Faulty Furnace Exhaust Vents... The Rest Of The Story

Early in 1995 the Ministry of Consumer andgovernment did pay for replacements in
Commercial Relations (MCCR) announced a programgovernment-funded non-profit and co-op housing.And
to replace up to 20,000 mid-efficiency gas furnaces inapparently, the program offered nothing to people who
Ontario, because their plastic vent pipes were prone tohad already replaced their mid-efficiency furnaces
failure, and might leak carbon monoxide into the house.before this program was announced.On September 12,
Other sources indicated the number might have been1995, the Ministry of Consumer and Commercial
as high as 40,000 - but no one knows for sure.TheRelations issued a Safety Order requiring all owners of
crux of the problem was that no other type of ventheating appliances with high-temperature plastic vents
pipe had been approved for use with mid-efficiencyto have these systems corrected by August 31, 1996.
furnaces.Hundreds of home owners planned to sueGas utilities and propane suppliers were required by
the government, the manufacturers and others forOntario law to discontinue the supply of fuel to
refusing to pay for the entire replacement. At thatappliances which had not been corrected by the
point, home owners were expected to pay aboutdeadline. Correction consisted of replacing the
$1000 of the estimated $1500 cost to exchange thedefective vent with an approved alternate vent, if
furnaces for high-efficiency models, which wouldavailable, or replacing the whole heating system.Two
function safely with plastic vent pipes currentlyvent pipe manufacturers in Toronto claimed they had
available. The home builder was to pay $200, thesafe, effective replacement vent pipes (a special
ONHWP $200, and the gas companies $100.By thegrade of corrosion-resistant stainless steel) which
end of 1995 neither the Government of Ontario, whichwould solve the problem with mid-efficiency
approved the faulty vent pipes, nor the manufacturersinstallations. These replacement pipes had not yet
had made any contribution toward the cost ofreceived approval, and for some furnaces,
replacements in private homes and businesses. But thereplacements were never approved.