Common Types of Garage Accidents You Can Prevent With Proper Maintenance

Many home accidents happen in the garage, and that's no surprise. Often used for storage for large vehicles, countless types of tools and chemicals, plus a range of other objects that have no other place in the home, there’s a lot that can go wrong. Each is an accident waiting to happen. When you're aware of the following potential garage accidents, though, you can take action to prevent them.

Slips and Falls

The garage floor can become slippery from vehicle fluids, water brought in from wet roads, and more. Hosing down the garage floor frequently and then leaving the door open for a few hours for it to dry is the best way to keep your garage clean and fresh while preventing slip and fall injuries. Engine oil and other greasy spots may require scrubbing or a specialized cleaner to remove.

Fires

Vehicles can sometimes catch on fire, depending on the conditions, and so can many of the other things commonly stored in a garage. Keep in mind that paint, wood, paper, gas, and other flammable products in your garage are a safety hazard for your family. Each flammable material should be stored properly to maintain the safety of the garage. You may find it best to move some things to a storage building that isn't connected to your home. Better yet, get rid of unneeded flammables.

Garage Door Accidents

Regular inspection and garage door repair are crucial to safe use of an automatic garage door. Damage can happen when you hit the door with your car, when moving large items, or simply when old components wear out. When you notice damage, contact a reputable garage door repair company. Trying to fix the door yourself may result in some safety features not working properly. Tiny fingers can be trapped under a closing door or a pet can be crushed when safety features malfunction.

Chemical Exposure

Part of garage maintenance is taking care of chemicals you store there. Get rid of chemicals and fluids you don't need, clean up spills, and make sure anything toxic is locked up inside a high cabinet to prevent accidental access by children or pets. Be sure there is enough ventilation in your garage to prevent airborne chemical exposure too. Also, avoid running a car in a closed garage, which can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.

The garage may not be the best place to store the things you don't want in your house. Whatever you do with your garage, however, make sure you're doing all you can to prevent injury by keeping it clean and well-maintained. It may take a bit of effort, but you'll never regret doing everything possible to prevent garage injuries and accidents.

What You Should Look for When Touring a New Home for Sale

If you are in the market for a new home and find one you like, having a walk-through is certainly an important way to find out if it is indeed your dream home. Yet while you may be mesmerized by certain aspects of the home, it is also important to keep an eye out for potential problems. Before you set out to embark on your next home tour, keep these important tips in mind as you walk around looking at various nooks and crannies.

Cracks in the Walls

While a small crack here and there in drywall is likely nothing to worry about very much, larger cracks or ones found outside on the home's foundation are another matter. Should you spot these, it may be an indication structural damage exists, or that leaks are a recurring problem.

Examine the Electrical Box

When you head down into the home's basement or utility room, take a few minutes to examine the electrical box. To begin with, look to see if there is any exposed wiring, or if the box looks like it has not been upgraded to match current technology. If you have any questions about this, make sure you address them with the real estate agent before you ever sign on the dotted line.

Check the Windows

While this may not sound extremely important to you, checking the home's windows can give you insight into many areas. For starters, making sure the windows open and close properly will mean the home likely has no structural problems regarding foundation movement. Also, making sure the windows appear to be of higher quality will mean your heating costs will probably stay lower in the winter.

Look for Fresh Paint

Even though you certainly want to see plenty of fresh paint inside any home you are touring, too much of a good thing can mean the house has issues. For example, if you see fresh paint in a room that otherwise looks as if it has not had much done to it recently, this could mean something needed to be fixed, or that the owners are trying to cover up something until a new buyer comes along. Rather than be left wondering, talk to the agent in charge of your tour.

By having a keen eye for the smallest of details when touring a home, you may be able to spot potential problems. Whether it is the windows, fresh paint, or cracks that look suspicious, addressing these concerns early on can help you avoid unexpected and potentially expensive problems later on.

Got a Hole in Your Roof? How to Patch It up Quickly

The purpose of a roof is to protect you from bad weather. But, wear and tear, elements, and age can damage your roof, resulting in water getting inside your home. Once you notice a hole in your roof, you should move to patch it up quickly to avoid severe water damage. If the damage is not extensive, you can repair it by yourself as you await the arrival of a roofing expert. Follow the steps below to patch a hole in your roof.

Locate the Damaged Area

The first thing is to identify where the hole is located. You already know there is a problem because of wet walls or ceilings, but you may not know the actual source of the leak. Therefore, it is essential to narrow down the location of the leak. Go to the attic and look for wet stains or leaks. You can also look outside to look for penetrations in the roof and damaged or missing shingles. Do not forget to check vents and the chimney too. If you cannot identify the source of the leak through your attic, run water on different parts of your roof. Have someone on the inside to watch for water drips.

Patch the Hole

The simplest way to prevent water from getting into the house through a hole in your roof is to cover it before you seek the help of roofing contractors. You can cover the hole using a tarp. Place the tarp across the damaged area and reinforce it with things that can withstand wind. The tarp should lay with its upper edge overlapping the ridge of your roof. By doing this, water will not run down your roof, under the tarp, into the hole.

If you know how to use tools around the house, there are other ways to patch a hole in your roof. You can start by removing the shingles in the area surrounding the hole. Next, plug the hole with roofing tar and wood, or purchase a customized roof patching kit.

Having holes in the roof is a common problem. Patching the hole involves observing safety precautions and taking a lot of care. Therefore, you should ensure that you do not further damage your roof in the process of patching up the hole. If you have never repaired a roof before, it would be safer to call a roofing contractor to fix the damage.

Top Reasons To Install New Windows

It's rare for homeowners to consider replacing their windows before they're visibly falling apart. But just because your windows are fully intact doesn't necessarily mean they're in good shape. Let's look at some of the<strong> top reasons to install new windows.

They're Looking Worse For Wear

Of course, you should always consider repairing or replacing your windows if they're noticeably worse for wear. Maybe they're scuffed and cracked from the latest thunderstorm that breezed through town. Storm-damaged windows aren't too difficult to handle, though you might not enjoy the chats with your insurance company. Maybe the windows are on the older side and they’re breaking apart as they near the end of their lifespan. These are the windows that need replacing. Even the most talented contractor can’t turn back the hands of time.

Puddles on the Floor

This is the next top reason to install new windows. Have you noticed that the floors in your house are often inexplicably damp? Every time it rains or snows, you wind up with puddles on the hardwood and a swampy carpet. That wetness didn't just appear out of nowhere. Most likely, it made its way into your home through cracks or tiny holes in the window frames or panes. You can fill small cracks in the frame yourself by applying waterproof caulk, but you can’t readily fix this issue—you'll need to replace your windows.

You're Tired Of the Noise

Does it sound like your home is right next door to the airport, interstate, and train station, even though all those things are miles away? It might be because you have older windows that weren't designed with soundproofing in mind. Most older windows were made with only one pane, while modern windows feature a minimum of two. The more panes your window has, the quieter and more energy-efficient they'll be. If you have single-pane windows, replace them—they aren't good for your wallet, and they aren't good for your sanity, either.