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These jobs share one thing: each involves a gas valve, a burner, a connector or a vent. That puts them in the hands of a licensed gas technician rather than a general appliance repairer or a handyman, and it often makes sense to have several appliances looked at in the same visit. Furnaces, boilers and gas fireplaces have their own service pages; this one covers the rest of the gas equipment in and around the house.
Below you'll find what a technician services on each appliance, who is licensed in Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia, what a yearly inspection covers, carbon monoxide precautions, fuel conversions, recalls and the warning signs that call for a visit.
Gas appliances a technician services: ranges, dryers, water heaters, space heaters, BBQs and pool heaters
- Ranges and cooktops: burner ignition and flame adjustment, oven igniters and safety valves, and a leak check on the connector whenever the range has been pulled out.
- Clothes dryers: igniters, gas valve coils and flame sensors, plus the exhaust duct, which on a gas model also carries combustion gases outdoors.
- Water heaters: the pilot or igniter, the flame sensor or thermocouple, the burner and the flue, including the fan on power-vented and tankless models; tank leaks are covered on our water heater repair page.
- Space and garage heaters: vented wall heaters, direct-vent units and ceiling-hung heaters in garages and workshops, checked for venting, clearances and dust in the burner.
- Built-in barbecues and outdoor kitchens: burners, valves, regulators and hoses on grills fed by a fixed gas line, checked for wear, insect nests in the burner tubes and leaks before the season starts.
- Pool and hot tub heaters: burners, heat exchangers, pressure switches and controls, usually serviced when the pool opens and again before it is closed for winter.
Who can service gas appliances: TSSA-registered contractors, CMMTQ members and Technical Safety BC permits
Replacing an igniter on a gas dryer or adjusting a water heater burner is gas work, not general appliance repair. In Ontario, the TSSA says only registered fuels contractors are legally authorized to carry out fuels-related work, and its public registry lets you look up a company before booking. In Quebec, the CMMTQ says any work on a gas appliance must go to a specialized contractor that belongs to the corporation. If an appliance repair company is sending someone to a gas appliance, ask whether that person holds gas certification.
In British Columbia, Technical Safety BC requires a permit to install or replace a gas appliance, taken out by the licensed contractor, and it notes that a built-in gas barbecue needs one while swapping an existing plug-in style barbecue doesn't. Other provinces set their own rules through their gas safety authority, so ask the technician what applies when a service call turns into a replacement.
Annual gas appliance inspection: what a technician checks on each visit
Health Canada advises having fuel-burning appliances inspected by a professional at least once a year, or as the manufacturer instructs. Many households book the furnace in the fall and have the water heater, dryer and range checked during the same visit, while pool heaters and outdoor grills are easier to service at the start of the outdoor season.
- A leak test at each connector, valve and fitting, with an electronic detector or a leak-check solution.
- A look at the flame, which should burn steadily and mostly blue, and cleaning of burners and orifices where dust, lint or rust has built up.
- A test of the ignition and safety shut-off devices that stop the gas if the flame goes out.
- A check that the vent or flue is intact, sloped and supported properly, and carrying combustion gases outdoors.
- Confirmation that the appliance gets enough combustion air and that stored items haven't crept inside its required clearances.
- An inspection of flexible connectors for kinks, corrosion or signs they have been reused or routed where the code doesn't allow.
- A written note of anything found, with the model and serial number of each appliance.
Carbon monoxide and gas leaks: alarms, space heaters and what to do
Any appliance that burns gas can produce carbon monoxide, and a blocked vent, a damaged heat exchanger or a poorly adjusted burner can send it into the house. Health Canada says the most important place for a CO alarm is in the hallway outside sleeping areas, and advises testing alarms regularly and replacing batteries and alarms as the manufacturer recommends. It also warns never to use kerosene, propane or oil space heaters in an enclosed area unless they are designed for indoor use, which rules out patio and camping heaters in a garage or basement.
A gas smell is a different emergency. Enbridge Gas and Énergir both tell people to leave the building right away, avoid switches, phones and anything else that could spark, and call 911 or the utility's emergency line once outside. If a CO alarm sounds, get everyone into fresh air and call 911 as well, then have a licensed technician check the appliances before anyone uses them again.
Converting gas appliances between natural gas and propane
Natural gas and propane are supplied at different pressures and burn differently, so an appliance set up for one can't safely run on the other as it is. Converting a range, dryer, water heater or pool heater usually means changing orifices or burner parts and adjusting or replacing the regulator with the conversion kit the manufacturer specifies, then testing for leaks and checking the flame. Some appliances aren't approved for conversion at all, and replacement is then the answer.
Conversions come up when a rural home gets natural gas service, at cottages that run on propane, or when an appliance moves between homes. Each one is licensed gas work in every province, so never swap orifices or regulator parts yourself, even with the kit in hand. Ask the technician to mark the appliance with the fuel it now uses, and keep the invoice with the manual.
Warning signs a gas appliance needs a technician
- Yellow, orange or lifting flames, or soot on pots, burner surrounds or the wall near a vent.
- A pilot that keeps going out, a burner that is slow to light, or a pop or bang at ignition.
- Stale, stuffy air or moisture on nearby windows whenever the appliance runs, which can mean combustion gases aren't venting properly.
- A vent pipe that is loose, rusted, disconnected or blocked by snow, ice or a nest.
- Scorch marks, melted parts or discoloured surfaces near the appliance.
- A faint gas smell near an appliance, which should be treated as a leak, not a nuisance.
- A carbon monoxide alarm that sounds, even once and even if it then goes quiet.
Gas appliance recalls, warranties and registering a new appliance
Before paying to repair an older heater, grill or water heater, search the Government of Canada's Recalls and Safety Alerts site for the product type and the model number on the rating plate. A recall notice explains the hazard and what owners should do, which can include stopping use until a remedy is available. Registering a new appliance with its manufacturer means you can be contacted if a notice is issued later.
Many manufacturer warranties expect installation and service by a qualified technician, so keep every invoice with the appliance's model and serial numbers. An unlicensed repair can put the warranty in doubt and, after a fire or a leak, complicate an insurance claim.
Gas Appliance Service: frequently asked questions
Can a regular appliance repair technician fix my gas stove or dryer?
Only if the person is certified for gas work and works for an authorized contractor, such as a TSSA-registered fuels contractor in Ontario or a CMMTQ member in Quebec. Ask when you book: some repair companies have gas-certified technicians and others don't.
How often should gas appliances be serviced?
Health Canada advises a professional inspection of fuel-burning appliances at least once a year, or as the manufacturer instructs. Your manual may set its own schedule for items such as water heater or pool heater maintenance.
Can I convert my gas range from natural gas to propane myself?
No. A conversion changes burner parts and gas pressure, and it's licensed gas work in every province. A licensed technician installs the manufacturer's conversion kit, tests for leaks and adjusts the flames.
Can I use a propane heater or barbecue in my garage?
Not unless the heater is specifically designed for indoor use. Health Canada warns against running propane, kerosene or oil space heaters in enclosed areas otherwise, and barbecues and patio heaters belong outdoors, away from doors, windows and air intakes.
What should I do if the CO alarm goes off near a gas appliance?
Get everyone outside, call 911 from there and stay out until responders say it's safe. Before the appliance is used again, have a licensed gas technician inspect it and its venting.
Sources
Written by the LokalMatch editorial team. Reviewed by Zubair Afzal on September 10, 2026. How we write and check our guides