With inclement winter weather conditions looming across the province this week, Enbridge Gas and the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) strongly advise Ontario homeowners to check their gas meters and the external exhaust outlets for furnaces, fireplaces, water heaters and all fuel-burning devices to ensure no snow or ice builds up. A forecast of rain for some parts of Ontario makes this important safety task time sensitive in areas where snowfall has begun, as rain has the potential to cause further freezing of accumulated precipitation buildup on gas meters and venting pipes.

“Clearing snow and ice away from the gas meter and the external exhaust outlets for your natural gas burning equipment helps ensure that both the meter and your appliances function safely,” said Neil MacNeil, Director Toronto Region Operations, Enbridge Gas. “It also allows us to access the meter in the case of an emergency.”

A gas meter covered in snow or ice can impede its function of controlling the pressure of the gas supplied to a home, which could lead to serious risks. In addition, blocked external exhaust vents can cause the carbon monoxide (CO) emitted by fuel-burning appliances to build up in a home, which is also a significant safety hazard.

“Exhaust vents, in particular, often extend out of the side of a home as low as one foot above ground, so they have the potential to get covered and blocked fairly easily without a homeowner’s knowledge, especially when a homeowner is shoveling snow or using a snowblower or when there is a severe snow fall,” said Sam Sadeghi, Director, Fuels Safety, TSSA. “We have seen CO poisoning incidents from snow-blocked vents in the past, and these incidents can be fatal, so it’s essential that homeowners are vigilant about keeping their exhaust vents clear.”    

Upon noticing a gas meter or external appliance vent pipe is covered with snow, please remove the snow carefully with a car brush or broom. Do not scrape the meter or vent pipe with a sharp instrument, as this may cause unintended damage.

Enbridge Gas reminds Ontarians of these additional safety precautions:

• Do not shovel, plow or blow snow up against the meter or vent pipe.
• Be careful not to bump your meter with a snow blower.
• Never kick your gas meter or vent pipes in an attempt to clear ice and snow.
• Remove any icicles from overhead eaves troughs to ensure dripping water does not splash and freeze on the meter or vent pipe.

Visit the Enbridge Gas website for more information on keeping gas meters clear.

“We also encourage homeowners to install and test certified CO alarms, which will warn them of rising CO levels in their homes and give them and their families time to take potentially life-saving action,” said Sadeghi. “It is also important for homeowners to be able to recognize the symptoms of CO poisoning, which can occur once a fuel-burning appliance exhaust vent has been blocked.”

To report a meter icing problem or for any other natural gas emergency, call 1-866-763-5427.

About Enbridge Gas

Enbridge Gas is Canada's largest natural gas storage, transmission and distribution company based in Ontario, with over 170 years of service to customers. The distribution business provides safe, affordable, reliable energy to about 3.8 million customers and is leading the transition to a clean energy future through net-zero emissions targets and investments in innovative low-carbon energy solutions. The storage and transmission business offers a variety of storage and transportation services to customers at the Dawn Hub, the largest integrated underground storage facility in Canada and one of the largest in North America. Enbridge Gas is owned by Enbridge (ENB), a Canadian-based leader in energy transportation and distribution. Learn more at www.enbridgegas.com. 

About the Technical Standards and Safety Authority

Throughout Ontario, TSSA enforces provincial safety regulations and enhances public safety. TSSA regulates the safety of amusement devices, boilers and pressure vessels, elevating devices, fuels, operating engineers, and ski lifts. Its range of safety services includes public education, certification, licensing and registration, engineering design review, inspections, investigations, safety management consultation, compliance support, enforcement and prosecution activities. For more information, visit www.tssa.org.

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For more information, please contact:

Andrea Stass 
Manager, External Communications and Media Relations 
Enbridge Gas 
Telephone: 519-365-1010 | Email: enbridgegasmedia@enbridgegas.com

Alexandra Campbell 
Vice President, Communications and Stakeholder Relations 
Technical Standards and Safety Authority 
Telephone: 416-734-6227 | Email: media@tssa.org

Toronto, ON, March 1, 2022 – As part of its commitment to protecting Ontarians from the dangers posed by fraudulent fuels workers, the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) is launching its third annual 'Trunk Slammers' Awareness and Enforcement Program. In alignment with the 2022 Fraud Prevention Month national campaign theme, Impersonation Scams, this year’s 'Trunk Slammers' Awareness and Enforcement Program campaign aims to ensure Ontario homeowners understand the importance and methods of verifying the credentials of fuels service professionals and reporting illegal workers and scammers to TSSA.

