Do you have an attached garage? If so, you need to be aware of the potential for carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Installing a CO monitor near the common door between the garage and your home will alert you to elevated CO levels and could save your family’s life. Attached garages can be a breeding ground for toxic fumes and gases that can migrate indoors if your house isn’t adequately protected. The best way to prevent CO and other unwanted fumes from entering your home is to take proper safety precautions.
Make sure your home is adequately sealed. If you have an attached garage, it needs to be completely sealed from your living space. If the garage is on the first story, this means the floor joists must be properly blocked off and sealed. If th
e air handler for your central furnace is located in the garage, make sure it’s located in a separate air-sealed closet with its own air intake so your potentially toxic garage air isn’t forced inside your home via your HVAC system.
Install a proper door. The entry door from the garage to your living space should be an insulated, metal, self-closing, fire-rated door with high-quality weatherstripping for a tight seal.
Remove additional pollutants. Other products can contribute to poor indoor air quality including lawnmowers, gasoline canisters, leaf/snow blowers, paints and solvents, etc. If possible, keep these items in a detached storage space, or at the very least don’t operate or open them in the garage.
Observe safety-first practices. Start your car outside of the garage. Open the overhead garage door as much as possible if you choose to start the car inside. Never let your car or other machinery idle in the garage.
Have adequate ventilation. A well-ventilated garage, with air exchange boosted by an exhaust fan, will lower the air pressure in the garage, ensuring that the air moves from inside your home to the garage, rather than vice versa.
Install CO detectors. Modern CO detectors are highly sensitive, and some models will provide real-time carbon monoxide levels. The detectors should be located in hallways outside of sleeping areas, and as stated previously, one should be near the door to the attached garage. Always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for installation.
Please contact us at Marsh Heating & Air Conditioning if you have any questions about carbon monoxide prevention and detection in your Twin Cities-area home.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about Carbon Monoxide and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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