Categories Home Maintenance, Home safety

Important Tips to Make Your Garage Safe From Fire Hazards

When you think of your garage and hazards, you might think of the sharp objects or chemicals stored in there being dangerous for your children. But your garage is actually much more dangerous than you might imagine.

 

Look at these statistics for more insight:

  • 6,600 garage fires per year in the U.S.
  • 30 deaths
  • 400 injuries
  • $457 million in property loss

 

While these numbers are horrifying, we don’t mean to scare you. We want to educate you and show you how you can prevent a fire from occurring in your own garage.

 

We’d like to give you the tools to make your garage as safe as possible from fires.

 

Regardless of preparedness, your best bet is to hire a professional inspector to assess the safety of your garage. 

 

We should mention this article is especially significant for homes with attached garages.

 

Why Are Garages Prone to Fires?

  • Storage: Garages are typically the storage centers for flammable materials like gasoline, paint, motor oil or other flammable liquids, including paint thinner or brake oil.

 

  • Cars: Oil and gas can leak, sometimes unnoticeably from your vehicles, eventually leading to igniting a fire, if given a chance.

 

  • Tools: Garages are often utilized as a workspace for the handyperson in the household. Accidents involving welding, cars or flammable liquids pose a fire hazard.

 

  • Heaters: It’s not uncommon to find water boilers or heaters located in the garage. They can cause sparks, igniting fumes or fluids.

 

 

Preventative Measures for Garage Safety

  1. Hire a professional inspector to assess if your walls are fire-rated. And unless you are trained, it can be difficult for the average homeowner to make this assessment alone. So, it’s better safe than sorry!

 

  1. Install a hatch or barrier to any access to your attic, if there is an entrance leading to your garage.

 

  1. Keep the floors clean and devoid of clutter, including bits of paper, rags, oil-stained materials or other flammable materials. Eliminate the opportunity for fire to spread by keeping your garage floor tidy.

 

  1. Tape down and organize cords and wires, so they are not twisted or tangled.

 

  1. Avoid overloading electrical outlets, which can cause sparks or smoke.

 

 

Things to Consider If You Have a Garage Door Leading into Your Home

Pet doors, especially ones made of plastic, are highly flammable and can unfortunately facilitate an easy spread of fire to your home.

A great security feature is installing a self-closing door in addition to properly and strongly sealing all doors. A professional inspector can assess the safety of your door’s seal and recommend adjustments, as necessary.

 

 

Safety Tips for Your Garage and Storage Areas

  • Avoid using any burners or open flames in your garage. This includes propane deep fryers or grills. Thanksgiving Day has seen countless deep-fried turkey disasters, all due to propane accidents!

 

  • Clearly, label and store flammable liquids above ground. Only store liquids in small amounts and replace, as necessary.

 

  • Store propane tanks outdoors. They are sturdy enough to withstand the elements and pose the threat of exploding in your garage if triggered.

 

  • Keep a fire extinguisher handy and safely stored above ground.

 

 

Fire safety is all about prevention.

Following these steps and educating your family members will ensure that you’re taking the proper precautions to protect your home and garage from the threat of fire. Make it a habit to regularly run through these tips so that a little accident doesn’t turn into tragedy.

Most of all, remember, we’re here for you! Schedule your inspection today, and we’ll see you in 48 hours or less!

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Categories Home Maintenance, Home safety

Six Signs Your Home’s Air Quality Is Suffering

When you think of poor air quality, your first thought probably isn’t the air in your home. As shocking as it may be, the air quality in our homes can actually be more toxic than the air outside.

 

We spend 90% of our time indoors, and the EPA reported that our home’s air can have 100 times more chemicals than the air outside.

 

If you need a refresher on what causes poor air quality and the scary health effects it can have on you and your loved ones, just head over to one of our previous blog posts and catch up.

 

Since you know about what causes poor air quality and the negative health effects, we’re going to take the time now to identify the signs of a problem.

 

Signs Your Home Has Poor Air Quality

 

  1. High Humidity: Too much moisture in the air raises the risk of microbial growth. A central AC system will remove some excess moisture, but depending on the region you live in, it may not be enough to keep up with local humidity.

 

  1. Increased Dust Levels: Are your shelves or other surfaces covered in dust, soon after you clean them? More dust particles will appear when the air is not circulating properly.

 

  1. Worsened Health Problems: Have you noticed new or worsening symptoms? Like sneezing, coughing, or waking up congested? While it may appear to be a cold or allergies, a telltale sign is when the symptoms disappear once you leave the house.

