How to Remove Rust from Your Garage Door

07/10/2017

Dealing with a rusty garage door? You’re not alone. Garage doors are frequently exposed to outside elements that can cause rust build-up over time. This is especially true of cheaper metal doors or for those who live closer to the ocean.

Minor rust can be buffered out with sandpaper or removed with a solvent. If it’s a large amount of rust, you’ll probably need to repaint the whole panel after removing the rust.

For rust on garage door parts, use a solvent made for rust and gently scrub. Afterwards, apply a light amount of white lithium grease or silicone spray to prevent further corrosion.

For panels with heavy rust damage, you may need to purchase a new garage door. Some parts like garage door springs or hinges may require replacing as well if the rust damage is significant.

Link to the article: https://www.sacsgarage.com/remove-rust-garage-door/

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How to Prevent Mold in the Garage

by PuroClean Editorial Team

 

Mold thrives in humid environments that have little ventilation and sunlight. If these conditions are met, it doesn’t take long for mold to grow on organic material like cardboard or drywall. Garages are typically havens for mold, unless homeowners take proper steps to reduce moisture. Here’s how you can keep mold from infesting your garage.

• Check your garage for leaks. Inspect the areas in your garage, such as the roof, floor, gutters, and pipes, to ensure that they are in good condition. Fix any cracks and damage you find immediately.
• Seal and insulate your garage door. To weather-proof your garage, it’s important to properly seal and insulate your garage door. Replace torn, ragged or crumbling weather stripping immediately. In addition, check the bottom seal for elasticity, shrinkage, and wear. As for insulation, a pre-insulated garage door panel has a much higher R-value (the measure of how well an object resists conductive flow of heat).
• Decrease humidity. Since garages can attract a lot of moisture due to being exposed more to the elements, it may have a high humidity (over 50%) that allows mold to grow. To control humidity levels, provide proper ventilation using vents and fans, and let sunlight in for a couple of hours daily. Also, use a dehumidifier to lower the moisture level.
• Install waterproof walls. If you’re building a new garage or remodeling an old one, choose mold- resistant drywall, as well as waterproof paint on walls and concrete. Alternatively, use pre-coated aluminum or vinyl siding for better protection against water and mold.
• Remove standing water. Pooling water in garages may come from various sources, such as outside precipitation, snow-covered tires, or even washing your car. Remove any standing water with a squeegee or mop and dry the area quickly to prevent mold growth.
• Have proper drainage. A garage floor drainage system is essential to avoiding water damage and flooding in the garage. Make sure your garage has drainage in addition to a proper floor slope that diverts water away from your garage.
• Extend gutter downspouts. Gutters and downspouts are your home and garage’s first line of defense against precipitation. To prevent moisture buildup around your garage, ensure your downspouts extend at least 10 feet away from the garage foundation. Also, keep the gutters clean and well-maintained throughout the year.
• Use waterproof containers. Water, and thus mold, is attracted to cardboard, paper, drywall, and other porous materials. To help avoid mold in your garage, use sturdy, plastic totes instead of cardboard storage boxes. Plastic provides better protection to contents and is not a source of mold food.
• Reduce plant growth around your garage. Shrubs or plants may look nice, but they collect moisture and may cause leaks in your garage. So keep them at a safe distance away from your garage walls and windows.

Mold will have a harder time growing when there’s less moisture in the garage. Follow these tips to keep mold at bay and enjoy a healthier home. For flood water damage repair and mold remediation services, contact your local PuroClean office.

Link to the article: https://www.puroclean.com/blog/how-to-prevent-mold-in-the-garage/

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Scented candles fill the air of homes with dust and spores, warn researchers

December 29, 2018 

Some homeowners fix the problem of an odd-smelling house by lighting a scented candle. But be warned: Doing so could put the house’s inhabitants at risk of inhaling dust and fungal spores. That’s what researchers from San Diego State University found over the course of their study, which took an investigative look at the factors that contribute to indoor pollution. “Our primary goal was to figure out what’s happening in houses that leads to higher air particle levels and, in turn, to unhealthy environments for kids,” stated study co-author John Bellettiere.

For their study, the researchers installed a pair of air particle monitors in the homes of 300 families living in San Diego. Each family had at least one smoker and at least one child aged 14 or younger. The air particle monitors were then placed in the area of the house closest to where smoking occurred and the child’s bedroom. For three months, the monitors scanned for particles between 0.5 to 2.5 micrometers in size — just enough to enter human lungs. These particles included dust, combustion by-products from cooking and candle burning, and fungal spores.

Moreover, there were two instances where the researchers interviewed the families to ask what activities were taking place throughout the house at various times. By the end of the study, the researchers determined that cigarette smoking and marijuana smoking were the biggest contributors to indoor air pollution, while e-cigarettes had no effect. Homes with indoor cigarette smokers had particle levels nearly double that of the homes of non-smokers, reported the DailyMail.co.uk.

In particular, cigarette smoking was noted for containing particles of nicotine and combustion byproducts, which were known to be dangerous to people’s health and especially the health of children. Cooking with oil added to the amount of air particles in homes, regardless of whether the food was burned or not. Homes where a lot of vacuuming, sweeping, and dusting were done had also been found to be full of more air particles, likely because these activities stirred up dormant air particles around the homes. (Related: Household dust contains toxic chemicals that can cause infertility and cancer.)

