Many garages work as a catch-all for everything that you don’t want stored in your home, ranging from extra holiday decorations to tools, cleaning supplies, automotive equipment, outside toys, and more.
But it’s important to remember that your garage is still an enclosed space. If you’re storing dangerous or flammable chemicals or other hazardous materials, make sure you’re storing those items correctly.
At All Phase Restoration, we want to keep your Denver, Windsor, or Colorado Springs home safe — and that starts with understanding the potential fire hazards in your garage. Read through our blog and take some time to evaluate everything you have in your garage. If an accident does happen to your home, give us a call for emergency or fire damage restoration services today!
Understanding Potential Fire Hazards in Your Garage
As a homeowner, your priority is keeping your home and everyone who lives in it safe and protected. But what you might be unaware of is the potential fire hazards lurking in your garage.
Read through our post to see what chemicals or products you might be storing incorrectly. If you notice hazards, take some time to address those problems and protect your home from potential fires.
Flammable Liquids
It’s not uncommon for homeowners to store flammable liquids in the safety of their garage. But that doesn’t make those liquids less flammable. Take a look at what cleaning solutions, chemicals, paints, or other liquids you have. Are they placed next to something that sparks, like a tool or an electrical outlet? Consider moving them to a high place away from exposure to any elements, heat, or sparks.
Gasoline
While gasoline is another type of flammable liquid, it’s important to discuss the dangers of gasoline separately from your other liquids. As you’re already aware, gasoline is extremely flammable. But gasoline and other oils can drip from your car, leaving pools on your garage floor.
When it comes to gasoline, make sure you have it stored in a sealed container and placed in a safe space in your garage. Cars shouldn’t normally drip gasoline or oil. Start by addressing the problem with your car, and then take measures to clean any gasoline or oil off your garage floor.
Clutter & Boxes
For many homeowners, garages serve as additional storage for items that don’t fit in the home. But as the boxes and clutter start to stack up, they pose a fire risk for your garage. If something in your garage sparks or heats up, those cardboard boxes will go up quickly, helping a fire spread faster. The more disorganized or spread out your clutter is, the greater the potential of spreading a fire throughout your garage.
If you have to store clutter or boxes in your garage, consider organizing them on a shelf or opt for plastic bins instead of cardboard boxes.
Sawdust & Wood
As with cardboard boxes, wood and sawdust can aid in spreading a fire through your garage, especially if you’ve left a trail of sawdust through your garage.
If you’re using your garage as a workspace for your woodworking projects, consider sweeping up sawdust after you finish a project. Then, make sure your wood is stored in a safe place instead of piled throughout your garage.
Overloaded Electrical Outlets
Electrical outlets that have too many items plugged into them could cause an electrical fire. While it might be tempting to plug everything you need into one outlet, consider how much that outlet can take. When you’re not using those items, be sure to unplug them and leave the outlet empty.
Fire Damage Restoration You Can Trust
We hope that these tips help keep your home and your garage safe and free of fires or other damage. But All Phase Restoration knows that accidents can happen. If your Denver, Windsor, or Colorado Springs home is damaged by fire or a natural disaster, call us for fire damage restoration right away!