Trunk Slammers & Unsafe Technical Work

Uncertified gas technicians and unregistered contractors, aka ‘trunk slammers’, are known for performing less expensive labour with cheaper, unsafe materials and operating out of the trunks of their vehicles, which makes them difficult for consumers to locate and hold accountable.

“Fuels-related risks in retirement and long-term care homes, private dwellings, and business units are among the top areas of risk that we see,” said Sam Sadeghi, Statutory Director, TSSA Fuels Safety Program, and as noted in TSSA’s 2021 Public Safety Report. “Inadequate installation of fuel-burning appliances and poor maintenance work have been identified as major contributing factors to the risks in these areas, so it’s vital that Ontarians only hire those authorized by TSSA to perform fuel-related work.”

TSSA Impersonators & Unscrupulous Salespeople

In light of recent incidents involving scammers impersonating TSSA representatives, TSSA also urges Ontarians to be on alert for door-to-door and telemarketing salespeople selling furnaces, water heaters and energy services. In several cases, individuals who look and sound legitimate are not.

During the occurrence most recently reported to TSSA, a resident received an automated robo call identifying the company as TSSA saying the company wanted to arrange a furnace inspection. Upon further inquiry, the company altered its offer to say the company would come and see if the resident qualified for an energy rebate. A few weeks prior, a man went door to door posing as a TSSA Fuels Safety inspector and attempted to sell furnaces to owners of newly purchased homes.

“TSSA representatives do not work on appliances and will not attempt to sell products or inspection services to Ontario residents,” said Sadeghi. “Furthermore, if someone calls or arrives at a resident’s home and says the resident requires a furnace inspection, it is just a sales call, and residents are not obligated to comply.”

There are limited circumstances in which TSSA would visit a resident’s home. In any of these situations, TSSA representatives will present a business card and have a badge to identify themselves. If ever in doubt, residents should confirm an individual’s identity by calling TSSA.

Know Who’s Who Before Engaging

“We do recommend that homeowners have their furnaces and fuel-burning devices checked and serviced annually by a TSSA-registered contractor to protect against CO and fire hazards, but homeowners should seek out and verify their own contractors and not let anyone in that comes to their doors unless an appointment has been arranged in advance,” said Sadeghi.

Under Ontario law, furnaces and fuel-fired appliances must be maintained by TSSA-registered contractors, all of whom are listed on the TSSA website. Registered contractors are required to hire certified gas technicians who have extensive training aimed at keeping people safe in their homes.

Ontarians who believe they have been targeted by a TSSA impersonator should report the incident to 1-877-682-TSSA immediately. TSSA also urges the public to report unregistered fuels contractors and uncertified technicians, who put Ontario residents at risk through shoddy technical workmanship on fuel-burning appliances.

“We only become aware of these situations when people report them to us or the police,” said Sadeghi. “We want residents to know there are no negative consequences of reporting these incidents, and we encourage people to do so.”

Guidance & Resources

For additional information and access to safety resources, visit the following webpages:

• TSSA Fraudulent Fuels Workers Campaign Page
• TSSA Certified Technician Explainer
• TSSA Verifying Fuels Contractors & Inspectors Information Page
• TSSA/HRAI Qualified Contractor Checklist
• TSSA/HRAI Fuels Professional Verification Checklist
• TSSA Registered Ontario Contractors Listing
• HRAI Canadian Qualified Contractors Member Listing
• TSSA Advisory: Confirming a TSSA Representative’s Identity Before Allowing Home Entry
• Consumer Protection Ontario Information on Consumer Rights & Avoiding & Reporting Scams
• HRAI Consumer Awareness Information on Door-to-Door HVAC Equipment Sales
• Natural Resources Canada Tips on How to Recognize Energy Scams

About TSSA

Throughout Ontario, the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) enforces provincial safety regulations and enhances public safety. TSSA regulates the safety of amusement devices, boilers and pressure vessels, elevating devices, fuels, operating engineers, and ski lifts. Its range of safety services include public education, certification, licensing and registration, engineering design review, inspections, investigations, safety management consultation, compliance support, enforcement, and prosecution activities.