 

  1. Uneven Temperature: If you notice the temperature changes from room to room, you have a problem on your hands. It means your AC isn’t reaching each room properly, and this will lead to air circulation problems.

 

  1. Stale Odors: Every home has a distinct scent and you likely know which one your home has. But have you noticed the perfume sprayed hours ago is still lingering? Or cooking odors haven’t left the kitchen well after you finished? This is another telltale sign of poor circulation.

 

  1. Changes in Environment: It’s important to be aware of your surroundings. Are your neighbors remodeling or is there construction nearby? This won’t be a sign of poor air quality in your house necessarily, but it could help you rule out other issues.

 

 

We Can Help

Have you noticed one or more of these issues in your home?

 

Take note and don’t wait to call in a professional. Your indoor air quality is vital to a healthy home and family. And thankfully it’s something that can be identified with the right tools and reversed with a good plan.

 

If you’re worried that you and your loved ones are breathing in unhealthy air, let us help! At EIG we use a state-of-the-art test that checks for chemicals that can make you sick. We then provide an assessment of the air quality in your home.

 

Learn more about our indoor air quality testing here. Afterwards, schedule your inspection today by filling out our contact form.

 

 

 

 

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Categories Home Maintenance, Home safety

What the Weird Noises From Your HVAC Really Mean

Pop, Bang, Boom!

These are just a few sounds you probably don’t want to hear coming from your HVAC system. Unfortunately, the day will come when you have to deal with the HVAC headache.

 

A rattling, roaring, clamoring or any other sound coming from your walls is a sign that something is going on with your HVAC system. Read on as we identify what these problematic sounds are and what they likely mean.

 

The occasional sound is nothing to worry about, but if your vents are so loud you can’t hear your TV, then you may want to give it a second thought.

 

Weird Sounds and What They Mean for Your HVAC

 

1. Banging

 

Hear a bang coming from your AC?

 

Chances are a component has come loose and is being tossed. Maybe a piston pin, the crankshaft, or even just a simple screw got out of place.

 

Turn off your AC and inspect the condenser unit for any loose parts, if you feel comfortable doing so. Otherwise call in a certified professional.

 

 

2. Hissing

 

Does it sound like air is escaping?

 

That’s because it probably is. The other cause for this sound could be leaky ducts. This is a costly problem that you don’t want to ignore.

 

Duct repair must be done by a professional.

 

However, if you hear a hissing coming from the air vent it may be a simple fix — your air filter is probably out of place. Make sure the filter is the correct size and then properly place it, leaving no gaps for air to escape.

 

 

3. Clanking

 

A good running HVAC will often make a light humming noise, but clanking is a different story.

 

If it sounds as if there’s a hammer in the dryer, then it’s probably a red flag for loose components that may lead to costly repairs.

Turn your system off and wait for a technician to take a look.

 

 

4. Clicking

 

A click when your AC turns on or shuts off is normal, but if it persists, it’s often a sign of a broken thermostat or a defective control.

 

Check that it’s not just your thermostat. And once you confirm it’s not, call in a professional

 

 

5. Squealing

 

This sound means problems with the blower wheel or motor fan, and neither should be put off for later inspection.

 

Take care of this as soon as it arises. You’ll more than likely need to have either or both of these parts replaced to correct the problem.

 

 

6. Screaming

 

Definitely at the top of the list of sounds you never want to hear from your AC!

That’s because 1., it’s terrifying, and 2., it’s a sign of a serious issue.

 

If you hear this, turn your AC off immediately.

 

This could be a side effect of a refrigerant leak which will do damage to your unit AND could cause harm to your family’s health. Additionally, it indicates high internal pressure within your compressor, which is very dangerous.

 

 

Have you noticed one of these unsettling sounds? Schedule your home inspection today and let one of our certified inspection experts put your mind at ease.

 

Get your inspection in the books by filling out our contact form here!

 

 

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Categories Home Maintenance, Home Technology

Three Common Smart Home Technology Issues and Their Solutions

While having a smart home may feel like a thing of the future, it’s actually quite common. And the trend is expected to grow in coming years. Not convinced? Take a look at these facts:

According to SmartHomeUSA, a “smart home” is “a residence that has appliances, lighting, heating, air conditioning, TVs, computers, entertainment audio & video systems, security, and camera systems that are capable of communicating with one another and can be controlled remotely by a time schedule, from any room in the home, as well as remotely from any location in the world by phone or internet.”

