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  • How to Freshen Up a Stinky Garage

    The garage is home to your cars, workbench, sporting equipment, gardening supplies – and a number of unpleasant smells. If the stink makes it unbearable to spend more than a few minutes at a time in the garage, you may find it impossible to pursue hobbies like carpentry, gardening and car restoration. Freshen up your stinky garage so you don’t have to plug your nose every time you step out there.

    What Makes a Garage Stink?

    Before you attempt to deodorize the garage, you must identify which malodorous offenders are to blame. Here are some of the most common culprits:

    • Garbage cans and recycling bins
    • Cardboard and paper products
    • Fumes from cleaning products, motor oil, garden chemicals and paint cans
    • Oil spills
    • Chronic mold and mildew
    • Sink and floor drains
    • Pet bedding, litter boxes and kennels

    Clean and Deodorize the Garage

    Once you recognize what’s causing your stinky garage, it’s time to combat it. Here are some cleaning and deodorizing tips to try:

    Clean your garbage cans and recycling bins: Start by hosing them down. Then, mix up a gallon of hot water and a teaspoon of dishwashing liquid. Dip a sponge into the soapy solution and scrub the cans inside and out. Rinse them with water from a garden hose and let them dry completely.

    To help your garbage cans stay fresher longer, line the bottom of each one with several sheets of newspaper and a sprinkle of baking soda to absorb odors. Replace the newspaper and baking soda every week on trash day.

    Rethink storage: If you keep items in cardboard boxes on the garage floor, take a moment to examine them closely. You’re likely to find soggy, moldy spots that contribute to your stinky garage. Clearly, it’s time to throw them out.

    To prevent soaking up moisture and encouraging mold growth in the future, replace cardboard boxes with durable plastic containers. Label these carefully and stack them on shelves or overhead storage to free up space in your garage.

    Discard old products: Empty all shelves and garage cabinets of cans, containers, spray bottles and other items. Assess the age and condition of each one and throw out any that are past their prime. Be sure to dispose of old motor oil, paint, chemicals and other products at a designated hazardous waste disposal facility.

    Clean up oil spills: Old motor oil on the floor contributes to the stink in your garage. Instead of toiling over spills, try covering them with kitty litter. This product has the ability to soak up liquids and eliminate odors, allowing you to clean the floor with hardly any effort. After one to two days, sweep up the kitty litter to reveal the oil-free floor beneath.

    Clean the garage with bleach: If you detect a musty odor in your garage, chronic mold and mildew could be to blame. Combine one cup of chlorine bleach with a gallon of water in a large bucket. Use this solution to mop the floors and walls of the garage.

    For your safety, leave the garage door open while cleaning with bleach to ensure adequate ventilation. Rinse the floors and walls with clean water and allows it to air dry for at least 24 hours before closing the garage door.

    Address smelly floor drains: If the drain on your garage floor has a trap, the water inside may have dried up after months of non-use. This can become a source of sewer smells in the garage. Because floor drains are likely to remain unused for a long time, you can keep foul odors at bay by pouring 3/4 cup of mineral oil down the drain and into the trap. This evaporates slower than water and prevents sewer stench from seeping into the garage for longer.

    If the smell remains despite your efforts, this could mean the drain doesn’t have a trap. To block odors rising from the sewer without sealing the drain completely, lay down a piece of heavy plastic over the drain, and tape down three of the four sides. This way, you block most of the odor, but standing water can still enter the drain.

    Clean pet supplies regularly: Perhaps you put Fido’s kennel or Fluffy’s litter box in the garage to prevent them from stinking up your home. The only problem is now they’re stinking up the garage! The simple fix is to give these pet supplies the same care you would if they were within the living space. Clean litter boxes daily, launder pet bedding weekly and hose out kennels twice a month.

