The garage is the workstation of your home, but many people don’t think twice about its setup. As long as there’s enough room to work on their vehicle and store items they wouldn’t necessarily keep in the house, they are satisfied.
The problem is, there are often chemicals stored in the garage. When paint cans, insecticides, and other harsh substances are in the picture, good ventilation is necessary.
It’s a good idea to give your garage an inspection to make sure it has a source of ventilation before performing any work on your vehicle in there. If things aren’t up to code, there are many different ways you can ventilate your garage.
Keep reading to learn more about ventilation and find out how to ventilate your garage properly.
What is Ventilation?
Ventilation is necessary for controlled air quality. Indoor air is full of pollutants that the human eye can’t see, and people often are unaware of. When proper ventilation is in place, it removes those pollutants by introducing cleaner outdoor air to the indoor environment. Without ventilation, odors and air pollutants would linger around.
Is Garage Ventilation Necessary?
Proper ventilation for your garage is crucial, or else the air will become very unhealthy. In most situations, the garage door is kept shut the majority of the time. Since it’s a small space, toxins will build up quickly, especially if you bring your vehicle in and out of there. Just think of all the fumes your car gives off when it’s running.
Every time you start your car in the garage, you’re adding more carbon monoxide to the air. If you store other products with fumes and toxins and there is no ventilation in the garage, then the air’s toxicity will be too much. This can be a danger zone for you and your family, and your lungs will be at risk.
Adding a source of ventilation to your garage can help get rid of all those unwanted toxins. This will allow you to work in your garage without having to worry about what you could be breathing in.
When To Ventilate A Garage
Ideally, it would be best if you always ventilated your garage. It’s too risky to allow chemicals and fumes from your vehicle to linger around without proper ventilation.
However, depending on the climate you live in, you may need more ventilation sources in the summer than in the winter. Pollutants are more likely to stick around in the air when it’s hot.
You should also make sure the garage is ventilated correctly because the heat will build up inside during the summer. This causes the contained space to become very stuffy and uncomfortable. It would be way too hot to do any work in, and people could be at risk of heat exhaustion.
When garages become too hot, then odors stick around. Often in the summer, your garage will require more ventilation methods than in winter. In winter, your vents maybe all the ventilation you need.
However, once summer comes around, you may need more options. Overall, a garage without ventilation becomes unbearable to work in.
How Much Does It Cost To Ventilate A Garage?
The cost to ventilate a garage varies and depends on what you choose to have done. Quite often, people can find vents for around $30 to $50. However, those with carpentry skills may be able to build one for less. There are many ways to ventilate a garage, each with a different price tag attached to it.
When it comes to ventilating a garage, the biggest costs you may have to look at could be installation costs. Those will vary depending on the technician in your area. If your garage doesn’t have windows, then you may be looking at a higher cost than someone who is just installing vents.
Things To Consider Before Ventilating A Garage
As you can see, ventilating your garage is very important. However, there are a few things you should think about before ventilating a garage.
Keep the following things in mind when you’re determining which type (and how much) ventilation you need.
Which Direction is the Garage Facing?
Something that you should consider before ventilating a garage is the direction it is facing. If your garage is facing the south or west, it’s likely to heat up more because of how the sun hits it throughout the day.
While some garages may have sufficient ventilation with only a fan, garages facing these directions need a bit more than just a fan.
Do you need Insulation?
A lot of people question whether or not they need insulated doors. People are on the fence about insulation because an insulated door keeps the freezing temperatures out during the winter, but when summer comes around, they trap the heat in. What should you do when it comes to insulation?
This will all depend on your climate. If the winters are mild (or non-existent) where you live, you may be better off without insulated doors. However, if your home is located where the winters are brisk, an insulated door will be necessary. This means you will need to consider extra means of ventilation for summer.
When do you Park your Car in the Garage?
When you get home, you shouldn’t park your car in the garage right away. This is because your car has generated a lot of heat while it was out on the road. If you allow it to cool outside for at least 15 minutes, it won’t radiate so much heat into the garage. This is especially important to do if you have poor ventilation (or none) in the garage.
Is the Garage Attached to your Home?
A lot of garages are attached to a standard wall on the house. If the garage isn’t ventilated, the heat building up there is likely to seep into your house through the shared wall. What’s very risky about not having ventilation is that any carbon monoxide or other toxins in the garage could get into your home.
How To Ventilate A Garage
Not having a ventilation source for your garage is very risky and can make things uncomfortable when it gets hot out. You don’t want any of those toxic fumes lingering around, which is why ventilation is necessary.
Here are some great ways that you can ventilate your garage:
1. Install Vents
You can install roof turbine vents or static vents, but you may need help from a professional. The roof turbine vents sit on top of the roof and work by pulling the air up from the garage as the wind circulates. On the other hand, Static vents are placed strategically along the walls to allow an air current to get through.
2. Exhaust Fan
Exhaust fans are an efficient way to suck the airborne pollutants out of the garage. They come in various sizes, making it easy to find the right one for your garage’s size. Another great thing about garage exhaust fans is that they can also pull excess moisture from the room.
3. Install Windows
This may be a pricier option, but installing windows is an easy way to ventilate your garage. If you do a lot of work in your garage, you should always have windows in place to open up to let some fresh air in. One of the most effective things you can do is install two windows directly across from each other.
When both windows are open, they create an airflow usually strong enough to carry any toxins or other air pollutants out of the garage. This will allow you to breathe easier as you work.
4. Window Fans
If you have a garage attached to your home, two windows across from each other might not be an option. Putting up a reversible window fan in one window is a great way to draw the air out. You could even set a box-style fan on a table in front of the window for effective results too. On sweltering days this works best if the garage door is open.
Final Thoughts
Every garage needs ventilation, even if you rarely use it. Most garages have items that contain chemicals and toxic fumes. When these get mixed into the air, things can take an unhealthy turn if they linger. To ensure the air quality in your garage stays safe, you need to make sure it is adequately ventilated.
A garage that is well ventilated is much safer to work in and safer for your home as well. You don’t want to risk any harmful pollutants coming from your garage into your home. To be safe, always allow your car to cool off before parking it in the garage. This is the safest practice, even if you do have proper ventilation in place.