The Truth About Your Garage

The garage by definition is a building or indoor area for parking or storing motor vehicles. However, the simple truth is that the average garage generally becomes your personal storage place. Most families are aware of the dangers, especially since cars, tools, chemicals, fuse boxes and circuit breakers are normally located here. The following are some garage safety tips suggested by former U.S. consumer product safety commission chairman, Nancy Steorts.

• Never leave your car running in the garage; carbon monoxide could seep into your home.
• Power tools are equipped with a three-prong plug or marked to show double insulation. If old tools do not have either of these things, be sure to replace them.
• Store power tools in a safe and secure place where children cannot reach and tools will not fall.
• Verify containers are tightly capped and properly labeled. Keep products in the container they came in.
• Read the labels of products you buy and keep in your garage. Store gasoline, paints, solvents, and other products that give off vapors or fumes away from heat sources.
• Check the fuse box or circuit breakers on a regular basis.
• Make sure that fuses are the correct size for the circuit. Replacing a fuse with a larger one allows an excessive current to flow and overload the wiring making it a potential fire hazard.
• If you are uncertain about proper voltage, contact an electrician.
• Be sure to have work areas well lit.
• Ensure that you can turn on the lights without first walking through a dark area. Garage doors also come with motion sensor lamps.
• Install switches at each entrance to a dark area.