Toasty's Heat & Cool

02/12/2026

02/12/2026

Happy New Year....in February. Recent projects accomplished this Winter season so far. Installations involving Furnaces and Fireplaces along with Air Quality devices such as Humidifiers.

While new appliances are a necessity sometimes, most of this season has been focused on repairing and maintaining existing products. Most services may be due to airflow and basic maintenance but we've also been changing Motors and Heat Exchangers where clients were found to still be under warranty.

Feel free to reach out if you have concerns about your comfort appliances. Here are a couple things to address also:

1. Filters - Change them frequently as less airflow into your Furnace causes everything inside to get warmer than intended. Many Furnaces come with ECM blower motors which are very costly if they fail and overheat.

2. Portable Humidifiers and Vaporizers - (Again, Filters). When using portable humidifiers in your home, the water that's boiled inside can leave Calcium dust that gets sucked into the returns of your home and will clog your pleated filters. This dust is white so it looks like your filter is clean when it is plugged. If your filter is concave in shape, its probably overdue. Softened water will help but will still contribute. Examine the portable humidifiers in your home for calcium buildup around the vents to see if this affects you.

3. Cheaper Filters (again with Filters?). Pleated filters offer the best protection to prevent dirt / debris buildup on the Furnace heat exchangers and also in your air conditioner coil (often found above the furnace. While spending more on high microparticle filters may seem like the best for your furnace, understand that it also creates more air restriction. Many blower motors have failed due to dense filters restricting airflow and working the motor too hard. Keep it simple by using a MERV 8 / 1000 microparticle filter and avoid the MERV 13 / 2000-2300 Microparticle types. Many filters will advertise how they fight allergens and control dust in your home. A furnace filter's job is to protect your furnace, not you. If you require better air quality in your home, look into a HEPA system or Air Purifier filtration instead.

TL/DR: Cheap pleated filters (3 pack from local hardware stores are $15-20) changed often every 2 months will save you lots of money in repairs in the future.

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Lastly, Toasty's has been limiting posts on Facebook due to the number of AI ads that seem to be flooding the site. Not everything we see can be assumed to be real due to the quality of the material posted. Sometimes, it can be used for humor and be light hearted, but sometimes it can be used to manipulate or provoke a negative viewpoint to mislead those who are unaware. I care deeply about protecting clients data and ensuring the safety of those who welcome us into their homes and want to make sure the information individuals see on our page is from us and only us.

Please, always take anything you read, see and watch on any social media platform with a grain of salt. If you see something on social media or online that you find upsetting or invokes a negative reaction, research that story elsewhere to ensure its accuracy.

11/24/2025

HRV / ERV Maintenance:

Since 2017, all new homes have been required to have a ventilation system installed to help bring fresh air into the home efficiently while also removing excess moisture during the colder months. Some older homes have them as well but these units are becoming more commonplace.

Many don't pay attention to the service needs these units require and have costly bills associated with them. Inside all of these units are filters that need cleaning and possibly a rinsing of the core. Plugged up air passages lead primarily to motor failures that tend to be on the expensive side.

With the colder months coming, take a peak inside your unit if you have one and vacuum out and dirt buildup inside the unit and the exterior grill to ensure proper airflow. These units help prevent mold buildup in newer homes with lots of insulation. Take care of your units and ensure they are balanced properly to keep your home breathing well.

Contact us today if you have any questions or service requests that we can assist with.

Here's a small video to understand HRV / ERV operations:
https://youtu.be/6ygifSRhh9A?si=xvNx5mdh3_SwSXOm

Thanks for reading. Have a great winter season and stay Toasty.

09/03/2025

Recently completed installation of a new R32 compatible High Efficiency Natural Gas furnace with R32 Air Conditioning system. The key to this install is saving money on places that don't require any changes. Existing ductwork seems large due to being originally fabricated for a much older style of system. Being that the sizing is adequate for the necessary airflow, we kept as much as possible and resecured it while implementing the new system.

Client is updated for the long term future while saving money in the process.

Feel like your being oversold on your most recent quote? Let us provide you with a free quote to see where we can save you money.

Enjoy the upcoming season and think of us for your next preventative maintenance.

