Can Having an Attached Garage Affect Indoor Air Quality?

The Convenience of an Attached Car Garage

Attached garages offer a ton of convenience in day-to-day living, especially when the weather is unpredictable and extreme. Having direct access to your car can save you time and energy, but this convenience can come at a cost to our indoor air quality. Unfortunately, attached garages can introduce harmful pollutants and toxins into our homes, compromising the air we breathe.

Indoor air pollution is a topic that has gained increasing attention over the years. With the COVID-19 pandemic, people are more concerned than ever about the air they breathe, but one factor that is often overlooked, is the presence of an attached garage. While having an attached garage is certainly convenient, it negatively impacts your indoor air quality.

Stats About Attached Garages and Indoor Air Quality

Houses with attached garages have 10-50 times more gas concentration than the outside air. Gas is a volatile organic compound (VOC) that can be found in products such as paints, cleaners, and gasoline. These VOCs can evaporate into the air and create gas pollution. In contrast, homes without attached garages contain less gas pollution. This is because the pollutants from cars and other sources are kept outside of the home. When you have an attached garage, pollutants from the garage can seep into your living space. Attached garages are not typically well-sealed, which allows pollutants to seep through any cracks or gaps, into your home.

According to the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Air Infiltration and Ventilation Center (AIVC), up to 85% of outside pollution can seep into your home through the attached garage. Meaning, if there is outdoor air pollution, it can easily make its way into your home through the garage. This can lead to a variety of health issues, including respiratory problems, allergies, and even cancer.

Carbon Monoxide

There is also an increase in the risk of carbon monoxide entering your home when you have an attached garage. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that can be deadly if inhaled in high enough concentrations. Carbon monoxide is produced by cars and other vehicles, and it can enter your home through the garage. While most standard HEPA filters won’t help much with carbon monoxide pollution, in conjunction with a carbon filter, it is able to trap significantly more, which AirDoctor has.

How AirDoctor Can Help

In order to best prevent carbon monoxide entering the home, as well as other possible contaminants, an air purifier would need to be placed inside of the garage. AirDoctor’s air purifiers are equipped with both an UltraHEPA and carbon filter, which are effective in capturing pollutants and removing odors. The UltraHEPA filter captures particles as small as 0.003 microns, while the carbon filter eliminates VOCs, gasses, and odors. By placing an AirDoctor air purifier in your garage, you can significantly improve your indoor air quality and protect yourself and your family from harmful pollutants.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, having an attached garage can negatively impact your indoor air quality. Houses with attached garages have 10-50 times more gas concentration than the outside air. Also, up to 85% of outside pollution can seep into your home through the attached garage, according to the IVAC. Carbon monoxide can also enter your home through the garage, which can be deadly if inhaled in high concentrations. By placing an air purifier in your garage, you can significantly improve your indoor air quality and protect yourself and your family from harmful pollutants. If you are in the market for an air purifier, consider AirDoctor.