Carbon Monoxide Detector Going Off
in Omaha, Nebraska
A carbon monoxide (CO) detector alarm is one of the most serious alerts your home can give you. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas produced by incomplete combustion — and your furnace is one of the most common sources in a home. Midlands Heating & Air takes CO safety seriously and provides furnace inspection and heat exchanger testing throughout the Omaha area to help keep your family safe.
Common Causes & What to Do
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If Your Alarm Is Going Off Right Now — Evacuate First
If Your Alarm Is Going Off Right Now — Evacuate First
If your CO detector is alarming, do not stop to investigate. Get everyone — including pets — out of the house immediately. Leave doors open as you exit. Call 911 from outside. Do not re-enter the home until emergency responders have cleared it. Only after the all-clear should you call an HVAC company to inspect your heating equipment.
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Cracked Heat Exchanger
Cracked Heat Exchanger
The heat exchanger is a metal chamber inside your furnace that separates combustion gases (including CO) from the air that circulates through your home. Over time — especially in furnaces more than 10–15 years old — heat exchangers can develop cracks. Even a small crack can allow CO to leak into your living space. This is the most serious HVAC-related cause of CO exposure and requires immediate furnace shutdown and inspection.
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Blocked or Damaged Flue Venting
Blocked or Damaged Flue Venting
Your furnace vents combustion gases outside through a flue pipe. If this pipe becomes blocked — by a bird’s nest, ice, debris, or damage — gases including CO can back up into the home. We inspect flue venting as part of every furnace tune-up.
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Backdrafting
Backdrafting
Backdrafting occurs when negative pressure in the home draws combustion gases back down the flue instead of allowing them to exhaust properly. This can happen when exhaust fans, dryers, or other appliances depressurize the home while the furnace is running. Proper combustion air supply and flue sizing prevent backdrafting.
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False Alarms and End-of-Life Detectors
False Alarms and End-of-Life Detectors
CO detectors have a lifespan of 5–7 years. An old detector may alarm even when CO levels are not dangerous. If your detector is more than 7 years old and alarms intermittently without other symptoms (headaches, dizziness, nausea), it may need replacement. That said, always treat a CO alarm as real until proven otherwise — evacuate first, investigate second.
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Annual Furnace Inspection Is the Best Prevention
Annual Furnace Inspection Is the Best Prevention
The most effective way to prevent CO issues is an annual furnace tune-up that includes a thorough heat exchanger inspection and flue venting check. Our technicians inspect both during every fall furnace tune-up. If we find a cracked heat exchanger, we’ll tell you clearly and directly — and help you understand your options.
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Midlands Heating & Air Can HelpOur licensed technicians serve homeowners throughout Omaha, Bellevue, Papillion, La Vista, Elkhorn, Ralston, Millard, Gretna, and Council Bluffs. We provide fast diagnosis, honest recommendations, and upfront pricing on every service call. If the issue is simple, we’ll tell you. If it requires repair, we’ll explain exactly what’s needed and why before any work begins. Call us at 402-769-8234 or schedule online. We serve the entire Omaha metro area with honest, affordable HVAC service. |
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