Most Canadians pay very little attention to their home heating systems – except when they fail. Regular maintenance, however, is not only a good idea, it is actually a legal obligation.
Most provinces in Canada have fuel safety regulations that put the burden on the owners of furnaces and boilers that burn fuel (oil, natural gas or propane) to “maintain equipment in safe operating condition”. These regulations exist because, though incidents are rare, there is always a risk that improperly maintained equipment will cause harm to building occupants.
But maintenance of home heating systems is not just about ensuring safe operation of the equipment; it is also about making that system work as effectively and efficiently as possible, so that thermal comfort is assured throughout the home (or building) and energy consumption is minimized.
While homeowners can safely handle basic routine maintenance, such as replacing air filters on a furnace, annual maintenance needs to be done by properly trained technicians with the appropriate fuel safety certificates and trade licenses.
Fortunately, there is a whole industry of trained and licensed professionals available to assist homeowners and commercial building owners in meeting their equipment maintenance obligations. The Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada (HRAI) requires its contractor members to hold the appropriate credentials (including fuel safety licenses and trades training certificates) to do the work they do.
Is your home heating system in need of maintenance? Using eRenovate’s Post A Project tool or the eRenovate App, anonymously post your project needs to get Free estimates from Verified by eRenovate™ HVAC Contractors. Renovating. Simplified.
For more consumer tips and information, visit HRAI’s Consumer Facebook Page.
