Garage Safety

Okay... Here in Southern California it's winter, and unlike the rest of the country (save other desert areas southwest of the Rockies) we tend to funnel winter into about two months... with all the rain, snow, hail and other inclement weather activity we can handle. I know... we're wimps at the harsh weather thing, but in sunny Southern California, we do like our weather mellow and... well, sunny!

However, occasionally we all must deal with the rain, and protecting the garage from such wet weather. As so many of us tend to use our garages for storage of everything from mundane items to the most important parts of our lives, it's crucial to protect against wet weather by doing a few simple things.

The Roof. Of course, this is one of the most obvious and also one of the more expensive garage projects (that's really a total home project). Unless you're doing patchwork on a 20-40 year roof, it might be time to do the entire roof over again, and you can easily spot the weakest places in the roof during wet weather months. In dry weather we all tend to neglect roof inspection and our roofs in general, but during wet weather the wear and tear of the roof becomes almost too easy to spot as water drips or pours down on carpets and floors and, more importantly, our stuff. Always consider a yearly roof inspection for your home when it really counts... during dry weather. A roof inspection can go a long way to preserving an existing roof with simple patchwork or can lead to the discovery that a new roof might be in order. Bad roof work can lead to diminished structural integrity in the beams and framing, so it's really a good idea to make sure your roof is in top shape... after all, it's what homes were made to support in the first place. Inspect the roof or have the roof inspected before wet

weather comes your way and you'll be glad you spent for the inspection. Last but not least... do not forget the good ol' rain gutters around the perimeter of the roof. They should be inspected for breakage, leaks, blockage, and general condition. If clogged, clean them immediately... you need them to direct rain away from the home. If broken, you can repair them easily with an assortment of solutions at your average hardware store or big box hardware outlet. Rain gutters are important in keeping the home (and garage) dry when possible. They don't always work out the way we want them too, but existing rain gutters not doing their job can be modified with flexible tubing and other items to direct the rainwater where you want it to go.

The Doors and Windows. Doors and windows in the garage should be inspected regularly as well... making sure there's no warpage in the doors for frame, and that windows are holding up and sealed in their casings and that all trim is holding up. Extreme changes in weather can sometimes create spiderweb cracks or other weakness within the glass... Anything noticed should be repaired as quickly as possible. Doors can also use threshold protection as well, something we'll cover more in the next paragraph, but inspect all hinges, knobs and locks as well as paint. Upkeep of exterior doors and windows in the garage adds to the protection we want for our stuff, and our special memories, holiday items, etc.

Garage Doors. The big door to the most neglected room in the house should be inspected regularly, especially if it's lifted and closed mechanically (garage door pulley system or other garage door opening system). Any of the pulleys, sheaves, forks, straps or axle bolts should be inspected for that type of system to make sure there's plenty of integrity to handle the weight of the door. For other types of systems you might refer to the manufacturer's trouble-shooting guide or contact them directly for tips. Many types of advice on maintaining garage doors (and finding garage door dealers) can be found at the Door and Access Systems Manufacturers' Association (DASMA) and the International Door Association (IDA). One item that's particularly useful for the garage door in defending against rotten weather is a Garage Door Threshold Seal. They can be applied to the bottom of the door, or directly to the floor using special adhesives. Either way, you are now keeping out rain as well as little critters and wind-blown objects. It's a must-have additional seal to cover up the gap frequently found between the door and floor.

Garage Floor. A wet concrete floor can be a hazard... it's just a good chance to slip and end up in the hospital. One way to alleviate the danger here is to simply place Garage Floor Mats down on the concrete to absorb moisture and lend traction to the floor. Likewise, treating the entire garage floor with a Liquid Granite Epoxy system or tiles such as Tuff Trax, can make the garage floor a safer place to step onto without risking a slip n' fall situation.

On the last post, I listed a variety of ideas, tips and advice on how to protect your home in regards to everyday electrical equipment and wiring. There's tons more to discuss there, but my focus was on everyday stuff the do-it-yourself homeowner can do almost immediately to create a safer environment in the home and garage.

As noted prior, "fire safety is probably one of the key aspects of a safe home. Making sure that areas of the home are fire safe isn’t all that difficult, and precautionary measures taken well in advance can allow the homeowner to avoid a fire disaster that was easily preventable."

Use these guidelines not only for the garage, but for other areas of your home as well:

Today we're discussing fire safety for everyday household chemicals and potentially flammable products. They're literally all over the home and we tend to forget that relatively harmless items can pose a fire hazard (not to mention other hazards such as poisoning... but that's not our topic, though some of this advice certainly pertains to a general household chemical safety). Items that contain ethyl (ethanol) or other types of household non-potable alcohol products can certainly cause a fire under certain conditions... and if you don't think you store such stuff, think again-- the typical rubbing alcohol for purchase from drug stores typically contains 97.5-100% by volume of pure, concentrated ethanol. The cousin to ethanol is isopropyl alcohol, and it's just as flammable... yet we use and store it everyday without regard to fire safety.

But let's take a closer look at some other typical household items that have the potential to cause a fire hazard:

Household disinfectants that can be bought in any store often contain Phenols in the form of carbolic acid, a chemical compound that has potential for flammability.

Benzene is the basis of chemical derivatives such as phenol, toluene, and aniline chemicals, but by itself is also a highly flammable chemical compound. Some household chemicals will list benzene on their product packaging so consumers are aware that this chemical is part of the overall product's contents.