Burning candles and incense, meanwhile, increased the presence of air particles by a large margin. This may be due to the fact that most candles are made from paraffin wax, a petroleum waste product that released benzene and toluene — both carcinogens — when burned. Furthermore, a number of scented candles came with wicks that contained heavy metals like lead, noted WellnessMama.com, which in turn can cause these heavy metals to become airborne once the candles have been lit. This isn’t even taking into account the possibility of artificial dyes and scents being added to candles — artificial dyes and scents that can release even more chemicals into the air.

“The aim of our research is, ultimately, to find effective ways to promote smoke-free homes and also to find good strategies, in general, for reducing exposure to household pollution. The findings from our work will allow for better education and feedback to families,” said Neil E. Klepeis, a study co-author. “Our research team is continuing to develop novel monitoring devices and approaches that consumers can use to understand their air quality, and to explore ways that work for them and their families to reduce unhealthy pollutant exposures, especially for kids.” In the meantime, beeswax candles have been touted as a good alternative to most scented candles.

By neutralizing air contaminants, the candles effectively render these contaminants harmless and thereby reduce indoor air pollution. Go to Environ.news to read more stories about what else around you is and isn’t good for your health.

Link to the article: https://www.healthytopnews.today/2018/12/scented-candles-fill-air-of-homes-with.html
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Regular maintenance protects home’s value, makes for an easier sale

Melonee Hurt, Special to Nashville Tennessean / USA TODAY NETWORK – TENNESSEE Published 2:17 p.m. CT July 26, 2018 

 

Not only are home maintenance projects important to stay on top of as a homeowner to keep things in working condition, but there are certain things you can do around your home that can not only save but improve your property’s value.

Realtor Lisa Culp Taylor, who works in Nashville, Brentwood and Franklin, said she has listed properties that went under contract quickly, but fell through during inspections due to lack of proper maintenance. Those are things a new coat of paint can’t cover.

“Home maintenance is critical,” Taylor said. “This should be a priority for home owners and it needs to be done regularly. Most homeowners, for example, will service their HVAC twice a year, but I recommend a regular maintenance package for this. When you schedule your spring check-up, I would use this as a reminder to check your home for wood rot, chipping paint and the condition of your roof so those areas don’t get neglected. You’ll spend less on home repair and maintenance if you do it semi-annually.”

She added that buyers equate cleanliness to quality, so if your home appears neat, orderly, clean and updated, they see this as a quality investment.

Porter Langfitt, vice president of Franklin-based custom home builder Langfitt and Associates Inc., added that areas that aren’t as visible, such as a crawl space, are important to take care of as well.

“A home’s crawl space can be a hotbed for trouble if it isn’t maintained,” Langfitt said. “You have to check your crawl space every now and then to make sure you have no water intrusion and that ductwork and insulation are properly sealed.”

He said it’s also important to keep animals, such as skunks, raccoons or squirrels, out of your crawl space.

“Some animals can be very destructive under houses and it can be very costly to have the critters removed and repair the damage they have caused,” he said. “The best way to keep them out is to make sure your crawl space vents can open and close properly and to check around your HVAC unit’s connection to your house. Many have sheet-metal shrouds that animals can pry open.”

Other issues that can cause concern for the unseen in your home are rotting windows or crown molding that needs caulking. Those can be warning signs that there could be other issues throughout the home.

“We had one home listed which looked perfect,” Taylor said. “It had white painted brick, gray accents, updated countertops and it had multiple offers. Due to an inspection, an offer fell through. We got in there and made changes immediately, managing repairs throughout the process. We also work to make sure the buyer understands the maintenance that was done.”

Taylor added that the biggest mistake people make when it comes to home maintenance is not looking at their home with a critical eye. She recommends walking around your house today and looking at it as if you were going to list it tomorrow. It would make you look at things more closely.

Here are a few things Taylor and Langfitt recommend you stay on top of to keep your house ready to sell at a moment’s notice:

1. Windows: Something as simple as caulking your windows can make a huge difference in your heating and air bills as well as protect the glass and frames.

2. Air filters: Air filters throughout your house should be changed quarterly, monthly if you have pets. This will reduce the amount of dust in your home.

3. HVAC: This is an easy one to overlook because if it seems to be working properly, why bother, right? Wrong. Keeping your heating and cooling unit in proper working condition by checking it regularly can avoid costly replacements down the road.

4. Plumber: Schedule a plumber twice a year to be sure you don’t have any leaks around faucets or under your house, which can cause massive damage to a home if left untouched.

5. Chimney: If your home has a chimney, it’s important to keep an eye out for cracks or flaking that can occur from excessive heat. It’s another part of your home that needs to be checked regularly.

6. Roof: Your roof is another part of your home that might look fine to the homeowner’s eye, but a professional can see and assess damage and wear that could shorten the lifespan of your roof. Have it checked by a professional every couple of years.

7. Gutters/downspouts: Keeping gutters cleaned out and making sure downspouts are piped away from the house will prevent them from becoming clogged with debris, which can lead to water backing up and running into the crawl space.

Link to the article: https://www.tennessean.com/story/money/homes/2018/07/26/regular-maintenance-protects-homes-value-makes-easier-sale/784473002/

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