Servicing Gas Heating Equipment

Unknown

Should it be the local gas company?

What about plumbing contractor?

Should it be only liscensed techs?

Do you really need any training?

Which is more complex gas or oil service?

Should there be a national certification?

Is there a difference between servicing natural gas and LP Gas?

Unknown

Do any of you service gas

equipment?

Dale

Opinion

Some sort of training and experience is needed to service all the fuels you menioned, I would add wood and coal to that since there are added things to check. In fact in Wisconsin something like 80% plus of the house fires from heating devices come from the 10% of the wood burners. I have a wood burning add on to my homeowners. I guess that from my end the safety check portion of the service is the main point. I think you need to know the codes for the type of fuel. I think gas equipment is the most difficult to service since the variety is the greatest, when I say equipment I mean the pressure switches and circuit boards as well as the other parts. I find modern oil burners more compact with fewer variables. I think propane is the most dangerous of the 3 common fuels and needs to have the safety aspects most dilligently observed. I would like a national license if only to eliminate all the varieties of state and local requirements ( which I think won't happen as licenses have become a revenue source = tax). What I wonder is do we split the safety and operations stuff? Sure, the boiler starts, vents and the safeties are appropriate but there's no heat getting to the rooms because a hydronic speciality has failed. This should be and interesting thread.

Ranger

My take on your questions Tim..

1.)Yes
2.)Yes
3.)Yes
4.)Absolutely,Positively!
5.)Both can be equally challangeing
6.)could'nt hurt in my opinion
7.)Yes

Tim,My fealing is whomever is working on whatever and works for Himself or whoever (alot of "ever's" in there),Proper training is an absolue.I started in the HVAC/R
field in 1982 when I joined up in the military,I've been an
R.S.E.S.Member since 1986 and a CM since 1988.What I'm trying to get at is there is not a day that goes buy that I
do not learn something.Technically it can be exasperating.
There's just so much out there to try and be technically proficient at.It can be maddening.

Mike T., Swampeast MO

Should local [gas] company service? Probably not. Since they're usually locally franchised monopolies, their interests are primarily 1) sell more gas and 2) make profits for major shareholders. Regular service companies would scream about loosing business and the gas suppliers would only increase their rates (and profits). This will only result in further and more confusing regulations by states. As with most electric and water systems, it seems "proper" that the provider's service responsibility essentially ends at the meter.

Should plumbing contractor service [gas equipment]? Only if suitably trained. Plumbing ain't combustion--nor is it heating for that matter...

Should only licensed techs service [gas equipment]? Most likely yes--the increased regulation/cost of licensing and/or certification seems prudent.

Do you really need any training? Absolutely! However it takes a lot less training to install a stand-alone hot water heating tank, range, oven, drier, etc. than other tasks. Provision should be made for "potential for problems" and "knowledge required to accomplish" with review by a certified/licensed sufficient in some cases.

Which is more complex--gas or oil service? I've never worked with oil, but from what I read it seems to be inherently more complex when it comes to delivering the fuel to the burner and seems to require significantly more frequent service to ensure safe, efficient operation.

Should there be a national certification? Such things always seem to have an alluring veneer, but the regulation, bureaucracy and (sorry to say) selfish interest often reveal a turd under that pretty skin.

Is there a difference between servicing natural gas and LP gas? Looking at the appliance itself, little difference. Looking at the system as a whole, BIG IMPORTANT differences. LP suppliers should be required to routinely inspect the entire system for problems--not just fill the tank.

p.s. I work for a national camping/traveling club with about 2,500 members in North America. I get pictures of scenes like this at least once every two years of member accidents. Do the math... Amazingly the woman in there (in her 60s) survived being thrown quite a distance with quite minor injuries. That tendency of LP to drop and "pool" is really bad in small, tight spaces...

p.p.s. Sorry for poor photo quality--it's a scan of a newspaper photo.

lchmb

two more pennies

Have to toss my opinion in under here..:)
A= should local companies. I worked for two gas delivery companies in the past. In both cases both companies had fully certified tech's. Everything was done by code and gas check's done for everything. They also after 5 year's offered to reinspect their system's free of charge.
B= Plumbing company. I now work for a plumbing company, there are presently 4 certified oil/propane tech's. The four of us do nothing if it isn't by code! We also go above this to request an inspection by the gas supplier.
C= licensed tech's...1000% YES. I have seen so many "hack" job's that it scare's me.
D=Training..on everything. I have in 7 year's seen so many simple thing's IE hot water tank's, dryer's and ranges that were close to killing someone. Last year a Grandfather in New Hampshire blew up his house, causing a death to a member of his family.
E= national....I think that the national gas code should be the bible. I believe that it should be a minimum requirement but to add yet another agency to argue with would probably create more headache's..
F= lp or natural..as long as your trained in both there shouldn't be an issue..simple answer...this is of course just my humble opinion...have a nice day!!

J.C.A._3

Whatayou talkin about?

Gas equipment doesn't need service! (ask the gas company,they rarely do it anymore!)
It burns completely and there are never any problems, unless they're plumbing related. O.K, maybe an electrical problem ....once in a while, but Gas service, never!

Coming from the oil field,this was a shock to hear people say this to me ! There are dangers with ANYTHING that burns "fuel", be it gas,oil, coal, wood or pellets/corn for you fireplace types.
Learn how to service it! Timmie is a teacher, he's seen ignorance beyond belief. Take ANY courses offered. Pay for them yourself, if you must, but a great employer will either pay for them or subsidise any education you pursue.

