You might not suspect the contribution that your attached garage makes to the quality of your home’s air. It could be making more of an impact than you think.

Two recent studies, one performed by Health Canada and one performed by an independent study in Minnesota, have concluded that pollutants stemming from attached garages are indeed significant contributors to polluted indoor air. You might be thinking, Are you going to recommend that I park my car outside during Ontario's cold, snowy winter? Not a chance. It’s important to understand how the movement of pollution works, and then we’ll talk solutions.

Because homeowners, naturally, house their cars in an attached garage, when the car is turned on, it emits small amounts of carbon monoxide. Homeowners also store other equipment, like barbecues and lawn mowers, along with chemical products or solutions, in garages, which can emit pollution. All of these sources are likely to contribute to indoor air pollution. It’s also possible that the seal in the wall between your home and garage has air leaks, which allows polluted air to travel into the home.

While it’s not practical, nor necessary, to stop parking your car in the garage, there are other steps you can take to reduce the transfer of polluted air:

• Seal air leaks in the garage-to-home wall.
• Always leave the garage door open when running your car.
• If possible, store chemicals and equipment elsewhere, like a shed.
• Install an exhaust fan in a garage window or roof to move polluted air outside.

Upgrade the quality of your home’s indoor air quality by evaluating how your attached garage might contribute to poor air quality. If you’d like help creating a tight seal between your garage and home, or need guidance selecting an exhaust fan, contact the experts at Custom Comfort ClimateCare today.