What to Do When Your Gas Appliance is Red-Tagged?

If your business or facility has appliances that run on gas, such as unit heaters in a warehouse or a rooftop unit and it’s been “red tagged” you’re probably frantically looking for answers as to what your options are now. No need to stress the experts at Service Experts Commercial HVAC are here to answer all your worries and questions. We’ve put together some common red tag questions to provide you with the answers you need to get back on track with your commercial heating unit.

What is a red tag?

A ‘red tag” is a warning that is placed on gas appliances that are deemed unsafe to use by a licensed technician. If this has occurred to one of your pieces of equipment at your facility it means that the equipment is no longer safe to use and needs to be repaired and or replaced. Legally the technician is required to red tag the equipment if they feel it is unsafe and it is done to protect you, your business’s customers, and your employees.

What are the types of red tags and what are your options?

There are two types of red tags, a type-A and a type-B. each is issued under different scenarios for example. A type-A red tag is issued when the gas appliance in question is considered an immediate hazard and the gas company is notified immediately to come to shut the gas off. When you receive a type-A tag your options are to either repair the gas equipment, which has to be done by a licensed gas technician or replace the appliance with a new unit. Once an option has been confirmed and done, the licensed gas technician will then need to notify Enbridge or your gas provider about the changes and they will issue a “Red tag clearance” which will allow you to use the equipment again safely.

The other type of tag and more common is the Type-B red tag. This is issued when the gas equipment/appliance is not up to code or installed incorrectly. In this situation, the gas company will give you 30 days’ notice to complete the recommended actions outlined in the red tag. If you do not follow or carry out the safety recommendations after the 30 days then your gas will completely shut off until the repair is made and or the equipment is up to code. A type B tag can occur from improper installations of the equipment leading to safety concerns or from the equipment not being up to code, a good example would be if you had a very old gas appliance installed many years ago and it gets red-tagged because it’s not up to current gas codes. Once proof of repair is given to Enbridge the equipment will be cleared and no further actions are needed.

If you are handed a red tag the first and most important thing you should do is reach out to an experienced professional such as us who will happily walk you through the process and all your options. Here at Service Experts, we deal with situations like this often and we are here to help and make the process as easy as possible in the event you and or your business experience a red tag. Please keep in mind that dealing with natural gas is extremely dangerous, and receiving a red tag can be confusing, frustrating and scary so it’s always best to call the experts at Service Experts who will help you figure out what steps you need to take to keep your facility and occupants safe.