Cheers,

06/02/2025

More recent installs as we come to the summer season. This cool weather before the humidity hits is a great time to get your AC checked and serviced. We check all makes and models and work primarily to keep your older units running as long as possible to help save on the cost of new ones.

Give us a call and lets see how we can assist you too.

03/19/2025

Some recent installations for clients who own both sides of a semi home. New for this year is the standardization of the new R-32 refrigerant that some manufacturers have begun to switch over to. R-32 is one of two new refrigerants replacing R410A as the standard for residential Air Conditioning applications.

This new refrigerant functions the same as previous refrigerants but has a lower Global Warming Potential (GWP) to reduce the impact on the environment. The downside is the classification is now A2L so these refrigerants are considered more flammable. If you're having a new installation of R-32 installed in your home and you have an older furnace, you will be required to have a mitigation system (sensor on coil plus safety control located on the ductwork in picture 4) added to detect leaks in the future. These safety measures are mandatory for any A2L refrigerants.

Ideally, homeowners probably don't want to hear that new systems contain flammable components and require additional safety's that increase the overall cost but it's important to know of the changes made in the industry to help fight climate change. Refrigerants from the past contained Chlorine, which when mishandled ,(dumped into the atmosphere or used for cleaning) caused our Ozone layer issues which was more discussed in the 1990's. The changes made with new products are a direct correlation to the impact the older refrigerants created.

Homeowners may be nervous to have flammable refrigerants installed in their home, so having licensed Refrigeration Installers perform these installs are pivotal. Research your contractors and ensure the necessary safety equipment is installed.

Also, if your still unsure about flammable refrigerants...... just remember, about every home has either a pipe of Natural gas or Propane entering your home for the purpose to be exposed to flame for heating and cooking. Your home has contained an explosive substance since the 1950's. Make sure you have licensed technicians performing the work in your home so you can stay comfortable and safe while we adapt to ever changing eras.

Cheers, and stay Toasty everyone.

02/01/2025

Recent upgrades and installations for our clients this past month. We will do everything we can to keep your costs down as the expectation for heating and cooling appliances will be increasing.

With regards to recent uncertainties regarding Tariffs and other inflation reasons, the best bet will be to maintain your existing appliances to prevent overpriced repairs.

Remember to change your filters often and investigate strange noises and behaviors quickly so problems can be repaired before they become terminal to your comfort and wallet. The few extra dollars you spend changing filters may save you from a costly replacement sooner.

Filter recommendations: Buying the most dense filter isn't generally the best option for your home. Thicker filters with a high MERV or Microparticle rating will restrict airflow that your furnace needs to get the heat out to your home and cause overheating. The thicker your filter, the harder your motor needs to work. Don't always believe the ads, Filters protect your furnace. Air purifiers and HEPA units protect us. A $45 filter won't make your allergies go away.

Stick to pleated MERV 8 or 1000 microparticle rating filters that catch the basic debris and animal hair in your home so it doesn't get caught up in your furnace. Many Canadian stores will often have a 3 pack for around $20 that will cover you for 6 months.

Spend a little now to protect your investment. If you feel you have a problem, give us a call and we'll do our best to save you in the long run.

Some tough times are ahead for all of us, let do our best to work together and stay united.

All the best,

Toasty's Heat & Cool

12/29/2024

Happy New Year Everyone.

2024 was the first full calendar year for Toasty's Heat & Cool and its been a great honour helping clients with renovations, new products or just saving money through service and maintenance. This business has been a passion project for myself to continue the career I love but to do it in a way where I can enjoy helping those I care about in my community. With each new passing day, I continue to learn, grow and develop myself and this business into something I can be truly proud of. I'm always grateful to all those who have put trust in myself and supported the goals of this company.

I hope everyone has a wonderful 2025. Thank you very much for all your support.

Stay Toasty.

11/20/2024

A few simple "before and after" pictures of recent equipment upgrades several clients have had completed. Projects such as a new Furnace or Fireplace can seem daunting at times as many of us don't purchase many of these over our lifetimes especially since most of these last 20-25 years. While the task can seem big, good planning and good dialogue with clients can simplify the job and reduces unnecessary costs.
We work as best as we can with everyone's budget so everyone can live comfortably toasty.

Have a great season everyone.