Solvents, depending on the product's overall composition and type of solvent used (for instance, water is a non-flammable solvent, technically speaking), can be highly flammable and, under the right conditions (when mixed with air) can become instantly combustible. These types of "organic solvents" are frequently found in or as detergents; paint removal chemicals such as paint thinners, turpentine, turpinoid, toluene; nail polish remover, glues of various types (especially so-called "super glue"); spot remover chemical products and even in perfumes. It's worth noting that not all these products may explode when opened and exposed to air... it usually takes certain conditions to be present and the amount of solvent material must be taken into account, but most household products are designed for safety in this regard. Nevertheless, many household chemicals with solvents as part of their chemical makeup should be considered a hazardous item and stored correctly.

Petroleum (and petrol based products) can be found just about everywhere these days... Your plastics, your Vicks VapoRub, your simple can of gasoline for the lawnmower all contain petroleum, but that doesn't necessarily mean they're combustible items (gasoline, yes... Vicks VapoRub, not so likely as it's a petroleum by-product called "petrolatum" that has lower flammability possibilities depending on the oxygen mixture... suffice to say its "flash point" is a lot less combustible than most other petroleum based products and it has little or no "fire point"). It depends on the product, and usually these items are clearly marked for consumer use for the particular level of hazard one might encounter.

Other household products to be aware of such as furniture polish, paints, stains and varnishes all may contain these base chemicals... it's always worth checking the product packaging or the MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) that comes with some products depending on the amount of hazard they might present to the consumer or end-user. Another item to check is the D.O.T. HazMat labeling that might come with a product's caseload (D.O.T. = Department of Transportation, and all hazardous materials are coded for transport), though many household products may not offer D.O.T. information on the single-use product. Typical labeling may include hazard warnings for: Oxidation, Organic Peroxide, Poison, Poison Gas, Irritant, Corrosive, Flammable Liquid or Gas.

Now that we've covered some of the most common household chemical compounds we might encounter in the garage or home (and this is hardly a complete list, but it does cover some of the basic items), we can next take a look at how to safely store these items in the home or garage. Look for Part III of our safety series coming soon! And in the meantime, check out some of our safety products at GarageEnvyShop.com... We're always expanding our product line with new safety products, so check back often!

Fire safety is probably one of the key aspects of a safe home. Making sure that areas of the home are fire safe isn't all that difficult, and precautionary measures taken well in advance can allow the homeowner to avoid a fire disaster that was easily preventable.

Use these guidelines not only for the garage, but for other areas of your home as well:

One of the easiest and foremost preventative measures against fire in the home is simply making sure that the home's electrical system is as up to date as it can possibly be. A licensed electrician can give a budget-minded homeowner an inspection, and the cost of an inspection can usually be waived if the electrician finds there is work needed on any electrical equipment. But don't fear the cost... this is one of the most crucial aspects of fire prevention and can secure a home for years without worry about a short in the system causing havoc. The concept is spend now, or pay a much greater cost later. Knowing that fire destroys more than homes, but can also cause emotional pain and the loss of physical memories (everything from family photos to important family documents and keepsakes), should help alleviate the momentary pain of paying a licensed electrician to make sure your home is safe from frayed or damaged electrical wiring, damaged or old equipment (circuit breaker boxes, fuse boxes, junction boxes, right to the wall outlet plates).

Yet, even with a new home and top-notch wiring in the home, there are plenty of pitfalls the average homeowner falls into that could cause inadvertent fires. Prevention of these ordinary causes is relatively easy... For instance, we all seem to be fond of overloading our poor wall outlets... we use every type of electrical gadget we can to maximize the two plugs per wall outlet and sometimes end up creating very unsafe conditions for this convenience. The best practice is simply to never overload a wall outlet. If you must extend the range of the outlet or the number of spots for the various electrical plugs you have, then only consider an extension outlet with UL rated surge protection or suppression. There's plenty of companies out there that offer these, and I personally find some of the best and most inexpensive products come from Belkin. This company makes very inexpensive devices for surge protection and suppression as well as power backups (for tech electrical equipment like computers were backup power supplies can save your information from destruction or a fried logic board) and energy saving devices. Whatever company you choose for these devices, just make sure they are always UL (Underwriter's Laboratories) rated for safety. The main reasoning behind this however, is that you simply never want to overload your home's electrical system with energy sucking appliances that could cause damage by causing circuit or fuse overload.

Another preventative measure that we sometimes overlook in our desire to hide unsightly electrical cords is the placement of long and short cords beneath household items (entertainment centers, carpets, rugs, etc). Yes, it may mean looking at cords snaking around a room, but better than than a short in a frayed cord (or even one that looks good to the eye) that will cause damage if a fire starts. However, there are plenty of cool and clever gadgets out there nowadays that help hide those cords without stashing them under carpets or smashing them under furniture (a huge no-no, by the way, if a cord is put under heavy objects you're almost asking for trouble). Simply Googling "cord and cable management" will allow you to find what you need to hide those cords and cables, at least until you can go completely wireless (yes! wireless electrical devices are slowly becoming a reality).

Be careful of attaching electrical cords to baseboards or any location with nails or staples... once you puncture a cord, you might as well toss it as it presents a real electrical hazard. Tape can do the trick and, again, cord management devices can help lay cord flat against any surface and get it out of the way and out of sight. Likewise, if you notice a frayed or damaged cord for any reason, do not wrap it in electrical tape to save it (seemingly a favorite way to extend the life of a cord, but it's the wrong way)... just throw it out. You may not save money (a few bucks, natch!), but you will save a life, or your home, or your memories. Weigh your options and make a choice.

Aside from household electrical and cords, there's the risk of household chemicals and everyday household products that could be flammable. And that's a subject for Part 2 of our fire safety series from Garage Envy.

In the meantime you can check out our line of garage safety products at GarageEnvyShop.com!