    Keep Future Smells at Bay

    Now that your garage smells relatively fresh and clean, you want to keep it that way. Here are some ideas for maintaining a fresh-smelling garage:

    • Soak up future odors by setting out containers of undiluted white vinegar, baking soda, clean kitty litter or activated charcoal. These odor absorbers help manage smells in the garage. Replace them once a month to ensure they remain effective.
    • Secure garbage can lids. If possible, leave your trash by the side of the house instead of inside the garage.
    • Install a ceiling- or wall-mounted exhaust fan or ventilation system. This helps regulate temperature and moisture levels to discourage mold and mildew. It also draws stale, fumy air outside to keep your garage smelling fresh.
    • Move hazardous chemicals and half-empty paint cans to an unattached shed, if possible. These products smell because they release volatile organic compounds into the air, which can be harmful to your health.
    • Check items on shelves and in cabinets regularly for problems that could cause bad odors, such as leaking bottles or spoiled food.

    Enjoy Your Fresh-Smelling Garage!

    Now that the offending odors are long gone, you may have new thoughts about how to make the most of your garage. Whether you want to start working on your car again, or you have alternative uses in mind for your garage, you need a quality garage door to secure the space.

    An insulated garage door helps with moisture and temperature regulation if you plan to heat or cool the area. Lightweight aluminum, sturdy steel, low-maintenance vinyl, and timeless wood are all possible garage door materials. Different styles – such as modern flat panel, traditional raised panel or timeless carriage doors – help you match your home’s aesthetic design.

    For garage door installation and repair in Jacksonville, please contact A1A Overhead Door Company at (904) 579-1123.

  • Three Things to Consider When You’re Shopping for a Garage Door

    Garage door replacement is a smart way to boost the appearance, value, and efficiency of your home. If you’re in the market for a new garage door in Jacksonville, FL , then here are three things that you should be sure to consider before making your decision:

    Style

    Of course, appearance should be a significant part of the decision-making process when selecting a new garage door. After all, if your garage faces the road, then this aspect of your home’s exterior can have a big impact on your property’s curb appeal. For this reason, when considering your options, be sure to think about what garage door color and style might be best suited to your home’s style and color.

    Insulation

    One way in which one garage door can differ from another is in its insulating qualities. This factor matters because even if your garage isn’t one of the heated or air-conditioned areas of your home, choosing an insulated option for your new garage door may improve your home’s energy efficiency and contribute to lower home heating and cooling costs. How much insulation a garage door can provide can depend on its material. For example, aluminum and steel garage doors are usually less insulating than those made of other materials. However, there are many garage doors available that are insulated to provide better thermal efficiency. Typically, for any home that has an attached garage, choosing an insulated model for this home investment can be a wise decision.

    Safety

    Installing a new garage door is a way to add better safety and security to your home. For example, by choosing a garage door system that includes an electronic keypad, your garage may be less at risk for theft. Also, if you live in an area that gets tornadoes or hurricanes, then investing in a garage door that is designed to withstand heavy winds can be a smart option that helps provide extra protection for your property.

  • Keeping Kids Away from Garage Door Dangers

    Parents often go to great lengths to help ensure the safety of their children, but there are some hazards that even the most vigilant of caregivers are not aware of. Whether you need garage door repairs or just installed a new garage door in Jacksonville, FL, there are a number of things to know about when it comes to keeping kids safe around this part of your home.

    One common garage door-related injury among children is injured fingers, as they can get their fingers trapped between the segments of a moving garage door. Also, kids sometimes get caught underneath garage doors as they are closing. For these reasons, you should make sure that your children are well away from the door before opening or closing it. To help protect your kids from garage door injuries, encourage them to remain away from the door at all times. Also, you should try to be a good remodel and avoid ducking under the door as it is closing. Finally, take care of any necessary garage door repairs sooner rather than later to help promote the safety of you and your family.

  • What Are the Common Signs of a Broken Garage Door Spring?

    Spring replacements are among the most common types of garage door repairs that homeowners need. Are you wondering if you’re dealing with a broken spring and need garage door repairs near Fernandina Beach ? If so, then there are several signs for you to look out for.

    If you have a broken garage door spring, then the cables may be loose or detached, you may hear loud noises when the door is in motion, or you might see a break in the torsion spring. Also, if the garage door lifts only partway, lowers too quickly, isn’t level, lifts shakily, or is bent on top, then you may be dealing with a broken spring.

    What it comes to garage door repairs that involve spring replacement, these jobs are better left in the hands of professionals, as homeowners frequently end up injuring themselves when attempting to DIY this task. If you believe that you’re dealing with a broken spring, then consider calling your local garage door repair company.

