How to keep a garage from polluting indoor air | HomeWork

Q: Can garage fumes pollute the air in my home?

A: If you have an attached garage, the answer could be yes. As convenient as attached garages are, there is mounting evidence that they can be responsible for negatively affecting indoor air quality.

Thats not a big surprise when you consider that garages typically store cars, motorcycles, mowers, paints, lubricants and other substances that are considered toxic.

When bits and pieces of these substances become airborne, they can get into your home through open doors, gaps around closed doors and through ductwork. But there are steps you can take to minimize exposure and improve the air quality inside your home.

Avoid running your car, motorcycle, chain saw or mower any longer than absolutely necessary while they are in the garage. If possible, mechanical systems such as water heaters and furnaces should not be located in the garage.

Do a biannual check to make sure the door leading from the garage into the house closes tightly and has adequate weather stripping.

Seal all ducts, wiring and other openings leading into the house or the ceiling from the garage. Spray foam and caulk are good products for sealing these types of gaps.

With new construction, garages are sometimes left with open walls, or with drywall attached but not sealed.

In either case, garage pollutants can make their way through. It is a good idea to completely cover garage walls and the ceiling with drywall, properly seal joints with tape and compound, and prime and paint the surfaces.

In addition to improving your homes air quality, the result will be a more attractive garage.

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How to keep a garage from polluting indoor air | HomeWork