When winter reaches the Tulsa-Broken Arrow region of Oklahoma, you may appreciate your attached garage even more since it provides a warm, dry place to park your cars and a quick route into the home. Are you aware, though, that the air from your garage can infiltrate your home, causing indoor air quality problems?It's not only the exhaust from your vehicles that can seep into your home, it's also the gas-powered lawnmowers, edgers, trimmers and snow blowers that give off gas fumes. Gasoline and diesel have many harmful vapors, including carbon monoxide and other volatile organic compounds (VOC). If you have any pesticides or herbicides that you store in the garage, you're vulnerable to the toxicity of those, as well.Hobbyists who use oil-based stains or paints in the garage can unknowingly create indoor air pollution inside their homes, especially when spray painting something. Even water-based paints can irritate respiratory tracts inside the house if the paint is not a low VOC product. Sanding wood also creates a lot of dust that can enter your home.It's possible to reduce or eliminate this transfer of pollution by:
Sealing any leaks between the wall that the house and the garage share. If the wall in the garage has unfinished drywall, tape the joints. If it's a bare wall, look for cracks or holes between the house and the garage and seal them with caulk or wood filler.
Installing a fan that ventilates the garage to the outdoors. Exhaust fans use little electricity and may be enough to create negative pressure in the garage, effectively increasing indoor air quality. After exhausting the fumes, turn the fan off. If you store a lot of chemicals or leaky old vehicles in the garage, consider running the fan constantly. Check the pressure by holding a burning candle next to the door and crack the door open. If the flame goes toward the garage, the venting is working.
Your indoor air quality has a direct impact on your health. Contact Air Assuranceif you want to learn more about this important issue.Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). Air Assurance services Tulsa, Broken Arrow and the surrounding areas. Visit our website to see our current promotions and get started today!