from on and around on exterior portion where safely accessible
Duct System
Duct Cleaning (every 3-5 years, or more if sensitive to dust dander microbes etc)
Duct Sanitization
More cost effective to schedule dryer vent and bath vent cleaning at the same time as the ducts
Water Filtration System
Checking and changing where necessary any UV bulbs & encasing tube, Calcium Filters/Sediment or particle filters, seals, gaskets, springs, all of the various components that your system uses
not changing uv bulbs and the encasing can cause the ballast to burn out in many units
Water Softener
Resin cleaner / rust cleaner application
Check for leaks especially around the shutoff valves
Check for bridging (where salt becomes solid block underneath the top salt)
Heat Pump
Filter Change- cleaning/vacuum on inside unit
Check for debris removal on outside condenser unit (check for critter nests etc) where safely accessible
Clothes Dryer
Check for vent blockage
Washing the lint screen – removal and wash under hot water where applicable
Check back connections to the vent hose exhaust
Washing machine
Service the gunk cleanout reservoir
General tub cleaner – special for clothes washing machine to clean out old soap and lint etc.
Refrigerator
Vacuum back of fridge
De-ice venting inside (see manual that came with machine)
Dishwasher
De-gunk/scaling cleaner (either a specified product made for dishwashers or some people use vinegar)
Check for leaks or any signs of leaking around seals and the floor and adjoining cupboards
Central Vac
Check bag
Test system for clogs and pressure (ie does it have decent suction or does it seem weak)
Gas fireplace
Check igniters
Clean cobwebs
Clean glass if needed as per the manufacturers instructions
Replace backup fan batteries in both the stove and the remote where applicable
Defrosting Chest Freezer
Built up ice can compromise the seal and be problematic
Removing ice buildup seals the gasket better if up around the top of the unit; can help reduce energy costs
Bathroom vent cleaning
Other things to Consider
Smoke Detectors / Co2 Detectors
Change batteries
Test operation
Automatic door lock
Check batteries for corrosion
Test battery strength, getting locked out is unpleasant
Lawnmower
Clean out all debris, grass and dirt from underside of deck
Have a service sharpen the blades
If a metal lawnmower deck – is it rusty or paint peeling or bubbling? If so consider painting/rust proofing (with brush or spray on)
Painting the mower deck can add years to the life of the mower for a few hours worth of effort on a nice sunny spring day, also makes it easier to clean
unStoring the Barbeque
Clear out critter nests or seeds
Clean grills, replace grill cleaner tool
Clean burners & covers
Empty grease tray and clean bottom drip tray
Wipe down outside
Find a good cover, some have a small section of mesh venting to prevent moisture buildup inside
Pull tank out of storage, test fill level, reattach
Cleaning chimney
Calling the chimney sweep company (if not done in fall)
Book autumn chimney cleaning appointment now, to ensure your position in the cue in their busy season
Caulking windows
Some caulking may have dried out over the winter or cracked and need to be replaced
Check for leaks
Gutter cleaning
Have a service remove debris and leaves
Check downspouts to ensure they are not clogged with leaves or critter nests or other debris
Check for leaks in the eaves troughs after a rain, survey ground below is there evidence of puddling or pools?
Is water is pouring over the eaves troughs during heavy rain? If so, determine cause, sometimes it is clogs other reasons can be the roof pitch, and additional eaves trough basins are needed, especially where the roof is v-shaped.
Turning on outside water mains that connect to the outside water taps (not the mains for the dwelling) after risk of freezing temperatures is past.
Using a spring home appliance checklist you can manage consistently every year, the longer your appliances will generally last, with ideally great savings in the long term. Canaduct Cleaning can take care of some of the items on your list that would be hard to do on your own for example: duct cleaning, furnace maintenance, dryer & fan ducts, air conditioning maintenance and more. You can call us directly at: 416-410-3777 or through the contact form on the right side of this page.
We offer fast efficient appointments for our commercial & residential clients for these services:
Furnace maintenance & Repair
Humidifiers
Duct cleaning
Air vent cleaning
Indoor Air Quality Specialists
Odour removal Specialists
Fire or Flood restoration
HVAC services
Canaduct’s service area in Southern Ontario includes the Greater Toronto Area. No need to deal with multiple companies, technicians and locations. One call will solve it all 416-410-3777.
Types of Buildings:
Offices: high rise, low rise and ground floor, Warehouses
Retail stores & Grocery stores
Medical buildings & Hospitals, Spas, Hair Salons
Schools; Elementary, Secondary, Public, Private; Day-cares
Seniors homes, long term care facilities, retirement homes
Real estate buildings & holdings, high rises, rental properties
Detached Houses, Townhouses, walk-ups, low rise, homes, condos, lofts
Call if the building isn’t listed above, we can make arrangements.
Our Residential and Commercial Duct Cleaning Service Area Includes: Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Burlington, Oakville, Georgetown, Milton, Scarborough, North York, Etobicoke, Islington, Rexdale, Weston, The Beaches, East York, Richmond Hill, Newmarket, Bradford, Aurora, Innisfil, Markham, Stouffville, Uxbridge, Unionville, Vaughan, Concord, Woodbridge, King City, Bolton, Caledon, Pickering, Bowmanville, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa
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