subject: A Garage Ventilation Fan Is Needed To Assure Good Health In Toxic Situations [print this page] Organic compounds can build up in any area due to deterioration or decomposition over time. If the wood in buildings have had water damage or is located in a wet climate, mold and mildew can build up and create organic toxins in the air. A garage ventilation fan can alleviate these problems.
Cars and trucks create a poisonous gas called carbon monoxide with can actually result in death. If a vehicle is left running for any reason it can pose a real health problem. Woodworking supplies can also create a health risk with chemical fumes.
Garages are notorious for retaining heat more than a home due to vehicles building up heat when operating and becoming essentially radiant heaters. A garage can be as much as twenty degrees hotter than the interior of the home. If the structure is attached to the home this extra heat or fumes can permeate the home and cause cooling systems to run less efficiently, costing more in cooling and electricity.
Installing an exhaust system can alleviate the problem of toxic fumes, environmental hazards and overheating. There are many options to getting good ventilation working. A simple fix is to place a box fan in a window blowing air out. To make this work there needs to be an open window on the opposite side of the structure.
Using materials that create toxic fumes in a closed area without ventilation is unwise. It can cause damage to the lungs. A more powerful exhaust system will be required for a workshop than a building that is just being used for storage of vehicles.
Systems are available that utilize vents and an outlet fan. Vents are placed in the walls or in the garage door. The fan should be installed high on the wall or in the ceiling. This system will help to remove the heat and toxic gases from the building.
A system for woodworking is more efficient if the vent fan is at table level to evacuate the fumes as they are created. If the building is used to work on vehicles it is suggested that a system where hoses are attached to the exhaust system of the cars and run to the outside is used, keeping the carbon monoxide completely out of the area for safety sake.
City, county and state governments for commercial use regulate safe air levels. The air levels of safety are based on a formula of volume and the amount of fresh air needed to keep toxic levels to a minimum that is breathable without harm. A garage ventilation fan is a wise decision for any closed area without proper airflow.
