How to Protect Your Home from Garage Fires

Garage fires are more common than you may think, but there are ways to keep your home safe.

Love this look? The Eastman E-21, 9' x 8' garage door is beautiful! This one is “moka brown” with ice white overlays and eight lite panoramic windows.

Wondering how to protect your garage from fire? You are not alone. This is an important question that many homeowners ask. There are thousands of garage fires every year, which result in property loss, injuries, and even death.

In order to protect your home and your family, you need to know how to keep your garage safe from fires. This article covers the causes of fires, how to handle or prevent them, and what to do after a fire occurs.

What Can Cause a Garage Fire?

The first thought you’re probably having is how do I prevent a garage fire? But before you answer that question, it’s a good idea to know why garages catch fire in the first place. It’s not as straightforward of an answer as you might think.

As we said above, garage fires can be very dangerous. If your garage is attached to your home like many are, it can lead to even greater property loss and risk. That is why it’s so important to be aware of the causes of fires in a garage.

Most fires don’t start in the garage, which is good news. But the bad news is that if a fire does start in the garage, chances are that it will go unnoticed until it is totally out of control. You probably aren’t spending a lot of time in your garage, so it’s easier for a fire to go unnoticed.

You don’t want to see this sight in your garage. Image: Pixabay

How Do Garage Fires Get Started?

There are many things that can cause a fire to start. Here are the four most common things that cause garage fires:

1. Propane Tanks: If you have a propane tank for your grill, don’t store it in the garage – even when it isn’t grilling season. Tanks can have small leaks or be sealed incorrectly. That gas leaking out is flammable and could be set on fire with even a small spark in the air. Fire safety officials always recommend storing propane tanks in a separate storage area, or just not having tanks that you have to store. This helps you avoid an explosion that could seriously damage your home.
2. Flammable Liquids: Another common cause of garage fires is leaving flammable liquids open or spilled in the garage. Gasoline, oil, and cleaning supplies are common culprits. They aren’t dangerous on their own, but a small spark in the air can ignite a spilled container or an open container. The vapor from these liquids can also be flammable. Keep these products in a shed away from your home, and be sure the containers are well-sealed and not leaking.
3. Clutter: Garages make easy places to store overflow clutter from your closets. But this clutter can become a fire hazard very quickly. The more stuff you have in your garage, the more it can become fuel for a small fire, leading to a much bigger fire. The best thing you can do is to donate, throw out, or give away things so that your garage is uncluttered.
4. Electrical Issues: Finally, the last thing that is a common cause of garage fires is electrical issues. Fires can often start because of an overloaded outlet or old circuits. You can prevent this by avoiding extended use of extension cords and keeping your garage door opener in a regular wall socket. You should consider having regular professional inspections of wiring in older homes.

Avoiding Fires in Garages

Now that you know what causes fires, let’s talk about how to prevent them. The best way to avoid the damage and injuries caused by fires is to prevent them in the first place. But you should also know what to do if one happens – we will cover that next.

Remember, because garages are often unoccupied, fires here will spread faster than in other areas of the home. So, to start, put a smoke alarm in your garage!

You can also consider a heat alarm. Many garage door openers have them, but you can install separate ones if yours does not. Additionally, make sure there is a fire extinguisher either in the garage, or very nearby in case of emergency.

Be sure to never light any fires in your garage! Any flames, even tiny ones, can lead to a big fire that quickly gets out of control. Do not put a fire pit in an enclosed space like your garage. And keep yourself safe if a fire does break out. Leave the home and call the fire department should a fire start.

This gorgeous home is accented by a Standard+ Shaker-Flat CC, 9' x 7', Black, Clear windows.

What To Do After a Garage Fire – 4 Steps

If you have had a garage fire, then it’s important to know what to do after it has happened. It’s important to stay calm and breathe, so that you can calmly work through these four steps:

1. Call Your Insurance Company:

Your homeowner’s insurance is there to help you recover from accidents like these. Call your agent and make sure that you know what your insurance policy covers. Your policy will be unique from others, so it’s a good idea to review it so that you get a fair payment.

Many homeowner’s insurance policies cover the value of a home before there was a fire. But if the home was totally lost, the insurance company may try to offer only the amount that your policy was for, to cover all the damages. This is why it’s important to know what your policy says.

Image by PixabayAvoid seeing this sight rushing to your home!

2. A Professional Inspection Will Happen

The next step is that the insurance company will send out a professional adjuster or inspector, to look at the damages. This person is there to direct the company, not you, so this may not always be enough. You can hire your own inspector to determine repair or replacement costs. Make sure the inspector looks at the walls, framing, heating systems, plumbing, siding, framing, interior, and exterior materials of your home.

3. Make the Repair vs. Rebuild Decision

Once you have all the cost estimates in hand, you can decide if you want to repair your home, or totally rebuild it. You may be bound by what the insurance will cover or recommend. Keep in mind that there are costs associated with the cleanup as well. Fires often result in water damage and soot damage, as well as smoke damage.

4. Hire an Expert

Lastly, you need to hire the best local expert you can find in fire restoration. Be sure you research contractor options well. Choose a company that has experience working with insurance and fire damage to get the best results.

Do You Need to Replace the Garage Door?

This garage door is a Standard+ Classic MIX, 9' x 7' in “desert sand” – perfect for this lovely house!

If you’re in the process of rebuilding your garage, you may need to replace the garage door. There are many things to consider, such as the budget, the size of door you want, if your garage is attached or detached, and more. There are many options out there for one-car and two-car garages. If you don’t know what you want right away, that’s ok!

One thing to keep in mind is what kind of garage door opener you might want. Some of them have extra features like cameras and two-way audio functions. Also keep in mind what features you might need to keep your garage at a good temperature.

For example, does the garage door reflect light well? This will keep the garage cool in the summer. Does the garage door help block wind? This will prevent a lot of noise and cold air from getting inside. Be sure to ask a professional any questions you have about garage door features. It will all come down to style, budget, and what you want.

Ready for Your New Garage Door?

What do you think about this look? It’s a Regal Shaker-Flat Long, 9' x 7' in “black ice” with the left-side harmony window layout.

If you’re ready to install a new garage door, contact a professional dealer near you. The experienced staff can help you find the right door for your home, while keeping in mind everything you need and your budget.

Huneault Portes de Garage Doors Inc. can make the process even more easy with an email quotation.

If you don’t know what style your home would look best with, take a look at our 3 different styles. This can help you find something that suits your home. Then get in touch with us at 613-675-4473 so we can help you make the right choice.

Don’t Forget the Design Centre App

If you want to take a look at the many garage doors we’ve installed, check out the Design Centre app. You can even do a virtual try on with your house.

You can also see great inspiration pictures from our image gallery to help you make the decision.