What should be the first priority for air sealing in a home with an attached garage?

In a home with an attached garage, prioritizing the sealing of the garage is crucial because this area serves as a significant transition zone between the conditioned living space and the unconditioned garage environment. Garages often contain vehicles and other equipment that can emit pollutants like carbon monoxide and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Therefore, sealing the garage helps prevent these contaminants from entering the home, protecting indoor air quality.

Moreover, the garage is generally connected to the house, making it essential to mitigate air leakage between these two spaces. By ensuring that the garage is properly sealed, you can prevent conditioned air from escaping the home and reduce energy loss, which ultimately improves the overall efficiency of the HVAC system. This prioritization can create a more comfortable living environment and prevent potential health hazards associated with air pollution.

Focusing on sealing windows, insulating attic spaces, or sealing doors to the basement, while important, do not directly address the immediate risk of contamination and energy loss that comes from an unsealed garage. Therefore, sealing the garage should be the first action taken in this scenario.