Smart homes are possible in new home construction as well as in existing homes that are receiving upgrades. So, whichever category you fall into, you should be aware of some common issues and how to tackle them.

Let your smart home work for you rather than against you by staying on top of these problems:

1. Integrated Technology

When it comes to choosing smart home tech appliances, you have lots of options. But the problem is that many manufacturers don’t want to make their products compatible with products coming from other companies.

This can lead to having multiple apps or controllers just to have all products communicating.

 

The solution: plan out the functions you want, the hardware you will need, or look for a smart home hub package and voilà!

 

2. Battery Drains Quickly

What’s the point of having nifty wireless smart devices, if you have to perform a lot of upkeep?

Many smart home products, like door sensors, are low-energy and will only require battery changes once or twice a year.

However, cameras and motion sensors will need lots of energy to get the job done.

 

The solution: go through the settings and turn off features you never use, since they drain the battery. And be sure your devices are in a good WiFi signal range. If they’re constantly searching for signal, they’ll die more quickly.

 

3. Poor Internet

Smart home products need reliable two-way communication over the Internet (meaning fast download and upload speeds).

The most common example is a doorbell camera. This is because they need good two-way communication to send messages between the person at the door and the person receiving the message.

 

The solution: you may need to look into upgrading your Internet or changing providers.

 

Chances are, if you’re looking at modern homes (or wanting to update your existing property), you’ll run into smart home technology. Whether it’s a safety feature or an energy saving technique, problems can arise. Knowing the common issues and how to solve them can save you a lot of time.

 

Do you have any smart home technology in your house? What would you add to our list?

What would you like to use? We want to hear from you in the comments!

 

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Categories Home Maintenance

A Simple Guide to Caring for Concrete Driveways

Homeowners love concrete for various reasons, but mostly because it’s practical and durable. That’s why most driveways are made from concrete. But even though they are made to last, there still might be issues after time.

While it is strong, it isn’t going to last forever. So, if you have a concrete driveway, there are some things you should keep an eye out for, as well as some regular maintenance you should mix into your routine.

 

Signs Your Driveway Needs Attention

Whether there are aesthetic issues or problems with functionality, these are the things you should look out for:

Stains

This falls under the aesthetic category.

If you notice a stain, whether its gasoline, oil, or even antifreeze, it’s best to address it right away. It will be much easier to clean the same day, rather than 6 months later.

If you don’t have time to do so right when it happens, throw an absorbent material like cat litter or baking soda on the stain to cover it for safety until you have time.

 

Unevenness

Have you noticed your driveway is uneven or has a few bumps? This is a sign the surface beneath the paving is unstable and has suffered structural damage.

You probably don’t need to pour a whole new driveway (unless you want to spend all that money). A quicker and more cost effective fix is to add an overlay on top of the uneven driveway. How uneven the surface is will determine how thick your overlay should be.

 

Corrosion

Harsh chemicals or even extreme weather conditions (especially using rock salt for de-icing) can cause corrosion. Whatever the case, you should take care of it before bigger problems arise. You will probably need to call a concrete contractor on this one.

 

Cracks

Typically after a harsh winter and recurring freezing cycles, cracks will appear. Keep an eye on these. And if they get too large, call in a professional for a second opinion.

 

How You Can Care for Your Driveway

Aside from looking for the warning signs of concrete damage, there are several preventative measures you can take to ensure a healthy concrete driveway.

Clean it

Using a power washer once a month is a reasonable chore. This will allow you to get rid of any dirt or grimy buildup before it has time to grow into something harmful.

 

Ditch the chemicals

Some chemicals can have a positive effect on concrete, but others are meant to erode it. Tri-sodium phosphate (TSP) and baking soda are examples of stain removers for your driveway.

Be sure you do your due diligence when choosing chemicals that will come in contact with the concrete. Sulfates and calcium chlorides are corrosive chemicals you’ll want to avoid.

 

Get it sealed

Perhaps the best defense for your driveway is getting it regularly sealed.

Using a water-based agent, acrylic, or urethane to coat your driveway can help protect it against the elements. A sealant will also ultimately lead to a reduction in cracking as well as the potential to stain easily.

 

 

With all of these tips and red flags to look out for, we’re certain you’ll be able to care for your concrete driveway and benefit from this long lasting element to your home.

How often do you take care of your driveway? Did we miss any maintenance tips on our list? We’d love to hear from you! Leave us a comment below.

 

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