Garage Fire Prevention
Unfortunately, garage fires are an all too common occurrence. Garage fires can also be the most violent as most garages contain a host of flammable materials such as gasoline, paint thinner, greasy rags, wood, and sawdust. Garages are also where heating sources such as water heaters and furnaces are often located. A lot of us often use our garages as workshops as well, and participate in activity that create sparks such as using electric saws or welding. So it is important to take safety precautions to help prevent garage fires. Here are a few ideas to help make your garage a safer place: Storage Safety: When storing combustible liquids, try to keep them in small amounts and in a sealed, preferably fireproof, container. Keep all flammable materials away from heating sources. Make sure the floor is clear of clutter such as paper or oily rags if you are doing work that may create sparks. Store propane tanks outdoors. Safety Equipment: Place a fire extinguisher in your garage in an easy to access spot. Equip your garage with a smoke detector. A carbon monoxide detector is also a good idea for safety. Consider having a sprinkler system installed if you often use your garage as a workshop. Safe Routines: When cutting or sanding wood, sweep up any sawdust or wood chips immediately as these are often sources of garage fires. After using paint, oil, or solvents, make sure the lids are tightly sealed and store them in a safe place. Dispose of oily or gas soaked rags properly such as in a steel bucket with a tightly sealed lid and keep far from heat sources. Make sure you don’t have any exposed wires that could create a spark.
Common Garage Door Repairs
Your garage is more than likely the heaviest moving part of you home. Garage systems have a symphony of parts that all must work in harmony in order for your garage to work properly. Through the years, your garage will go through thousands of cycles of opening and closing. Over time, garage parts can wear out or break and need repair. Here are some of the more common reasons garage doors need repair. Broken Springs – The springs on a garage door contract and relax every time you open your garage door. Although springs are design for heavy duty workloads, eventually they can wear down and break often due to age or rust. Springs are under extreme tension and should only be replace by professionals. Rollers and Cables – Of the many moving parts of automatic garage doors, rollers and cables must work in sync to properly open and close your garage. If you hear a loud screeching noise, it could mean your rollers are malfunctioning and should be replaced. Nylon rollers are excellent for quiet garage operation and are long lasting. Also , if your garage is out of balance and seems to lean to one side, your cables could be the culprit. Garage Door Openers – Openers can stop operating and keep you from leaving or entering your garage. Many times an opener can be repaired, saving you money on a full replacement. However, newer openers can have a lot more functionality than older openers, so you may want to consider a full replacement. For example, there are new openers that you can control with you smart phone, computer, or tablet giving you piece of mind about whether or not you left your garage door open. These systems can also link up with the lights in your home so you never have to come home to a dark house again. We highly recommend contacting a garage door repair specialist at Precision Garage of Las Vegas if you experience any problems with your garage. Repairing a garage can be a dangerous proposition so it’s best to leave repairs to the professionals. If you have any questions please contact us today!