The garage is so much more than just a place to store our cars. Garages range from storage space for out of seasonclothing and lawn equipment, as a tool shop or extra office, to a rainy day play area for children and pets. And of course the garage serves as a convenient place to load and unload the kids and groceries. With all this extra usage, it’s more important than ever to make sure your garage is green and free of potentially harmful pollutants.

Remove Hazardous Substances

The most immediate and helpful thing you can and should do is remove any hazardous substances. As the garage is usually often a storage area for lawn and house chemicals, it most likely has things like gasoline and oil containers, fertilizers and weed killers, and cleaning supplies. Carefully read the labels on each and determine which you want or need to keep. Determine an area where they will go, preferably in an out door shed that is locked and inaccessible by children. For those wastes you need to dispose of never throw out or dump down the drain. These should be taken to a local hazardous waste facility for proper disposal. Be careful transporting these by using gloves and heavy garbage bags.

Install a Fan

The garage is the primary place to store cars. Unless you drive an electric vehicle, your car is exhausting polluting fumes and odors into your garage each time you start it. If your garage is attached to your home, these noxious fumes and pollutants can seep into adjacent rooms. Carbon monoxide is not the only thing a car exhaust emits; sulfur dioxide, soot, dust, and other particulates. Keep these out of your home by installing an exhaust fan in your garage.

The size and position of the fan will depend on the size of your garage, so consult with a professional installer or a customer service representative before making your purchase. You can set the fan to sync with your garage door opener so that it operates for a certain period after the garage door has been used, helping vent it.  If you need help you can call just about any company that services garage door openers. Just Google garage door service san diego or wherever you live to find and locate someone who can help you with this.

Seal and Insulate Your Garage Walls

Seal off cracks between your garage and adjacent rooms to stop the passage of contaminated air. Use caulk and expanding foam anywhere the drywall meets the floor or framing. Be sure not to miss electric boxes, lighting, vents, or duct work.  Add insulation if it isn’t already to walls that are adjacent to living spaces as extra barrier against air infiltration.

By following these helpful tips and being proactive you can be certain that your garage door is not polluting your home.

Photo Credit: Rubbermade Blog