What does it mean to have a furnace red tagged?
When a gas technician gives your furnace a red tag, it means that there is something wrong with your furnace and that there either is, or could be, a serious problem. This definitely sounds scary, but Pro Duct Solutions will always be around to help you find the best way to solve your problem. We have the knowledge and experience to be able to fix whatever may be wrong with your furnace.
What are the types of red tags?
Type A: This is the most serious type of red tag, it means that there is a present threat to your health and safety. This type of tag is also accompanied by the technician shutting off your gas and reporting the issue to the gas company. The tag can then only be cleared by a registered gas technician who will verify that the issue has been resolved.
Type B: This is a less serious issue than the first. A type B red tag usually means that there is an issue with your furnace that could lead to more dangerous problems in the foreseeable future. There is not usually a need at this point to shut off the gas, but the tag is still registered with the gas company. You will be given a deadline to have the tag cleared otherwise the gas company will shut off the gas.
What are the reasons a furnace might receive a red tag?
There are two main issues which can earn your furnace a red tag. The first is a natural gas leak. This is an incredibly dangerous situation for multiple reasons. Natural gas combusts very easily and could cause fires from even a small spark if there is enough of it in the air. Rarely and with a large build-up, natural gas can cause explosions. The second issue is carbon monoxide leakages. Carbon monoxide is often hard to detect and can easily be fatal.
These leaks can be caused by cracks in the furnace system and the likelihood of something going wrong increases with age. This doesn’t necessarily mean that all old furnaces need to be replaced, but they should be checked and maintained more often.
What if you don’t believe that your furnace should have been red tagged?
There can sometimes be a need for a second opinion on whether or not your furnace really requires a red tag. Some technicians like to err on the side of caution but that doesn’t always mean you need to have your furnace replaced. If the technician who checked your furnace didn’t give you a reason for the red tag, or at least didn’t explain the situation in an understandable way, we encourage you to give us a call for a second opinion. If we find that your furnace should not have a red tag, we can clear it for you. If your furnace needs repair or replacement, we will explain to you exactly how and why. We will absolutely make sure that you understand everything about the situation before we proceed any further.
A red tag should only ever be issued in the event that your furnace poses a threat to you, your family, or your home.
Whatever the situation, Pro Duct Solutions can help. Whether you need an initial inspection because you think there might be something wrong with your furnace, need a second opinion, or if you need furnace replacement or repairs, we have the expertise for the job. You can call us or use our handy online booking tool to make an appointment and we will sort out your furnace issues as soon as possible.
