How to Use 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 gas appliances yourself, and never let a home handyperson try to do the job for you. Repairs and installation are jobs for licensed professionals.
  • Keep the area around your 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 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 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 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 gas or any other fuel-burning appliances or equipment.
  • Never plug or block vents that supply air for proper operation of your gas appliances. Check vents regularly. Look for soot, rust or any blockages.
  • Have your furnace and other gas appliances checked annually by a qualified service technician to ensure they are in safe working condition.
  • Inspect your furnace filter regularly.  Clean or replace as necessary.
  • Never chain dogs, bikes or anything else to your Gas Meter.

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 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.