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RED TAG MEANING

Red Tag – Unsafe Conditions

(As presented by UGI Heating, Cooling & Plumbing)

Your HVAC technician just ‘red-tagged’ your equipment. Why was this done and what does it mean?

  • The Red Tag procedure is implemented when a field employee observes or encounters a condition that represents a clear and immediate threat to the safety or health of the occupants of the customer’s home due to an appliance, fuel line, or other aspect to an HVAC system or other equipment.
  • The piece of equipment or fuel line that is creating the condition must be shut down. If the fuel line or equipment cannot be isolated from the remaining appliances, the local gas utility will be contacted to have the gas service turned off at the meter. The service technician will advise a supervisor of the situation.
  • The field employee is responsible for completely filling out the Red Tag.
  • A field employee will explain to you why your system has been tagged, they will also explain to you what needs to be done to bring your system up to code.
  • You will be asked to sign the Red Tag, verifying that you understand why your system has been tagged as well as what you can do to bring it back up to code.
  • A Red Tag situation can arise from a variety of reasons including a leak on a gas or fuel line, an appliance connector, or an appliance that cannot be repaired at the time of the visit. Other conditions include gasoline or other flammable liquids, gasses, or combustible materials located within 3 feet of the burner, or atmospheric carbon monoxide levels greater than 9 ppm being produced by gas burning equipment. Improper installations can also result in a Red Tag situation.

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    “But another HVAC company was here and did not red-tag my equipment.”

    At UGI Heating, Cooling & Plumbing, we are especially concerned with safety and striving to raise the bar regarding safety for both you, our valued customer and our employees. By “Red Tagging” your equipment, our field technician has determined that corrective measures need to be applied to ensure the safety of you and your family. A Red Tag means that the issue can be corrected once the appropriate measures have been completed.

    A note about Carbon Monoxide:

    Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas and poisonous gas that burns with a pale-blue to yellow flame, produced when carbon burns with insufficient air. Any fuel – natural gas , propane, oil, kerosene, wood, coal or charcoal – can produce Carbon Monoxide when there is insufficient air for the combustion process.

    Assessing the Potential Presence of Carbon Monoxide (CO)

    1. Do you have a Carbon Monoxide Detector that has alarmed?
    2. Are any members of the household ill with the following symptoms: headache, fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness? Do these symptoms improve when they leave the house?
    3. Have you noticed moisture/condensation on your walls and windows, other than in bathrooms or above your kitchen sink?
    4. Is there any water streaking, rusting, debris or soot on chimney, vents, or equipment?
    5. Have you smelled any unfamiliar burning odors from your fuel burning equipment?
    6. Are many of your houseplants dying?
    7. Have any pets become sluggish or ill?

    If you answered yes to any of the above could indicate the potential presence of CO. You should call an expert immediately to assess the situation and to ensure that you and your family are safe in your home.