Furnace malfunction fills Windsor home with smoke, prompting safety warning

Wondering how you can prepare your furnace to safely be used again this season? CTV Windsor’s Chris Campbell explains how.

A Windsor couple is sharing a fall furnace safety reminder after smoke quickly filled their home over the Thanksgiving weekend when they turned on the heat for the first time this season.

The Unemployed Help Centre – Hub of Opportunities CEO June Muir says she switched on the furnace Sunday morning and went back to bed, only to be jolted awake by blaring alarms.

“So I turned the furnace on and I went back to bed. And the next thing I knew, the smoke alarms were going off. And I said to Bill, we got to get out of here,” Muir explained. “The smoke was very thick. We couldn’t see… it was very scary to wake up and see your house full of smoke.”

Muir says she called 911 as the home filled with smoke.

“We couldn’t see. It was very scary to wake up and see your house full of smoke… There was just so much smoke. So it was really scary.”

Muir said firefighters from the Lauzon Road station arrived within minutes and determined the cause was likely a burned-out furnace motor, noting that fortunately there was no fire.

Husband Bill Mitchell says the situation was frightening and prompted a conversation with their family about fire safety.

“It was scary in the sense that, you know, there’s something wrong with your house,” Mitchell said. “We even called our daughter, who lives in the US. And, we found out that she actually only has one smoke detector in a three story house. So we sent the funds over for to buy two more smoke detectors.”

The couple says they’re grateful their alarms worked and are planning to have their HVAC system inspected by professionals before turning it on again.

“Check your smoke alarms, make sure they’re working. And before you turn the furnace on, make sure you’re going to be home for a while,” Muir told CTV News. “Make sure everything is working and that you don’t leave and just turn your furnace on and go out the door.”

With cooler weather settling in, heating experts say annual maintenance is one of the best ways to prevent furnace-related problems.

“Ultimately, at this time of year, what we’re suggesting and most companies would be suggesting is getting your furnace maintenance before you turn it on,” said Kaleena Cryderman, director of strategic partnerships and market expansion at Handy Bros Home Comfort.

“Have a company come out, clean it out, take a look at it, make sure it’s good to go before you fire that on. They’ll fire that on when they come out to get that up and running for you just to make sure that everything is running. This avoids any mishaps happening, anything like a fire starting or things like that.”

Cryderman says Handy Bros also offers free virtual tech support for homeowners seeking advice.

“Handy Bros offers free virtual tech support. So if you want little tidbits of information, you can always call us and reach out to us and we’re happy to do that over the phone instead of sending a technician out. But for a maintenance, I would definitely have a technician come out and we’re offering 50 per cent off maintenance right now as well.”

Windsor Fire and Rescue Chief Fire Prevention Officer John Smith says this time of year is when many households switch from cooling to heating systems and that’s when issues can arise.

“This is that time of year we’re changing from the cooling season to the heating season,” Smith said. “My first recommendation is to check your furnace for loose belts, check and change your air filter and make sure combustibles are at least a meter away from your furnace.”

He adds homeowners should also inspect outdoor vents to ensure they’re free of debris or bird nests and that baseboard heaters and boilers are clear of dust and furniture.

“Again, you could leave this to a professional for sure would be the best thing to do,” he said. “Most importantly, make sure you have a working smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector. Starting in January 2026, every residential unit is supposed to have one on every floor.”

Smith also recommends testing your system during the day, long before going to sleep at night.

“Try the system maybe before you go to bed, try that in the morning. Turn the heat on, get the system running so you’re awake and that if there is any issues with that system, you could probably get that before you go to bed at night.”

Muir says she’s sharing her story as a reminder to others as furnace season begins.

“Lots to be thankful for today,” she said.