I had cleared a neat path to the bins and made a very untidy pile against the house. From the kitchen window, the job looked finished. From the side gate, I could see how close the pile was to an appliance vent.
Before the next snowfall I asked our technician to identify the furnace intake and exhaust, the dryer outlet and the other openings along that wall. I photographed them from the path. Similar-looking pipes did not necessarily serve the same equipment.
Know what needs to stay clear
Source: Enbridge Gas: keep meters and appliance vents clear of snow and ice
Enbridge Gas advises keeping gas meters and fuel-burning appliance vents free of snow and ice. Obstructions can prevent proper venting. It also warns against kicking meters or vent pipes to remove ice.
I changed where I piled snow. Loose snow could be cleared carefully from the surrounding area without striking equipment, but ice bonded to a pipe or meter was a reason to seek advice, not use the shovel as a chisel. I followed the equipment's instructions and kept tools away from fragile terminations.
Look again after drifting
A path cleared in the morning can look different after wind or another round of snow. I added a safe ground-level check to taking out the bins. I did not climb onto a roof or reach across an icy ledge to inspect a vent.
If a heating fault appears after a storm, mention the weather and any visible obstruction when calling. A gas smell or CO alarm means leaving and calling emergency help from outside, not beginning a snow-clearing task.
The next pile went farther into the garden where it would not block an opening. My path was slightly less straight. The important part of the job was now visible from the side gate.
