Is Your Old Furnace a Ticking Time Bomb? Age and Carbon Monoxide Risk

Last winter, I got a call at 2:30 AM from a panicked Minneapolis homeowner. Her family was experiencing headaches and dizziness, and she suspected something was wrong with their 20-year-old furnace. When I arrived, my CO detector was screaming before I even reached the basement. Her cracked heat exchanger was leaking deadly carbon monoxide throughout their home. That family is alive today because she trusted her instincts and called for help.

I’m Mike, and I’ve been protecting Minneapolis families from carbon monoxide poisoning for over 17 years. If your furnace is 15+ years old, you’re living with a real risk that gets worse every heating season. Here’s what I want you to know about furnace age and CO danger.

The Cold Truth About Furnace Age and Carbon Monoxide

Here in Minneapolis, our brutal winters push furnaces to their limits. After 15 years, critical components start failing in ways that can kill. I see it every winter – families who had no idea their “working” furnace was slowly poisoning them.

As Mike puts it: “I’ve never seen a furnace over 20 years old in Minneapolis that didn’t have at least one CO safety issue. The freeze-thaw cycles here are brutal on heat exchangers.”

Why Minneapolis Homeowners Choose MplsCOEmergency

When your family’s safety is on the line, you need someone who answers the phone at 3 AM and actually shows up. That’s exactly what we do, and we’ve been doing it since 2008.

• True 24/7 response – I answer my own phone, no answering service
• 30-minute emergency guarantee – If it’s a CO emergency, we’re there fast
• 17+ years of Minneapolis furnace experience – I know these old systems inside and out
• No upsells or scare tactics – Just honest assessments and necessary repairs
• All techs have 3-4+ years experience – Plus specialized CO emergency training
• Fully licensed and insured – Class A HVAC license, EPA certified, bonded

What It’s Really Like Working in Minneapolis

After 17 years fixing furnaces in Minneapolis, I can tell you that this city’s housing stock creates unique challenges. Those beautiful old homes in Uptown and Northeast have character, but their furnaces often have issues that newer construction doesn’t face.

The combination of old ductwork, settling foundations, and harsh winters means CO problems develop differently here. I’ve crawled through basements in every neighborhood from Downtown to South Minneapolis, and I’ve learned to spot the warning signs that local homeowners miss.

How Our Emergency CO Process Actually Works

When you call with a potential CO emergency, here’s exactly what happens:

1. Immediate phone assessment – I’ll ask key questions to determine urgency
2. Safety instructions – If needed, I’ll guide you through what to do in a CO emergency
3. 30-minute response – We’re on our way with professional CO detection equipment
4. Complete CO testing – We test every area of your home, not just near the furnace
5. Source identification – If we find CO, we locate the exact source
6. Immediate safety measures – We make your home safe before we leave
7. Repair solutions – Clear explanations of what needs fixing and why

“The most important thing is getting families safe first,” I always tell my techs. “Everything else comes after that.”

Our Complete Carbon Monoxide Services

Every service we provide focuses on one goal: keeping your family safe from carbon monoxide poisoning.

• CO Leak Detection – Professional-grade equipment finds even trace amounts of CO that basic detectors miss
• Emergency CO Response – 24/7 rapid response when you suspect a CO problem in your home
• Furnace Repair – Fixing heat exchangers, venting issues, and combustion problems that cause CO leaks
• Heat Exchanger Inspections – Detailed camera inspections to find dangerous cracks before they become deadly
• Carbon Monoxide Safety Inspections – Annual comprehensive checks of all CO sources in your home
• CO Detector Installation – Proper placement and installation of professional-grade CO detectors
• Furnace Maintenance Plans – Preventive care that catches CO risks before they endanger your family
• Insurance Claim Assistance – Help navigating insurance coverage for CO-related repairs
• Landlord Safety Checks – Required CO inspections for rental properties
• Real Estate CO Audits – Pre-purchase furnace and CO safety inspections for home buyers

What Makes Us Different from Other HVAC Companies

Most HVAC companies treat CO like just another repair. For us, it’s a matter of life and death. Here’s what that means for you:

