HAVE A HEATING
CONTRACTOR perform a yearly maintenance
check-up of your gas-fired equipment and
venting system to ensure efficient, safe
operation. Adjustments, cleaning of
burners, replacement of parts, repairs and
inspections of venting are jobs for licensed
professionals who know the equipment and the
codes that must be followed. Beware of
service providers who offer free or low-price
inspections. They may not be using
licensed technicians to do safety inspections
to code and may be inspecting your equipment
to offer other types of services. When
calling for or agreeing to an inspection,
ensure that the service provider uses licensed
gas technicians to do an actual safety
inspection and ask for the gas technicians
provincial registration number.
NATURAL GAS APPLIANCES
NEED an unimpeded air supply in order to
burn gas safely and efficiently. Some
appliances have a pipe that brings outdoor air
directly into the combustion chamber so that
these appliances do not depend on household
air. But some natural gas appliances still use
household air for proper burning of gas.
OTHER HOUSEHOLD
APPLIANCES and systems also use household
air and expel it outdoors. Kitchen and
bathroom exhaust fans, power attic vents, a
wood-burning fireplace, a central vacuum
system, a clothes dryer: all reduce the amount
of household air available for your natural
gas appliances.
IN ADDITION, SEALING
YOUR HOME to conserve energy will also
reduce the infiltration of outside air through
cracks and gaps. If you're weatherproofing
your home or renovating, provision for
adequate air and ventilation should be made at
the same time to compensate for reduced
infiltration.
Warning Signs
YOUR HOME MAY NEED MORE
AIR and better ventilation if you notice
the following:
stale air and smells
that linger
backdrafts from a
fireplace or furnace (air or exhaust is
drawn back down the chimney or flue and into
the house)
lots of moisture and
mould build-up
a pilot light that keeps
going out
IF YOU SUSPECT YOUR
HOME NEEDS MORE AIR, consult a registered
heating contractor. Have an expert evaluate
your situation and suggest appropriate
solutions. Meanwhile, until you have a
permanent solution, let in more air by
slightly opening a window near your furnace or
other natural gas appliances. If no window is
nearby, then open a window elsewhere and leave
the door to the room open so air can
circulate.
How to use Natural Gas
Appliances Safely
Follow the
manufacturer's instructions in the owner's
manual or use the care guide for maintenance
and use of your appliances.
Never try to repair or
install natural gas appliances yourself, and
never let a home handyperson try to do the
job for you. Repairs and installation are
jobs for licensed professionals.
Do not use a natural gas
appliance that has yellow flames. Natural
gas appliances should have a burner flame
that is a clear blue or a flame that is
mostly blue with a tiny tip of yellow. The
only exception is a natural gas fireplace,
which has been designed to have yellow
flames for a pleasing appearance. In other
appliances, a yellow flame signals a
problem. Turn off the appliance and have a
licensed serviceperson check and adjust the
appliance before using it again.
Keep the area around
your natural gas heating system, water
heater and other appliances clean and free
of lint build-up, rags, old newspapers and
other debris.
Do not store boxes (or
other items) on top of, or pressed against,
your natural gas appliances.
Never cover the
temperature controls, air openings, or vents
of your appliances.
Insulate the first metre
of hot water pipe that extends from the
tank. Make sure any pipe wrap or insulation
is at least 15 centimetres (6 inches) away
from the draft hood or flue at the top of
the tank.
Do not turn up the
temperature control on your natural gas
water heater because doing so will increase
the danger of scalds from hot tap water. If
you need a higher water temperature setting,
a tempering valve or anti-scald device
should be installed in the water pipe
system. (These devices can be purchased at
major plumbing supply stores.)
Keep the burners and
oven of a natural gas range clean. Never
line the oven completely with aluminum foil.
Never use the range as a room heater.
Never store aerosol
cans, paints, solvents, household cleaners,
pool chemicals or similar products near
natural gas or any other fuel-burning
appliances or equipment.
Be cautious if your
hobby area or work area contains products
such as paint strippers, glues, rubber
cement, varnishes, turpentine, cleaning
fluid, and floor finishing products. They
give off vapours which could be ignited by
any flame source, including the burner or
pilot light of a natural gas appliance.
Vapours are invisible but are heavier than
air and can drift or be carried on air
currents. These vapours can corrode metal
vents and appliance combustion chambers
after they mix with moisture in the products
of combustion.
TURN OFF ALL NATURAL
GAS APPLIANCES WHEN YOU USE THESE PRODUCTS.
(For your own health, make sure your work area
is well-ventilated with an exhaust fan and
lots of incoming fresh air.)
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