Optimize your HVAC systems, thermostats, and heat pumps for maximum efficiency in Canadian climates. Learn about furnace maintenance, air source heat pumps, ventilation requirements, and smart temperature control strategies.
Quick Win
Programmable and smart thermostats automatically adjust temperatures when you're away or sleeping, reducing energy waste. Learn about optimal temperature schedules for Canadian winters, compatibility with existing HVAC systems, installation requirements, and how learning thermostats adapt to your household patterns for maximum savings.
Beginner
Modern cold-climate heat pumps operate efficiently to -25°C or lower. This comprehensive guide covers how heat pumps work, HSPF and COP efficiency ratings, backup heating requirements for extreme cold, sizing considerations, installation costs, and real-world performance data from Canadian installations across different provinces.
Seasonal
Proper furnace maintenance ensures efficiency and safety through Canadian winters. Learn about filter replacement schedules, blower cleaning, burner inspection, flame sensor maintenance, thermocouple testing, and when to call a professional. This seasonal guide helps you prepare heating systems before cold weather arrives and avoid mid-winter breakdowns.
Safety First
Tight homes need mechanical ventilation to maintain air quality. Understand the difference between energy recovery ventilators and heat recovery ventilators, Canadian building code requirements, balanced ventilation principles, maintenance schedules, and how to optimize fresh air delivery while minimizing heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer.
Beginner
Lowering temperatures when you're away saves energy, but excessive setbacks can backfire. Learn about optimal setback temperatures for different home types, recovery time considerations, the myth of constant temperatures being more efficient, humidity management during setbacks, and specialized strategies for heat pump systems that differ from furnaces.
Seasonal
Choose efficient air conditioning systems and optimize operation for Canadian summers. This guide explains SEER ratings, sizing considerations to avoid short-cycling, the importance of proper installation and refrigerant charge, programmable thermostat cooling schedules, ceiling fan strategies to reduce AC runtime, and maintenance tasks for peak performance.
Safety First
Leaky ducts in unconditioned spaces waste 20-30% of heating and cooling energy. Learn about mastic sealant vs. metal-backed tape, where to prioritize sealing efforts, duct insulation R-values, return air balancing, and how to test duct tightness. Proper duct sealing often delivers better returns than equipment upgrades.
Beginner
Heat and cool different areas independently with zoned HVAC systems. Understand motorized dampers, multiple thermostat control, system compatibility requirements, typical zones for two-story homes, retrofit considerations for existing ductwork, and whether zoning or ductless mini-splits make more sense for your home's layout and usage patterns.