Carbon monoxide from a faulty furnace is dangerous because it is colourless and odourless — a CO alarm is your only reliable warning. This page covers the safe steps to take first, then how HeatLand finds and fixes the cause across Greater Vancouver.
Why carbon monoxide is so dangerous
Carbon monoxide gives no smell and no colour, so a working detector is your only reliable warning. Understanding what triggers a furnace to produce it helps you act quickly and correctly.
Common causes
- A carbon monoxide alarm sounding (your primary warning)
- Headaches, dizziness, nausea, or fatigue that ease when you leave home
- A cracked heat exchanger letting combustion gases into the air
- Blocked or disconnected venting backing exhaust into the home
- A poorly burning, sooty, or yellow-tipped flame
What to do right now
If a CO alarm sounds or anyone feels unwell, get everyone outside to fresh air immediately and call 911 from outside. Do not re-enter until it is declared safe. Leave the furnace off. Once the home is cleared, call us to find the source — commonly a cracked heat exchanger or venting fault — and make it safe.
How HeatLand helps
A licensed technician diagnoses the real cause rather than guessing, explains it in plain language, and gives a clear itemised quote before any work. We tell you honestly when a repair makes sense and when replacement is the better value — there is no commission-driven upsell here.
What to expect when you book
We start with a few questions to understand the symptom and find a visit time that suits you. On site, a licensed technician confirms the real cause, walks you through what they found, and gives a clear itemised quote before any work starts. Because we carry common furnace parts on the van, many repairs in Greater Vancouver are completed the same visit once you approve.
Talk to a licensed local HVAC team in Greater Vancouver.
Straight answers, fair pricing, and no pressure to buy what you don’t need.
Why homeowners call HeatLand
HeatLand is a local heating and cooling company based in Burnaby, serving Greater Vancouver and the wider Lower Mainland. We diagnose before we quote, we explain what we find in plain language, and we tell you honestly when a repair makes more sense than a replacement — or the other way around. There is no commission-driven upsell here.
Frequently asked questions
What do I do if my carbon monoxide alarm goes off?
Get everyone outside to fresh air right away and call 911 from outside. Do not re-enter until emergency services say it is safe. Leave the furnace off, then have us diagnose the cause.
What causes carbon monoxide from a furnace?
Most often a cracked heat exchanger or a blocked or disconnected vent that lets combustion gases enter the home’s air. A licensed technician confirms the source with combustion and CO testing.
Should I have a CO detector even with a newer furnace?
Yes. Carbon monoxide is colourless and odourless, so a working CO detector on each level is essential regardless of furnace age. It is your only reliable warning.
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