The garage may seem like a less important part of the home, but neglecting it won’t do you any favor. Even if it only serves to store your car and miscellaneous piles of junk, your garage is an extension of your home and therefore should receive just as much care as the rest of the house.
That said, let’s talk about the most common types of problems in the garage, and what you can do to avoid them.
1. Pests
Your garage is warm, has a lot of hiding spaces, and is a shelter away from predators, making it a great haven for all sorts of pests from the outside. It’s fortunate if the pests will stay in the garage only, but that is rarely the case as pests tend to gravitate towards sources of food, which are most likely other parts of your home.
To prevent pests from getting into your garage and using it as a convenient entry point to the rest of your home, ensure that all possible openings are sealed. This includes the garage door, windows, cracks in the walls, holes in the ceiling, and other entrances that pests can crawl through. If pests have already made a home in your garage, however, the next best step is to call pest control services. But if the problem is not big enough to warrant a visit from pest control, you can use DIY approaches such as pesticides and traps.
2. Leaks
Never ignore a leak in your garage, especially if the leak is dripping water directly onto your car. Unless your car paint has a ceramic coating, constant exposure to moisture can wear away at your car’s paint and degrade its appearance. However, even if the leak is not hitting anything, excessive moisture in your garage can facilitate the growth of mold and mildew, which is a whole new problem altogether.
If you detect a leak in your garage, find the source and seal it up immediately. If the leak is too big, there might be a problem with your roof. In that case, have a professional climb on the roof and see where the issue is.
3. Faulty garage door
There are many things that can go wrong with a garage door. Some of the most common ones include misalignment, a malfunctioning door opener, cracks or gaps, and broken weather sealant. Whatever the case may be, a faulty garage door can be more than just an inconvenience; it can also put a risk on your health and safety. If, say, the garage door fails to close all the way, it can be an entry point for pests, or worse, intruders.
Call in a service technician to solve your garage door problems. Most issues only need repair, but in a worst-case scenario, you might need to replace your garage door entirely.
4. Excessive clutter
Excessive clutter in your garage is more than just an eyesore, it can also put your health at risk. Why? Clutter can serve as a nice home for all sorts of pests and gather excessive amounts of dust that can, in turn, end up inside your home. Upon inhalation, dust and pest waste can cause all sorts of respiratory illnesses as well as potentially severe allergic reactions.
Clutter can also be an immediate source of danger. If stuff is piled high and placed precariously on top of each other, people and pets may just be unfortunate enough to get crushed underneath the debris if the towers of clutter happen to fall over.
The best way to avoid this problem, of course, is by de-cluttering your garage. Start by getting rid of all unwanted or unnecessary items by selling, donating, or trashing them. Once the amount of stuff drops to something more manageable, you can start organizing items to keep your garage clean and orderly.
5. Poor insulation
If you don’t have adequate insulation in your garage or no insulation at all, you might risk damage to the items in your garage due to harsh weather conditions. Apart from that, a garage that is either too hot or too cold can affect the temperature in areas nearest your garage, which can make your home less energy efficient.
Luckily, there are many ways that you can insulate your garage, including fiberglass insulation, spray foam insulation, and cellulose insulation. While you’re at it, it’s also a good idea to insulate your garage door as well.
These common garage problems are not only sources of inconvenience, but they can also be causes of health and safety problems for your home as well. That said, use these tips to address your garage problems today.
