Individual Fined $4000+ For Installing Natural Gas Heater Without TSSA Authorization

[Admin]

Download the TSSA Media Release - Here

Toronto, ON, November 30, 2022 – Robert William Seager, owner of Seager Heating in Oshawa, today pled guilty to one count of installing a natural gas furnace without a TSSA-issued gas technician certificate, contrary to Ontario Regulation 212/01: Gaseous Fuels. The Ontario Court of Justice ordered Seager to pay a $4,000 fine, plus 25 per cent victim surcharge.

Seager, who has not held a valid TSSA certificate since 2008, entered into a verbal contract with an Oshawa homeowner to supply and install a complete heating, ventilation and air conditioning system and water heater. After installing the natural gas water heater, Seager did not return to complete the full scope of agreed-upon work, for which he had been paid $13,300. The homeowner reported the situation to TSSA, which discovered Seager had installed the water heater without holding the appropriate certificate.

"It is illegal for uncertified gas technicians, also known as 'trunk slammers', to perform fuel-related work in Ontario. Without the appropriate TSSA authorizations, a gas worker's knowledge, competency and qualifications cannot be validated, and they do not receive updates on safety information and training," said Sam Sadeghi, Director, Fuels Safety, TSSA. In addition, their work on furnaces and other fuel-burning equipment is not subject to TSSA audits that check for compliance with safety requirements, so there is no assurance they will comply with the safety requirements.

"An incorrectly installed natural gas appliance could easily lead to carbon monoxide poisoning that can injure or even kill unsuspecting residents," said Sadeghi.

[samihabib]

Every time I read "trunk slammers" I make a conscious effort to close my trunk slowly Lool

[Porcupinepuffer]

Lesson: Don't pay contractors of any trade anywhere near the full amount until the job is completed.

[Hvacpimp]

Lmao, I know him. All he had to do was call me and I would have given him a hand. My labour would have been cheaper than $4000!

[rmuntz]

Well done, TSSA.

[Porcupinepuffer]

Now they just need to audit all of the work he's done since 2008 and get that number up in the millions 

[Admin]

It's strange, but this story has been removed from the TSSA Fuels News page.