Red-Tagged Furnace: What to Do & How to Prevent It

So, you have your furnace checked, and it turns out, it’s been red-tagged. Before you panic, know that a red tag means an expert has found a critical safety problem with the heating system. Usually, this involves a cracked or damaged heat exchanger. Most of the time, when your furnace has been red-tagged, it needs to be shut down immediately until the damage is repaired. 

Another reason your furnace could be red-tagged is that your carbon monoxide detector goes off. When this happens, it’s important to open all windows and doors and ensure everyone on the property is outside. Shut off the furnace and call your technician to evaluate the heating system. 

An HVAC expert will assess the unit, and if it’s discovered unsafe, your technician will issue a Type A or Type B red tag and inform the gas company. After that, he will explain your options to address the issue. 

What to Do If Your Heating System Is Red-Tagged

It can be scary to deal with a furnace that’s been red-tagged, but as mentioned, you don’t need to panic. Remember, forced-air furnaces have fail-safe mechanisms to ensure that they won’t be a safety hazard. The red-tagging is to help ensure everyone’s safety. 

The next action you need to take will depend on your furnace’s age and the issues you’ve experienced with it so far. Let’s say your heating system is more than 10 years old, then it might be the best time to consider replacing it. Besides being “new,” a new heating system is covered under warranty that will help you deal with future issues. 

On the other hand, if your heating system is fairly new, you can discuss your options with your technician. In most cases, repairing the issue is the best course of action, and most likely, it will have your heating system running again in no time. 

How to Prevent a Furnace From Being Red-Tagged

There are some things you can do to prevent your furnace from being red-tagged, such as: 

• Make sure your heating system is installed by a licensed HVAC contractor like Legacy Heating & Cooling. 
• Always have regular maintenance done to your furnace.
• Besides having regular maintenance done by professionals, you should also be aware of how you can take care of the furnace, such as cleaning the vents and replacing the filter regularly. 
• When doing renovations around the home, make sure to be careful around the furnace. As much as possible, avoid relocating the heating system. 

Conclusion

Indeed, red-tagging is an inconvenience, but it’s something called for in some cases to ensure the safety of your home and your family. The most important thing to remember is to not panic when your system has been red-tagged. 

You should also have Legacy Heating and Cooling with you to help you explore your options to deal with furnace issues. See to it that you arrive at the best decision that will make your home safer, your furnace working, and will not break the bank. 

Do you have problems with your furnace in Edmonton, Spruce Grove, St. Albert, Sherwood Park, Beaumont, Calgary, Airdrie, Okotoks or any surrounding areas? We can take care of that for you here at Legacy Heating. We are here for you. Contact us today!