A garage is a building or a part of a building designed to house cars. It can be attached to or detached from a house, and serve as a secure place to park cars to protect them from weather and theft. It is also a workshop or a place to store working tools, equipment, and storage space for other household items.
However, sometimes, it’s easy to overlook the small actions that can have huge consequences such as leaving a car running in the garage.
Whether to warm up the car on a cold morning or quickly fetch something from the house, allowing a vehicle to idle in an enclosed space poses serious and often underestimated dangers.
Therefore, accidentally leaving a car running in a garage for 2 minutes to hours can be concerning due to the risk of carbon monoxide (CO) buildup which can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning, fire hazards, and environmental impact.
Accidentally Left Car Running in Garage for 2 Minutes
Accidentally leaving a car running in a garage for minutes to hours is not good because it can lead to carbon monoxide buildup in the garage which might poison you or anybody that comes inside the garage.
It doesn’t matter how long you leave the car, the dangers of leaving your car running in the garage cannot be over-emphasized.
It doesn’t matter if it is by accident or not. It is something you should avoid doing to avoid poisoning yourself with carbon monoxide.
Dangers of Leaving Your Car Running in the Garage
Here are the dangers of accidentally leaving your car running for 2 minutes, 5, minutes, 10 minutes, to hours in the garage:
1. Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Carbon monoxide poisoning is the major danger of leaving your car running in a garage, especially if the garage is closed. It is a silent killer that will be killing you and you won’t know that you’re slowly dying until you give up.
Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas produced by burning gasoline, wood, propane, charcoal, or other fuel.
In enclosed spaces like a parking garage, CO can build up rapidly and reach dangerous levels within minutes, making it hazardous because it is virtually undetectable without the aid of a carbon monoxide detector.
When you inhale carbon monoxide, it will interfere with your body’s ability to transport oxygen by binding to hemoglobin in the blood, leading to symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, chest pain, and confusion.
In severe cases, high levels of carbon monoxide can result in loss of consciousness and death.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), at least 430 people die in the U.S. each year from accidental CO poisoning.
Moreover, approximately 50,000 people visit emergency departments annually due to CO poisoning. Many of these incidents occur in homes, and a significant number are related to vehicles left running in garages.
2. Fire Hazards
Beyond the immediate threat of carbon monoxide poisoning, leaving a car running in the garage also increases the risk of fire.
Modern vehicles are equipped with numerous electronic systems and fuel lines that, if left running in a confined space, could overheat or malfunction.
For example, a small leak in the fuel line or gas tank can lead to a fire if the gasoline vapors come into contact with a spark or high heat.
If there’s faulty wiring or other electrical issues, it can ignite flammable materials commonly found in garages, such as oil, gasoline, or cleaning solvents.
Moreover, the exhaust system can become extremely hot risking the chances of igniting nearby combustible materials.
3. Environmental Impact
Leaving your car running unnecessarily in a closed garage can contribute to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
Since vehicles emit pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), hydrocarbons, and carbon dioxide (CO2), leaving them running for a long time can have detrimental effects on the environment.
For example, if you leave your car idling for a long time in your garage, it can lead to the release of toxic substances that degrade indoor and outdoor air quality, hence, posing health risks to humans and animals alike.
4. Legal Implications
In many places, there are laws and regulations aimed at preventing unnecessary idling due to its environmental and health impacts.
Some states and municipalities have enacted anti-idling laws that limit the amount of time a vehicle can idle. These laws are strict in areas with air pollution problems.
However, if an idling vehicle leads to an incident that causes harm or property damage, the owner may be held liable for negligence, resulting in legal and financial consequences.
What to Do if You Accidentally Left Car Running in a Garage
If you accidentally left your car running in a garage, here are the steps you should take immediately:
- Turn Off the Car: First and foremost, turn off the car as soon as you realize it is still running to stop the production of carbon monoxide and other harmful emissions.
- Ventilate the Garage: Open the garage door fully to allow fresh air to enter and toxic gases to disperse. If the garage has windows or other doors, open those as well to maximize ventilation.
- Ventilate the House: If the garage is attached to your home, open windows and doors in the house to ensure any carbon monoxide that may have seeped in can escape. Make sure to do this if your garage is connected to living spaces through doors or shared ventilation systems.
- Leave the Area: For safety, exit the garage and any attached living spaces immediately to avoid prolonged exposure to carbon monoxide. Spend some time outside in the fresh air.
- Monitor Yourself for Symptoms: Be alert for symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning, such as headache, dizziness, weakness, nausea or vomiting, shortness of breath, confusion, and chest pain. If you or anyone else in the house experiences these symptoms, seek fresh air immediately and contact emergency services.
- Seek Medical Attention if Necessary: If you suspect that you or anyone else has been exposed to high levels of carbon monoxide, seek medical attention immediately. Carbon monoxide poisoning can be serious and requires immediate treatment.
How to Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning from the Garage
- Install Carbon Monoxide Detectors: Place CO detectors in your garage and throughout your home, especially near sleeping areas to alert you of the presence of dangerous levels of carbon monoxide.
- Ventilate the Area: Ensure that your garage is well-ventilated. If you need to run your car for any reason, open the garage door and any windows to allow fresh air to circulate.
- Maintenance of Your Car Emission System: Keep your vehicle in good working condition by performing regular maintenance checks such as inspecting the exhaust system, fuel lines (fuel pump, filter, etc), and electrical components.
- Adopt Safe Practices: Make it a habit to turn off your car as soon as you park it in the garage. You can place a reminder note in your car or garage to reinforce this practice.
- Educate Your Household Members: You should ensure that everyone in your household understands the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning and the importance of not leaving a car running in the garage.
Conclusion
Accidentally leaving your car running for 2 minutes to hours in your garage is not good because of the dangers it poses. It can lead to carbon monoxide buildup in the garage which can poison anyone who enters the garage.
Moreover, if care is not taken, the poisonous gas can escape from the garage into the main house and poison those that are there.
So immediately you notice your car is still on in the garage, turn the car off immediately and open the garage door. Don’t stay inside the garage as that will be too dangerous. However, to prevent future incidents of such action, you should adopt safe practices such as:
- Always turn off your car as soon as you park it in the garage.
- Double-check that the car is off before leaving the garage.
- Educate all your household members about the dangers of leaving a car running in an enclosed space such as the garage.
