Garage door fires are more common than you might realize. You want to make sure you understand how to keep your garage safe.
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Naturally, you want to make sure your garage is safe from fire. Each year, there are countless fires in the garage that cause property damage, injuries, and even deaths.
Let’s look at some of the main causes of fires, how to deal with them, and what you should do if there is a fire.
What Causes of Garage Fires?
Although you want to know how to prevent fires in the garage, you first need to understand what it is that causes fires in the first place. There are multiple reasons, and you will want to understand them.
If the garage is attached to the home, it can spread to the rest of the house faster and more easily than a detached garage. Of course, a fire could still spread even with a detached garage. Keeping the garage safe is essential.
Keep your garage safe. Image: Pixabay
The Fires
Below are some of the most common causes of fires breaking out in the garage. Once you understand these causes, it can be easier to reduce your risk.
● Propane Tanks
A lot of people put propane tanks in their garage when they aren’t grilling. However, keeping the tanks in the garage, even for just a few days, is dangerous. If there are leaks or problems with the seal, it can cause a fire with just a small spark.
Find a different storage space for them where they will be safe and undisturbed. This way, you can reduce the chance of having an explosion in the garage.
● Flammable Liquids
Look around the garage. Do you have any oil stored there? What about gasoline for the mower or cleaning solutions? Although they aren’t always dangerous, there is a chance they could ignite from a spark. Even the vapor could ignite. It’s best to keep these in a separate storage location. Also, make sure you keep them labeled.
● Clutter
Lots of people store a lot of junk in their garage. This means the garage is overcrowded with items, and many of them are flammable. If you have a lot of items in the garage, fire can spread faster.
Take the time to declutter. Give away things you don’t need. Recycle or throw out items that don’t have any use.
● Electrical Issues
Just like in the home, electrical issues could be the cause of fires in the garage. If the circuits are old, faulty, or overloaded, it could result in a fire.
You shouldn’t use extension cords for long periods, and you want to be sure the garage door opener is in a standard wall socket. It is a good idea to have a professional inspect the system to ensure your wiring is in shape. This is especially true when it comes to older homes.
Avoiding Fires in the Garage
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. It might be an old saying, but it’s true. You want to be sure that you know what to do in case a fire breaks out, as well. Here are some tips that will help.
First, you will want to make sure that you have a smoke alarm set up in your garage. However, that’s not the only type of alarm you should use. You will also want to have a hear alarm in the garage if the garage door opener doesn’t have one.
It’s also important to have a fire extinguisher located somewhere in the garage. Having another extinguisher or to in other parts of the home where you can access them easily is important, too.
Should you ever light a fire in your garage? This is a bad idea, even if it’s just some candles. You should avoid using a fire pit in the garage or any enclosed space for that matter.
Always be safe and use common sense when it comes to fire. If a fire gets to the point that it can’t be controlled, get somewhere safe and contact emergency services.
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Dealing with the Fire Damage
Sometimes, even with precautions, a fire might occur. You must deal with the aftermath of the fire correctly. Let’s look at what you need to do to start getting things back in order.
1. Get in Touch with the Insurance Company
After a fire, you need to contact the insurance company and let them know what happened. Be sure that you understand what your policy covers and what it doesn’t cover. You deserve a fair payment, but each policy is different. Knowing what you will be getting from the insurance company will affect the next steps.
Contact emergency services if needed. Image: Pixabay.
2. Professional Inspection
The insurance company is likely to have an adjuster that will inspect your property after a fire takes place. However, the adjuster is working for the insurance company and not necessarily for you. It’s often a good idea to hire an independent inspector that can provide you that can give you a full and true cost of repairs or replacement.
The inspector will look at the stucco, concrete, roof, framing, structure, walls, heating systems, plumbing, siding, and more.
3. Should You Repair or Rebuild? Make the Right Choice
Once you have your inspection, you will have a better idea of the cost of repairing and rebuilding. You can then make a decision on which one to choose. Often, your insurance policy will determine what type of budget you will end up having. Sometimes, a full rebuild might not be in the cards if you do not have enough coverage.
You need to make sure you consider all aspects of the garage repairs, including the cleanup process, dealing with water damage, etc.
4. Work with a Local Expert
Once you decide what you want to do with the garage, you can then find a contractor in your area to rebuild the garage. Always make sure that they have experience and that they know how to work with insurance companies.
Getting a New Garage Door
Here are some nice garage doors. This garage door is a Standard+ Classic MIX, 9' x 7', Desert Sand.
If you have to rebuild the garage, you need to figure out what type of garage door you are going to get. There are plenty of options, but you will need to be careful when making the choice. You need to think about the size of the door you want, whether it will be attached or detached, the color, and the style. You also have to make sure you are considering your budget to ensure you can get the door you want.
If you aren’t sure, take some time to learn more about the options you have available. Maybe you want a one-car garage. Perhaps you prefer the space of a two-car garage. Learn more about the choice, as well as the garage door opener you’d prefer. Some of the modern options have helpful features like cameras and two-way audio.
You also should think about the temperature in your garage. One of the things to consider is whether the garage door you choose will reflect light. If the door does a good job of reflecting light, as a white door would do, it could help to keep it cooler in the summer.
Of course, you also want to make sure that your door can stop the wind and cold temperatures. Talk with a professional about the best options to use.
The style you want and your budget will be important when it comes to choosing the right door for your property.
Do You Need to Install a Brand New Garage Door?
There are some stylish doors. This garage door is a Regal Shaker-Flat Long, 9' x 7', Black Ice, window layout: Left-side Harmony.
Contact a garage door specialist in your area. You can talk with the staff about the options available and what will work with your budget.
Champlain Door Systems can even provide you with an email quotation.
Spend some time checking out the 3 styles, so you can find a door that will work well with your property.
Call us at 802-524-7595, and we can get started finding the right door for you.
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