While your garage houses your vehicles, it may do much more. From containing wall storage systems to acting as your workshop, the garage provides space for plenty of things. If your garage is also where you cut wood, work on cars or otherwise craft, the air quality of your space should be a concern. After all, you don’t want to breathe in saw dust and paint fumes. Fortunately, making sure you’re not coughing while you work or passing fumes from the garage into your home, is fairly easy. Here are some ways to improve the air quality in your garage workspace:
Don’t idle your vehicle
The exhaust from your vehicles is not safe to inhale, so you should avoid injecting the garage with the gases. Don’t idle your car in the garage, especially when the door is closed. Even if you aren’t working in the garage right then, the fumes can get trapped.
Always open your garage door before you start your car, and pull onto the driveway immediately. This can help reduce the amount of harmful chemicals floating about the space.
By the same token, do not let lawn mowers and other fuel-propelled engines run inside of your garage.
Switch to low-VOC
Volatile organic compounds (VOC) live inside paints and are harmful to breathe. Many homeowners store paint leftover from decorating in their garage. Or, you might have paint as part of your hobby. No matter what you do with the paint, consider purchasing low-VOC versions. These products have less VOC than other paints, reducing the chemical output they throw into your garage.
Also, store paint on a wall shelf near a ventilated area, such as the door to your garage. That way, fresh air can help circulate VOC out of your space.
Install a ventilation fan
While opening the garage door while you work can help you get fresh air into your space, a ventilation fan will move the air more effectively – in fact, it pulls air out of the room. A vent would also be required if you have an air conditioner installed in the garage. An air conditioner in the garage might be a lifesaver for you when you work in your garage, but if you don’t do timely air conditioning maintenance, this would turn out to be an inept waste of energy.. However, this could be where a ventilation fan can help you. It can remove the excess air and make the AC work properly. With proper ventilation, you won’t have to breathe the stuffy, less oxygenated indoor air. If you feel the air quality is still not good enough, you might also want to consider getting an Air purifier rental or buy one for your home garage to enjoy the safest and cleanest air possible.
Read the directions before installing to ensure you put the product in right. Otherwise, it won’t do its job just quite as well. You’ll have to take accurate measurements of the space. If you’re not confident about installing the fan yourself, you can hire a contractor to do so. Additionally, if you have duct ventilation, you may want to extend the systems to the garage so it can provide your garage with fresh air and eliminate the bad smell, if present. You can contact PNW Fresh air or other HVAC service providers in your area to do the necessary customization.
Add windows
You may think of your garage workshop as your man cave, but it doesn’t have to feel like its namesake. Adding windows to your garage (by hiring a reputable home window installation service) can not only shed light on the projects you’re completing but also gives you another way to get fresh air into the room.
Make sure any windows you purchase can lock – that way, your valuables will be safe. Always crack a window before you start working, whether it’s sanding wood or painting model jets.
A garage workspace is a comfortable area where you can store all of your supplies. With these suggestions, the space will also have cleaner air.