Oshawa, ON — Robert William Seager, owner of Seager Heating in Oshawa, Ont, pled guilty to one count of installing a natural gas furnace without proper certification. He didn’t have the proper TSSA-issue gas certificate, which is contrary to Ontario Regulation 212/01.
“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 of fuels safety at the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA). He was ordered to pay a $4,000 fine, plus 25 per cent victim surcharge by the Ontario Court of Justice.
Seager has not held a valid TSSA certificate since 2008. According to the TSSA, he entered into a verbal contractor with an Oshawa homeowner to supply and install a complete HVAC system and water heater. After installing the water heater, he didn’t return to complete the agreed-upon work, which reportedly was $13,300. The homeowner reported the situation to TSSA, which discovered Seager had installed the water heater without holding the proper certificate, reports TSSA.
“An incorrectly installed natural gas appliance could easily lead to carbon monoxide poisoning that can injure or even kill unsuspecting residents,” said Sadeghi.