Air Quality

[Toronto308]

Hi garage forumers!
I have recently moved my desk into the garage and am spending considerably more time there now. Unfortunately, there is a fairly strong odour of gasoline. This is unavoidable as the cars I keep in the garage have carburettors (although I'm told if I convert the points to electronic ignition, there will be less gas smell). I don't keep any gasoline in the garage other than what in the gas tanks. I'm wondering if anyone has encountered this problem. I did a little research and learned charcoal filters in an air purifier help trap odours. Anyone have experience with this?

[Administrator]

Hi garage forumers!
I have recently moved my desk into the garage and am spending considerably more time there now. Unfortunately, there is a fairly strong odour of gasoline. This is unavoidable as the cars I keep in the garage have carburettors (although I'm told if I convert the points to electronic ignition, there will be less gas smell). I don't keep any gasoline in the garage other than what in the gas tanks. I'm wondering if anyone has encountered this problem. I did a little research and learned charcoal filters in an air purifier help trap odours. Anyone have experience with this?

I know there is a certain old car smell, which must be mostly gas odors. I'm not sure if a small air purifier is going to make much of a difference. You may want to crack a door or window open when you are in there, depending on the weather of course.

ON HGTV's Extreme Garages show, in one garage/showroom the gentleman had his office desk right in the middle of the floor so he could see his collection while he worked. Now that was a cool idea. I think he had full HVAC in the garage so odors were not much of an issue.

[Toronto308]

I can relate. Right now my desk is facing the wall and it's no fun. I'll have to come up with some way of turning it so I can see the cars. Unfortunately, there is no room in the middle of my garage, though that would be sweet.

With the odor problem, I'll keep exploring and post what I come up with.

[Toronto308]

Since I last wrote I moved an air purifier into the garage. It helped with the odour but only a little. The weather has been glorious here in Toronto, though, so I tried opening the window. The smell has almost disappeared. Now the tricky part. It's going to get super hot for the next few days and I'll need to shut the window to keep the cool air in. Will the odours return?
Stay tuned.

[Toronto308]

So my brother-in-law was up from California and told me the new floor I put in (Lock-tile) emits a smelly fume when new but it will gradually dissipate. He vaguely remembered a similar odor when he put up some vinyl wall covering years back. Anyone have a similar experience?

[Administrator]

It's pretty common for plastic and vinyl materials to emit a smell when new - I think it's called "outgassing" which is basically why there is a new car smell in new vehicles.

I think you should keep the window open for a couple days to let the garage breathe.

BTW - Racedeck tiles don't emit any smell. Do the locktite tiles smell bad?

[Toronto308]

In a word, yes. I went with Lock-tite because they are solid and provide good insulation on the floor from cold. The smell, however, is something I wasn't expecting. I've left the door open every chance I get but it's still sticking around. Grr.

[Administrator]

In that case, hopefully the plastic smell will disapate over time.

BTW -I went to the Monterey Historics yesterday. Saw two Enzos and countless other cool cars.