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For more information, please contact:

Alexandra Campbell 
Vice President, Communications and Stakeholder Relations 
Technical Standards and Safety Authority 
Telephone: 416-734-6227 
Email: media@tssa.org

For more information on the Technical Standards and Safety Authority, please visit www.tssa.org.

Enbridge Gas & TSSA Caution Homeowners to Keep Gas Meters & Fuel-Burning Appliance Vents Free from Snow & Ice 

(January 18, 2022) – With inclement winter weather conditions looming across the province this week, Enbridge Gas and the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) strongly advise Ontario homeowners to check their gas meters and the external exhaust outlets for furnaces, fireplaces, water heaters and all fuel-burning devices as soon as possible to ensure no snow or ice has built up. A forecast of rain for tomorrow makes this important safety task time sensitive, as rain has the potential to cause further freezing of accumulated precipitation buildup on gas meters and venting pipes.

“Clearing snow and ice away from the gas meter and the external exhaust outlets for your natural gas burning equipment helps ensure that both the meter and your appliances function safely,” said Bike Balkanci, Regional Director for GTA West and Niagara, Enbridge Gas. “It also allows us to access the meter in the case of an emergency.”

A gas meter covered in snow or ice can impede its function of controlling the pressure of the gas supplied to a home, which could lead to serious risks. In addition, blocked external exhaust vents can cause the carbon monoxide (CO) emitted by fuel-burning appliances to build up in a home, which is also a significant safety hazard.

“Exhaust vents, in particular, often extend out of the side of a home as low as one foot above ground, so they have the potential to get covered and blocked fairly easily without a homeowner’s knowledge, especially when a homeowner is shoveling snow or using a snowblower or when there is a severe snow fall, like the storm we encountered earlier this week,” said Sam Sadeghi, Director, Fuels Safety, Technical Standards and Safety Authority. “We have seen CO poisoning incidents from snow-blocked vents in the past, and these incidents can be fatal, so it’s essential that homeowners are vigilant about keeping their exhaust vents clear.”     

Upon noticing a gas meter or external appliance vent pipe is covered with snow, please remove the snow carefully with a car brush or broom. Do not scrape the meter or vent pipe with a sharp instrument, as this may cause unintended damage.

Enbridge Gas reminds Ontarians of these additional safety precautions:

• Do not shovel, plow or blow snow up against the meter or vent pipe.
• Be careful not to bump your meter with a snow blower.
• Never kick your gas meter or vent pipes in an attempt to clear ice and snow.
• Remove any icicles from overhead eaves troughs to ensure dripping water does not splash and freeze on the meter or vent pipe.

Visit the Enbridge Gas website for more information on keeping gas meters clear.

“We also encourage homeowners to install and test certified CO alarms, which will warn them of rising CO levels in their homes and give them and their families time to take potentially life-saving action,” said Sadeghi. “It is also important for homeowners to be able to recognize the symptoms of CO poisoning, which can occur once a fuel-burning appliance exhaust vent has been blocked.”

To report a meter icing problem or for any other natural gas emergency, call 1-866-763-5427.

About the Technical Standards and Safety Authority

Throughout Ontario, TSSA enforces provincial safety regulations and enhances public safety. TSSA regulates the safety of amusement devices, boilers and pressure vessels, elevating devices, fuels, operating engineers, and ski lifts. Its range of safety services includes public education, certification, licensing and registration, engineering design review, inspections, investigations, safety management consultation, compliance support, enforcement and prosecution activities. For more information, visit www.tssa.org.

About Enbridge Gas

Enbridge Gas is Canada's largest natural gas storage, transmission and distribution company based in Ontario, with over 170 years of service to customers. The distribution business provides safe, affordable, reliable energy to about 3.8 million customers and is leading the transition to a clean energy future through net-zero emissions targets and investments in innovative low-carbon energy solutions. The storage and transmission business offers a variety of storage and transportation services to customers at the Dawn Hub, the largest integrated underground storage facility in Canada and one of the largest in North America. Enbridge Gas is owned by Enbridge (ENB), a Canadian-based leader in energy transportation and distribution. Learn more at www.enbridgegas.com. 

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For more information, please contact:

Alexandra Campbell

Vice President, Communications and Stakeholder Relations

Technical Standards and Safety Authority

Telephone: 416-734-6227 | Email: media@tssa.org

Andrea Stass

Manager, External Communications and Media Relations

Enbridge Gas

Telephone: 519-436-5490 | Email: enbridgegasmedia@enbridgegas.com