In our blog, we often discuss the dangers of carbon monoxide (CO) as they relate to your furnace. But your furnace isn’t the only thing that you have to look out for when you’re protecting your home from CO leaks. Carbon monoxide is often produced in attached garages, and if you’re not careful it can seep into your home. Luckily, there are some upgrades you can make to your HVAC system that will help keep your family safe from carbon monoxide in your garage.
What are the common sources of carbon monoxide in your garage?
The most obvious source of CO in your garage is automobiles. If your car is running idle in your garage, it’s adding carbon monoxide to the air. That CO can build up even more when your garage door is closed. Carbon monoxide in your garage can also come from snow blowers, lawnmowers, and any fuel-burning appliances that might be located there.
5 ways to avoid carbon monoxide risks in your garage
- Limit CO at its source. If you want to warm up your car before leaving your home, be sure to do it outside. This will avoid an unnecessary buildup of CO in your garage. If there are any fuel-burning devices that you must start or operate inside of your garage, make sure to do it with the garage door open to the outdoors.
- Weatherstrip access door. One of the primary places CO can leak from your attached garage to your home is through the door that leads inside. Make sure that door is tightly sealed and add weatherstripping to block air from seeping through.
- Seal garage air leaks. Air leaks can be found in your garage’s walls and joists as well as around any cables, pipes, or wires that run from your garage to your home. Make sure these openings are sealed and contact Jerry Kelly Heating, Air Conditioning & Electrical if you need help sealing your garage.
- Seal ductwork near garage. If any of your ducts are located in, above, or around your garage, you’ll want to make sure they are completely sealed so CO can’t enter your home’s airflow. This is another project that Jerry Kelly Heating, Air Conditioning & Electrical can help you with!
- Install a CO detector nearby. A CO detector should be installed in your home near your attached garage so that you can be warned if CO is leaking from your garage into your home.
If you have any questions about carbon monoxide leaks from your garage, or if you’d like a heating and cooling system serviced or installed in your home, contact Jerry Kelly Heating, Air Conditioning & Electrical, your St. Louis HVAC company. We service the St. Louis area and surrounding towns like Ballwin, Winghaven, and O’Fallon.
