Although having an attached garage can be convenient, in some cases it can be a detriment to your health. When your home is not properly sealed against the attached garage, bad air from your garage can seep into your home and pose a threat to your family.
What causes poor air quality inside your garage?
The primary source of bad air in your garage is your automobile. Each time you start your vehicle, whether the overhead garage door is open or not, it emits harmful combustion fumes such as carbon monoxide, which is potentially lethal. Additionally, your garage may house fertilizers, pesticides, paint, fuel for your lawn mower, etc., all of which can contaminate your indoor air.
How can bad air from your garage get inside your house?
Even though the living areas of your home are separated from your garage by at least a layer of drywall and, presumably, a weatherstripped door, there are still ways for bad air from your garage to creep into your house. Minuscule cracks in your walls, garage ceiling (if there is a room above your attached garage), or door to the house can can allow the passage of air from the garage into your home. This is more likely to happen if the air pressure in your garage is higher than the air pressure in your house, a not uncommon situation in homes with forced-air heating and cooling and multiple exhaust fans.
How can you keep bad air from your garage out of your house?
Enlist the help of an HVAC contractor to evaluate conditions in your attached garage. He or she may recommend better air sealing, adding insulation between an extra layer of drywall and installing an exhaust ventilation system to improve your garage’s air quality and reduce the air pressure.
To schedule an evaluation of your attached garage, please contact us at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning. We’re proud to serve residents of Lorain, Erie and Cuyahoga counties.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Lorain, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about Bad Air From Your Garage and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area