My furnace was red-tagged in Ontario: what does it mean?

Tags come out most in October and November, when furnaces in Toronto and York Region get their first tune-up or their first hard start of the season. The technician fills in a safety violation notice that names the appliance, the problem and the category, leaves a copy with you and reports it to Enbridge Gas. The tag is not a sales form. It is a safety record, and the rules behind it come from the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) and the gas utility.

What is the difference between an A tag and a B tag?

The category decides how fast you must act. Read the notice: the box ticked tells you which one you have, and the description line tells you what was found.

Why do furnaces get red-tagged?

Most tags come from problems that can let carbon monoxide or gas into the home. The common ones a technician looks for during a furnace inspection:

• A cracked or rusted-through heat exchanger, the metal part that keeps flue gases separate from the air you breathe. This is the classic A tag on an older furnace.
• Flue gases spilling back into the house because the chimney, B-vent or plastic vent pipe is blocked, disconnected, undersized or sloped the wrong way.
• A gas leak at a fitting, valve or the furnace gas train.
• Not enough combustion air, for example a furnace closed into a small room during a basement finish.
• Code problems that are not dangerous today, such as missing pipe supports, a missing shut-off valve or clearances to combustibles, which usually get a B tag.

Can I remove the tag and keep using the furnace?

No. Do not take the tag off, open the gas valve or reset the furnace yourself. If an A tag shut the gas off, running the furnace again can expose the household to carbon monoxide. Only a licensed gas technician who has corrected the problem can put the appliance back in service and report the repair. If the house gets cold while you wait, use certified electric space heaters plugged straight into the wall, never a stove, oven or barbecue.

Is a red tag a sales tactic?

Usually not, but you are entitled to see the evidence. A real cracked heat exchanger can be shown: ask for a photo or camera video of the crack, the combustion analyzer readings (carbon monoxide in the flue and at the supply registers), and the code section written on the notice. A technician who will not show you what they found, or who pushes a new furnace on the spot, is a reason to get a second opinion.

• Check that the company is a TSSA-registered contractor and the technician holds a gas technician certificate: TSSA confirms both online or at 1-877-682-8772.
• Get the second opinion from a different TSSA-registered company with no stake in selling you a furnace. With an A tag, they can inspect, but the furnace stays off.
• Ontario bans door-to-door sales of furnaces. If you invited the company, they may sell to you at home, but a contract signed at your home can generally be cancelled within 10 days.
• If you think a tag was issued falsely to make a sale, you can report it to TSSA.

Should I repair the furnace or replace it?

It depends on what failed and the furnace's age. A vent fix, a leaking fitting or a missing support is a small repair, and replacing the furnace for it makes no sense. A cracked heat exchanger is different: it is the most expensive part of the furnace and the job takes most of a day. Many manufacturers cover heat exchangers for 20 years or longer, but the warranty usually covers the part only, not the labour, and may require that the furnace was registered. On a furnace that is 15 years or older, a heat exchanger repair often costs enough that a new furnace is the better buy. Ask for both prices in writing before deciding.

What happens after the repair?

1. The TSSA-registered contractor fixes the problem and tests the furnace, including combustion and venting.
2. They send the repair details to Enbridge Gas. Keep a copy of their invoice that lists the work done.
3. For a B tag, Enbridge may visit to verify the repair, and a service charge may apply. If the repair cannot be confirmed by the deadline, Enbridge can shut off the gas.
4. Once the repair is reported and accepted, the violation is closed. Keep the paperwork with your home records; buyers and insurers sometimes ask.

How do I avoid a red tag next year?

Have the furnace inspected every fall, before the first cold week, so problems are found when there is time to fix them. Keep the area around the furnace clear, clear snow away from side-wall intake and exhaust pipes in winter, and keep a working CO alarm on every storey. On Doyo, Furnace Maintenance is $206.50, the full price with Doyo's fee included, and repairs are priced by written quote; the technician's TSSA gas certificate is checked before they are offered heating work. Under Ontario's Consumer Protection Act, a pro cannot charge more than 10% over an estimate without your agreement.