What is a Red Tag and why someone can receive a Red Tag
Sometimes furnaces encounter critical issues that require prompt servicing to ensure their safe operation. If a licensed technician or a HVAC contractor finds a natural gas leak or a carbon monoxide leak most likely caused by a loose seal or cracked or damaged heat exchanger, they are legally required to ‘red-tag’ your furnace and notify the gas company, who will shut off your gas if your furnace is not fixed in the specified time frame.

If there is a gas smell, one of the carbon monoxide detectors sounds, or your aged furnace functions unusually, these are some indicators to take action, and are ways for keeping a red-tag at bay. Technicians may inspect gas valves, burner tubes and heat exchangers for signs of deterioration, leaks or cracks. Also, they will look for possible fire hazards identifiers. Catching troublesome spots in advance will not only prevent a red-tag, but it will keep everyone safe in the long run.

Types of Red Tags
When a furnace gets red-tagged, it means it has been marked as a safety concern or hazard. Depending on the issue, the part may be covered under warranty. HVAC technicians or contractors use 2 types of red-tags: B and A

Non-Immediate Hazard or Red-Tag B:
This serves more like a safety warning. A furnace repair or part replacement is needed to ensure future safety when in operation. This means the furnace is still operational for an allotted time. The technician assigns a short deadline for maintenance to take place in order to prevent a gas shut-off from the utility company. The utility company will receive a notification of the potential danger as well as the service deadline

Immediate Hazard or Red-Tag A:
This indicates an immediate threat, and, thus, the gas will get shut off instantly. Such threats may include a natural gas leak or if the highly poisonous carbon monoxide gas has been detected due to a heat exchanger issue. Although a sudden gas shut-off may be inconvenient, it for the preservation of lives. Once the safety issues are resolved, the utility company will reopen the gas line.
With regular, routine maintenance checks by a qualified HVAC technician, such as our team at Maple Air, you can prevent your furnace from being red-tagged.

Maple Air, heating and cooling company located in Vaughan, offers repair and maintenance services for all makes and models of brands like Carrier, Amana, Lennox, KeepRite, Goodman, Trane, York, Bryant, Rheen, Coleman and American Standard. Be at ease knowing your heating and cooling units are in great hands with our emergency 24-hour repair service. Contact us today and let our honest, licensed and certified HVAC technicians take care of you.