Neighborhood Garage Door Service of Denver, CO knows how devastating electrical garage fires can be. They not only destroy property and possessions, they destroy sentimental keepsakes and memories. Make sure to follow these guidelines to keep your home and garage safe from fire.
Get Up To Code
It’s important to make sure all of the wiring, outlets, and breaker boxes are properly up to code. This will help to avoid fires that can start when frayed wiring shorts out. Very old houses are especially susceptible to this kind of risk because of a lack of codes and old equipment wearing out.
A full inspection should be done by a licensed professional electrician with experience. There may be a cost for the inspection, but it will be well worth it for the peace of mind it will bring you. In addition, if it’s discovered that repairs are actually needed, many inspectors will deduct the cost of the inspection from the total bill.
Properly Place All Cords
Many homeowners get into a bad habit of using long extension cords to reach isolated outlets. This is especially true in garages where there are often very few outlets, sometimes only one. It can be helpful to have an electrician add additional outlets in your garage if you plan to use a lot of power.
When it is necessary to use extension cords, be sure to follow some basic safety guidelines:
- Only use heavy-duty drop cords, preferably with a surge protector
- Never use frayed or worn cords
- Do not run cords under furniture or under carpets or rugs
- Do not leave extension cords plugged in while out of town
Go Easy On Outlets
It is true that many garages only have one or two power outlets and that many homeowners need more plugs depending on their use of the space. Using adapters and running too many devices off of one outlet can be a serious fire hazard. This is especially true if you’re using high-demand devices like space heaters and power tools.
Try to avoid over-taxing the breakers attached to the outlets in your garage. Only use heavy duty power adapters that have built-in fuses. Make sure not to use those high-demand devices all at one time to avoid overload.
We’re Available After Electrical Garage Fires
A fire in one’s home is a life-altering event with consequences that will last for years. Even worse than the loss of possessions, property, or memories mentioned above is the potential loss of life. Don’t take risks with your electrical systems in your garage. Follow these steps.
If you have experienced an electrical garage fire, Neighborhood Garage Door Service of Denver, Colorado is here to help you get back to normal. If your door was destroyed or damaged in the fire, give us a call right away. One of our trained technicians will come out right away to assess the damage and make recommendations for repairs. We’re available 24 hours a day, so don’t hesitate to call anytime you have a garage door repair need.