• Owner-operated business – When you call, you’re talking to me or my hand-picked team
• Plain-English communication – No technical jargon, just clear explanations you can understand
• Community focus – We live here too, your neighbors are our neighbors
• 576+ hours of formal training – Plus ongoing CO safety education
• OSHA safety certified – We follow strict safety protocols on every job
• No high-pressure sales – We fix what’s broken, not what’s profitable

Keandra S. from Uptown told us in January 2025: “Mike came out at midnight on New Year’s Eve when our CO detector went off. He found the problem, fixed it safely, and explained everything so we understood. Professional, honest, and literally saved our lives.”

Recent Jobs We’ve Completed Around Minneapolis

Here are some recent CO emergency calls we’ve handled in Minneapolis neighborhoods:

• Uptown – Replaced cracked heat exchanger in 1920s home that was leaking CO into living spaces
• Northeast Minneapolis – Cleared blocked furnace venting that was causing dangerous CO buildup
• South Minneapolis – Emergency repair of improperly installed furnace that was backdrafting CO
• Downtown – CO safety inspection for condo owner revealed faulty gas connections
• Powderhorn – Installed professional CO detection system after near-miss CO incident
• Longfellow – Heat exchanger inspection found hairline cracks before they became dangerous

Areas We Serve Throughout Minneapolis

We provide 24/7 carbon monoxide emergency services throughout Minneapolis and surrounding areas. Our techs know the unique challenges of heating systems in every neighborhood.

From the historic homes in Northeast to the high-rises Downtown, we’ve seen it all. See our complete service area coverage here.

Questions Minneapolis Homeowners Ask About CO Risk

Q: How often should I have my furnace checked for CO leaks?
A: I recommend annual CO safety inspections, but if your furnace is over 15 years old, twice yearly is safer. Minneapolis winters are hard on furnaces.

Q: Can a furnace leak CO even if it’s heating properly?
A: Absolutely. Heat exchangers can develop tiny cracks that don’t affect heating but leak deadly CO. This is why CO testing is so important.

Q: What’s the biggest CO risk factor in Minneapolis homes?
A: Age combined with deferred maintenance. Old furnaces in old homes with poor ventilation create perfect conditions for CO problems.

Q: How quickly can CO poisoning symptoms appear?
A: Symptoms can start within hours of exposure. Headaches, dizziness, and nausea are early warning signs you shouldn’t ignore.

Q: Are there CO risks beyond just my furnace?
A: Yes – water heaters, fireplaces, and any gas appliance can produce CO. We check all potential sources during our inspections.

Insider Tips for Protecting Your Family from CO

After 17 years in Minneapolis basements, here’s what I wish every homeowner knew:

• Trust your symptoms – If multiple family members have headaches or feel dizzy, get your air tested immediately
• Check your flame color – Your furnace flame should be blue, not yellow or orange
• Listen for changes – New sounds from your furnace often signal problems developing
• Don’t ignore your CO detector – Even if it’s “just chirping,” get it checked professionally
• Keep vents clear – Snow blocking exterior vents can cause CO to back up into your home
• Schedule fall inspections – Before you need heat, not after problems develop

Here’s something most people don’t know: “Your CO detector only alerts you when levels are already dangerous. By then, you may already be experiencing symptoms. Professional testing catches problems before they become emergencies.”

The Reality of CO Emergencies in Minneapolis

I won’t sugar-coat this – carbon monoxide emergencies are terrifying. I’ve seen families rushed to hospitals, pets that didn’t make it, and close calls that still keep me up at night. But I’ve also seen the relief on faces when we catch problems early.

The challenge with CO is that it’s invisible and odorless. You can’t see it, smell it, or taste it. By the time you feel symptoms, you’re already in danger. That’s why professional testing and regular inspections aren’t just recommendations – they’re necessities.

The good news? Nearly every CO emergency is preventable with proper maintenance and early detection. That’s what we’re here for.

If you’re reading this and thinking about your own furnace, trust that instinct. It’s better to have a professional tell you everything’s fine than to discover a problem when it’s too late.