No, it’s not safe to leave a car running in an attached garage or any enclosed space. Carbon monoxide (CO) from the vehicle’s exhaust can rise and cause severe health issues or even death. CO is a toxic gas that has no colour or odour. It can spread quickly and linger in the air.
Depending on the type of vehicle, leaving it running in the garage could be harmless or downright hazardous. For example, electric vehicles will not have the risks of carbon monoxide poisoning as traditional fuel cars do. So there are factors to consider before leaving the car running in the garage, including:
How much space is available in the garage
If the garage is large enough to hold more than one car and with adequate ventilation, it might seem safe to leave the car running. However, I would advise against it because of the risk of carbon monoxide exposure. The aim is to avoid increased concentrations of this gas.
These concentrations can lead to shortness of breath and feeling lightheaded. The same symptoms apply if the garage is small and has limited airflow. So leaving a car running can end up filling the room with exhaust fumes and reducing oxygen levels drastically.
The car’s cooling system
When a car is left idle for long periods without movement, its cooling system starts to shut off quickly. This doesn’t give the engine sufficient time to warm up correctly and possibly causes damage in the future.
Does Garaging A Car Make A Difference? Car Protection
Battery Life
The battery life in cars that run regularly can last a while and improve over multiple uses. But if the car owner plans on leaving the engine running for an extended period, it will damage its longevity. It will cause the battery life to deteriorate over time. And cost extra funds down the road to replace it.
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Accidentally left the car running in the garage for 5 minutes
Accidentally leaving the car running in a garage for a few minutes is very hazardous. This is because the amounts of carbon monoxide released from the exhaust can be life-threatening. In five minutes, these concentrations of CO could have reached lethal doses, causing unconsciousness or worse.
In addition, many garages are connected to the house and turning on the engine in such an environment could introduce toxic fumes into the living areas of the home. This leads to exposing occupants to hazardous conditions. So it’s best to ensure the owner turns off the engine and airs out the area before entering a garage.
I would also consider utilising a carbon monoxide detector. It will help keep track of the CO levels and help avoid them from reaching critical levels. Exhaust fans are also an excellent way to keep toxic gases low. They extract the CO gas and release it from the room.
However, it does put the environment around the house at risk. Carbon monoxide is paramount in increasing greenhouse gases and their influence on climate change. So ensuring the car isn’t running can avoid this influence.
Left car running in garage for 1 hour
Leaving the car running in a closed garage for an hour would be extremely dangerous. If five minutes is enough for CO emissions to contaminate the atmosphere, one hour can lead to more severe implications.
There is a chance of incomplete combustion of gasoline, due to less oxygen in the room. This can result in the accumulation of flammable vapours that may pose a fire risk. And breathing in the toxic fumes for an extended period can lead to dizziness, headaches, nausea and even unconsciousness.
So if there is a situation where a car has been running for an hour in a garage, here are some ways to help the situation:
Ventilate the room
After the car has been running for a considerable amount of time, ventilate the room. To have better airflow, open the garage door and let the existing carbon monoxide fumes leave the area.
Start the car
Then use this opportunity to start the car, remove the vehicle from the garage and drive out. This will also be good for the car battery not to be left idle.
It’s better to go for a drive to exercise the car components and air out the vehicle. Driving with the windows down is also a good idea to clear the CO.
Keep the garage door open
A good idea would be to keep the garage door open once the vehicle has left the area. This will ensure any leftover CO traces are gone.
I would also inform other people about the situation, so they can avoid the garage and the surrounding areas for a few hours until the gas has cleared.
Accidentally left the car running in the garage for 2 hours
Leaving a car running for two hours can lead to problems that may not be preventable. By this time, carbon monoxide gas is prevalent in the air, and individuals are in danger of having serious symptoms.
Like falling unconscious and collapsing before realising there’s something wrong, as the gas has no smell.
It will not only affect the owner after this time but directly impact those in close proximity, like neighbours in nearby buildings. High levels of these gases can be deadly if inhaled over an extended amount of time.
How often should I let my car idle in the garage?
It’s not recommended to leave the car idle in a garage for more than a few minutes at a time. Instead of idling, it’s best to turn off the vehicle and restart it when needed. Prolonged idling causes engine wear, increases emissions and can be dangerous in closed spaces.
