Annual Furnace, A/C and Dryer-Vent Service — DIY vs. Pro
A well-maintained furnace runs 15-20 years; a neglected one runs 9-12. The annual schedule below is the single highest-ROI maintenance routine for Canadian landlords — and roughly half of it is safely DIY.
DIY — every 3 months
Replace HVAC filter (MERV 8-11 for most units)
Vacuum dryer lint vent (NFPA fire safety)
Test smoke + CO alarms (battery + button)
DIY — annually (early fall)
Vacuum visible furnace coils + blower compartment
Inspect outdoor A/C condenser fins — straighten with a fin comb if needed
Clean condensate drain line with a Shop-Vac
Pro only — annually
Combustion analysis with a manometer (CO + draft pressure)
Heat exchanger inspection (cracks = silent CO killer)
Refrigerant level check on A/C
Burner flame inspection + nozzle cleaning on gas furnaces
Schedule it for the tenant transition
If you can time the pro visit during a tenant turnover (when you're already inside the unit), you save the second tenant-notification round-trip and the schedule is cleaner.
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Start free trialCommon questions
QWhat's the deadline to file rental income to the CRA?
Rental income is reported on the T776 form filed with your personal T1 return. The deadline is April 30 of the year after you earned the income (June 15 if you're self-employed, but any balance owing is still due April 30).
QDo I need to charge GST/HST on rent?
Long-term residential rent is GST/HST-exempt. Short-term rentals (under 30 days) are taxable once you exceed the $30,000 small-supplier threshold across all your business activities.
QCan I deduct mortgage payments?
You can deduct the interest portion (and most carrying costs) of your mortgage on a rental property, but NOT the principal repayment. Central Rentals splits this automatically inside your T776 export.