Garage Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Risks

One of the oldest dangers that garage may present is a source for carbon monoxide poisoning. A shut garage door and an operating fossil-fuel engine inside represents an incredible danger to anyone inside the garage or home. Even a larger space such as a parking garage presents a threat for trapped carbon monoxide gas.

Unfortunately, many people still overlook the potential danger of carbon monoxide in the home. And yet almost every day, especially in the winter, people are dying of exposure to this deadly gas.

Firefighters Respond to Garage Carbon Monoxide Alarm

One recent case of carbon monoxide poisoning occurred in Madison Wisconsin. Carbon monoxide alarms sounded in the La Ville Apartments late one night, resulting in the nearby emergency services fire department responding. Their investigation started in the first-floor hallway of the apartment, but the readings for carbon monoxide grew as the firefighters entered the parking garage.

What baffled firefighters at least initially was the lack of odor associated with running vehicles. There was no smell of exhaust which is the most common source of carbon monoxide. However, as the investigation continued, a garage heater was discovered to be the source of the carbon monoxide leak. It was shut off and the garage door opened to let out the carbon monoxide and let in fresh air. The concentration of gas dissipated relatively quickly.

What this incident demonstrates is that a vehicle is not always the source of carbon monoxide poisoning. The lack of such knowledge may lead to poor decision making that might result in injury or worse when dealing with carbon monoxide poisoning.

What is Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?

The poisoning is the inhalation of too much carbon monoxide into the lungs. The result is that the body does not receive enough oxygen and symptoms start to appear. Without quick action, a person suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning may pass out and succumb to the presence of the gas.

The gas itself has no taste or odor. It can come from any source that burns fuel such as the following.

• Vehicles
• Fireplaces
• Wood Stoves
• Space Heaters that Use Kerosene
• Charcoal Grills
• Gas Appliances
• Ovens
• Dryers
• Water Heaters & More

Carbon monoxide is most deadly when it can build up indoors inside a room like a garage. Of course, it can also affect someone close to the source even when outdoors, such as standing behind an operating vehicle or even to a skier behind a slow-moving motorboat.

Breathing in carbon monoxide stops the flow of oxygen to the brain. The result is dizziness and confusion before the person blacks out. It is the confusion that prevents a person suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning to understand what is happening before it is too late.

Risk of CO Poisoning in the Garage?

Although carbon monoxide poisoning can happen in many different places, the garage is arguably the most common. The reason why is the operation of fuel-burning vehicles inside a closed garage, one of the most dangerous situations that can occur. It is why you should never turn on any fuel-burning engine, even a small one like a lawnmower, inside a garage or enclosed space without the garage door, man door or window being open.

Even with a source of fresh air, you should not run any fuel-burning engine inside for any length of time. If you are turning on the engine so that the vehicle or device can leave immediately, that is the only safe option. If you need to let your vehicle warm up, let it happen outside the garage on the driveway.

How to Prevent Garage CO Poisoning?

The first step is to identify all devices that can generate carbon monoxide. When such devices are shut off, ensure that all connections are solid, and no leaks are present. But it takes more than that to secure a garage from carbon monoxide leaks.

• Install carbon monoxide monitors both in garage and around the home.
• Install an exhaust fan in the garage.
• Never leave a running engine on in an enclosed space such as a garage.
• Seal all ducts so no air from the garage can get into the home.
• Weatherstrip the door from the home to the garage.

These are just a few ways to protect you and those in your home from a potential carbon monoxide leak. By taking a few steps, you can make your garage safer from the buildup of the deadly gas. Be alert in areas that are prone to leaks and poisoning such as a parking garage, and do not operate any fuel-powered engine inside, especially when the garage door is shut.