How to prevent garage fires
A garage is a place where fires can start and spread to the rest of the house. Since it’s not often used during the day, it can be hard to detect a spark from a faulty electrical line. According to the US Fire Administration, more than 6,600 fires originate from the garage. This results in more than $457 million in property losses. It does not make sense to build the ultimate garage door and ignore garage safety features. This article will explore various tips to reduce garage fires.
Inflammable items
You should avoid as much to store inflammable materials like; aerosol, gas, turpentine, propane and other oil-based products. These products can easily cause fires when there is an electrical fault. You should also clear your garage off clutter. The best way to store these items is in a shed a distance from the house.
Water heater and boiler
These are essential items for your heating system in the house. You should keep any inflammable materials some distance from these appliances.
Electrical Outlets
You will need to check electrical cables around the garage frequently. If there is a faulty line, call the electrician to fix it before it causes problems. If you have, external socket outlets then avoid overloading them; these overheat and are a significant cause of fires in the garage. Ensure that you switch off lights and sockets when going to bed.
Protective fire devices
You should shop around for a useful smoke alarm and heat alarm. The smoke alarm can detect any smoke from fires while a heat alarm will alert you to increases in temperature in the garage. You can get a garage repairman to install the appliances in your house. The heat alarm is usually the first one to go off then the smoke alarm. A garage door repair company can also install an alarm for you.
Have a standby fire extinguisher that is placed in a reachable area. You should ask your garage door service person to check it out yearly for defects and functionality.
Reinforce with gypsum
Another great way to protect your house from fires is to reinforce your attics and any other area that touches the garage with gypsum. This will include rooms adjacent the garage; install a 5/8 inch gypsum board on the ceiling. You can also protect your attic with an attic cover.
Check your car for leakages
You should ensure that there are no oil and gas leakages from your vehicle. Gasoline is highly inflammable. Clean any oil spillage immediately you see it.
You should also protect your garage door with heat-resistant materials, protective coatings, and a fire-resistant core. Ensure that your garage door is certified with a fire rating of 20 minutes and above. The rating means that it will take an average of 20 minutes for the fire to consume your door. This will give you amble time to exit the premises.
Final thoughts
Fires can cause injuries and irrevocable loss of equipment. Preventive measures keep you and your belongings safe in case of a fire breakout. Consult experts when installing some of these safety measures.