This week, a colleague of mine shared a story about how they had to have a gas technician in to service the furnace, which wasn’t working. As it turns out, it was leaking gas and had to be red tagged. The gas technician also inspected all the other appliances that burn natural gas; two of which were also red tagged. According to the law, the furnace or gas appliance cannot be used until a gas fitter approves the appliances for use again after repair or replacement. It is a frustrating situation to be in, as my colleague can attest to. This story, however, is a cautionary tale and with proper maintenance and checkups, you can avoid the same inconvenience. Read these Furnace maintenance tips to avoid being red tagged yourself.

What is Red Tagging and why is it done?

Gas technicians take no pleasure in informing a homeowner that their appliances have to be red tagged and shut down. By the Ontario safety law, hazardous equipment in dangerous condition could lead to injury and fatality from a malfunction in gas appliances. Red tags can be given out because of a defective heat exchanger, a rusted vent or pipe, insufficient combustion or poor installation to name a few.

Upon entering your home, it is the responsibility of a gas technician to check all gas appliances if the furnace is faulty or broken. It is a necessary precaution and the primary responsibility, for any professional to ensure that your family stays safe in your home. No matter where you live, strict regulations apply when it comes to the procedure of red tagging and inspection as stated in code B149.1.10.*. If this procedure is not applied or done properly, the gas technician is held liable immediately for any damage caused to the home; a very serious penalty. If you call, they check all!

How to Avoid Being Tagged

You’re not guaranteed to get red tagged when a professional visits you. So, Every time you start your heating and cooling equipment for the season, remember to run through this list of check ups. Simply just running your appliance for a short period of time every couple of months will help regulate the system and prevent most problems. Keep in mind that Canadian winters are very harsh and can put stress on a furnace, rather than southern states and warmer climate provinces. Due to this factor, remember to do a full service check up every 2 years, 5 years for areas not as harshly affected by the cold.

Remember to:

• Clear your indoor vents
• Change the filters on furnaces, air conditioners and cold air returns monthly
• Make sure that there is no debris preventing airflow to your outdoor units before turning them on
• Change the batteries and check the temperature using a thermometer other than your thermostat for accuracy

When to call a professional:

The average life of a furnace is 16 to 25 years; checkups are not necessary every month, but at least once a year just to make sure its running without issue. Efficiency decreases with age, especially if regular maintenance is ignored. Indications that you need a tune up or a professional visit include:

• Having trouble with the thermostat
• Dusty and dry air inside the home
• Cracking wood furniture and static electricity

More urgent indications include the following:

Rattling or distressed Noise

• Possibly Loose panel
• Warning sign that heat exchanger could be cracked and may be producing dangerous toxins

Low Rumbling

• Oil inside the combustion chamber which make fumes

Flickering or Yellow pilot light

• Excess carbon dioxide around gas burning furnaces. If adjusting does not return light to blue, schedule a maintenance appointment

Scraping sound

• Ball bearings are nearly worn out. Turn off immediately and call a furnace specialist

High-pitched Squeal

• Blower belt is slipping or frayed
• Ball bearings need proper lubrication

An efficient and functional furnace creates clean air and a comfortable ambience in your home. With regular maintenance and proper care, your heating and cooling, and even your other gas burning appliances will work at peak efficiency, and without issue for many years to come.

For more maintenance tips for your heating and cooling appliances click here. Don’t forget to follow our Pinterest Page here for tips and inspiration around the house.

* The safety regulations and laws put forth in this document are applicable to Canada only, please refer to your country’s safety codes when dealing with furnaces and other natural gas appliances.