The world's a changin', and lawsuits are flying fast and furious.(and the gas companies aren't losing too many claims either!) The gas companies have better laywers on retainer, than you'll ever be able to afford. CYA brothers! Chris

bob_25

gas companies

Tim, rather than rant about the gas utilities I call your attention to the Rocky Mountain Natural Gas Co. who's own service department managed to blow up their own office building in 1985 killing 12 people. bob

Steamhead

I hadn't heard that one

scary! We do some gas servicing too, and like most, we see lots and lots of hack jobs. Want to see the abnormal become normal? Just wait a few years..........

To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Professional"

oil-2-4-6-gas

.

i just serviced a 600Mbtu I/C dual fuel burner in a school the other day --scary part about it is there is no licensing or training neccesary in Westchester county -- hell they no longer require certification to operate high pressure steam i have no formal training or licensing --all on the job training -there definetly needs to be licensing and qualification for servicing this equipment

rich pickering

Up here in Saskatchewan(due north of North Dakota/Montana)to get a residential gasfitters license you have to be a 3rd year plumber or pipefitter/steamfitter.That allows you to work on equipment up to 400,000 btu.After you become a journeyman, you can write the commercial gasfitters test.This allows you to work on any gas fired equipment known to man.
While there is training involved and you have to know the code, it does not guarantee that you are compentent as opposed to qualified. Ongoing training should be required to renew your license.
I am in favor of compentecy based tests in order to work on different types of equipment,just like the welders have.
The gas utility does not do regular service.They will put in a thermocouple in the middle of the night and then advise to call a contractor.
We use a national code that covers both gas and propane,with provincial amendments.
I was never trained on oil, I don't do oil, and my wife hates the smell of oil.

Unknown

It is my opinion based on

my travels around the country that there is a great lack of formal training related to gas service. There is probably more done in the residential area than in the commercial area. Most of the training on gas seems to be done by manufacturers reps on gas as it relates to their product.

Here in the Northeast it was the case for many years that the gas utility did most of the service on gas equipment. In recent years they have gotten out of the service business or are cutting back on service. This in most cases is profit motivated. I personnaly think it will come back to bite them. Those gas company's who did service also had in house training programs which were excellent. As the gas company curtails its service it creates a vacuum in the community and if there is no one to pick up the ball the customers suffer. This past winter here in New England there have been cases of people waiting for 2 and 3 days for service on there gas systems. These folks had no heat and there was no one to fill the gap. I run into many trades people who service gas and when I ask them some simple gas related questions they cannot answer them. My experience with most existing trade schools is that their gas training curriculm leaves a lot to be desired.

I have tried to offer as much as I can in training but seminars leave a lot to be desired. Im anxious to be able to get some interested young men or women who I can put through a full program which I have developed and train them the right way.

It is also scary to me that in many areas industrial boiler service is not liscensed or in any way do you have to have any qualifications to service equipment burning millions sometimes of BTU's of gas.

I have a wealth of knowledge sitting on the book shelves of my office going to waste. I am getting old and want to share this knowledge with some young folks. All of the books and literature that I have devloped are available, and please this is not a sales pitch, this information needs to get out to people.

We need to get trades people trained because I do not believe the gas utilities are going to do anything about giving that training. They have concentrated their efforts toward pipeline development and the repair and care of that system. There concern in most cases is not directed toward the end equipment user. They are offering boilers, furnaces and water heaters for free of for reduced amounts but that is also profit motivated. I challenge them to start looking at educating trades people on the proper handling and servicing of the product which are the end of the pipeline. They had better wake up because the oil guys have been awakened and they are making a comeback. Part of why that is so is that the oil companies are giving full service to their customers and their equipment

Robert O'Connor_7

Gas equipment?

NO.,Yes/if qualified.,Possibly in the future.,Yes.,Gas.,Yes.,Somewhat...Robert O'Connor/NJ

Ken C.

Hi Tim,

You wrote, "I have tried to offer as much as I can in training but seminars leave a lot to be desired. I'm anxious to be able to get some interested young men or women who I can put through a full program which I have developed and train them the right way." This sounds interesting; can you elaborate? I think it's admirable that you are willing to share your knowledge. By the way, I'm the guy who lives in your state and spoke to you a few times last heating season regarding combustion testing instruments. I've since switched companies, and my new employer has combustion testing instruments and is investing in my training (both classroom and on the job with an experienced tech). Actually, they deal mostly with oil heat, not gas. Still, they may expand into servicing more gas boilers and furnaces, so I'd like all the training I can get, both gas and oil combustion. Feel free to e-mail me if you'd like.

Unknown

Ken C.

I am now approved by the State of RI as the training facility for gas liscenses in the state. I have developed a 360 hour program which covers the full gamut of gas service. It is an expansion of the course I taught at Providence Gas now New England Gas for 18 years. It is much more comprhensive than any thing being offered anywhere in the country.

If you are interested you can call me at 401-437-0557.

Steve M._2

training

> I am now approved by the State of RI as the

> training facility for gas liscenses in the state.

> I have developed a 360 hour program which covers

> the full gamut of gas service. It is an expansion

> of the course I taught at Providence Gas now New

> England Gas for 18 years. It is much more

> comprhensive than any thing being offered

> anywhere in the country.

>

> If you are interested

> you can call me at 401-437-0557.

terry_5

gas tune up

i can't believe you would state gas equipment doesn't need servicing bad advice! all mechanical equipment needs maintenance oil or gas ,yes oil requires more but boilers and furnaces have safetys that need checkingevery year.