  • Recognizing Lightning Damage to Your Garage Door Opener

    For many homeowners, the effect that storms can have on their garage door opener never crosses their mind until a problem comes up. Continue reading to learn what garage door experts in Jacksonville, FL would want you to know about what lightning damage to your garage door opener may look like.

    No Power

    Lightning strikes can do significant damage to electronics, including your garage door opener. If your opener has been affected by lightning, then you may find that the device no longer powers on following a storm. If your garage door opener doesn’t seem to be getting any power, then rule out other possible causes, such as an unplugged power cord or a tripped circuit breaker. After ruling out other potential issues, you should consider calling a garage door repair company.

    Failing Remote

    Another warning sign of lightning damage to a garage door opener is a remote that no longer seems to work. If, after replacing the remote’s batteries, you still can’t get it to open the garage door, then the problem may be inside of the opener.

    Different Lights

    The lights that you see illuminated on your garage door opener when it is working right are indicative of properly functioning electrical wiring. If, after a storm, you notice that the illuminated LEDs on your garage door opener are different than usual, then this may indicate that lightning has damaged the device. In particular, if the device’s warning light is on, then consider calling a garage door repair company to inspect the opener for damage.

    Inconsistent Performance

    When a garage door opener is functioning as it should be, then it opens the garage door consistently when directed to by a working remote. For this reason, if your area recently received lightning and now your garage door opener is only working some of the time, then its poor function may indicate that it has been damaged. Instead of waiting for the opener to fail again when you’re busy or running late, consider scheduling garage door repairs today.

  • How to Park in the Right Spot in Your Garage

    How to Park in the Right Spot in Your Garage

    Judging when you are far enough from your new garage door in Jacksonville, FL when parking in your garage isn’t always an easy task. If you struggle to park your car exactly where you want it when you get home, then watch this video for a simple trick to try.

    Start by getting your car where you would like to park it. Next, find yourself a tennis ball, some nylon string, and two eye hooks. Then, twist one of the eye hooks into the tennis ball before tying the string to the eye hook. Lastly, twist the second eye hook into the garage ceiling and then tie the other end of the string to the eyehook so that the tennis ball rests against the windshield. Now, you will know exactly where to stop when parking your car in your garage.

  • Tips for Painting Your Garage Door

    Tips for Painting Your Garage Door

    Your home’s garage door can have a significant impact on the overall look of your home, which means that coordinating it with the rest of the building’s exterior can be essential for maximizing your property’s curb appeal. If you have already taken care of garage door replacement near Ponte Vedra but need to coordinate this feature with your home’s new paint color, then watch this video for tips on painting your garage door.

    If your garage door is paneled, then consider renting a paint sprayer, as it can be challenging to paint all the angles of a paneled surface using brushes and rollers. Before you begin, create a protective awning around the edges of the door to help ensure that you don’t get paint on your home’s siding. Also, to be sure that you cover all the areas, aim the sprayer down, straight, and up as you work.

  • FAQs About Garage Door Hurricane Codes in Florida

    Are you considering garage door replacement in Jacksonville, FL but aren’t sure about what specifications are required? If so, then read on to learn the answers to some common questions about Florida’s garage door hurricane codes.

    Why is garage door hurricane code compliance important?

    The wind velocities that hurricanes can produce can do significant damage to even sturdy, rigid buildings and their components, and this includes garage doors. A hurricane can destroy a garage door by pulling it outward, pushing it inward, or removing it entirely, possibly causing damage to vehicles in the process. Also, if a hurricane’s winds manage to bend the door or remove it from the home, then this can leave the building more vulnerable to hurricane damage. For these reasons, garage door replacement can be a smart option for Florida homeowners whose garage doors aren’t up to code.

    Do I need to worry about garage door replacement for hurricanes?

    If you own an older home or if your garage door is not relatively new, then you should consider investing in a newer and more durable garage door. Older garage doors are typically more vulnerable to hurricane force winds, and the damage that they can suffer may lead to additional problems such as water and roof damage.

    How do I determine the wind speed requirements for my home’s location?

    To determine what wind speed requirements your garage door replacement should meet, you should factor in the wind exposure that your home may receive in your location, as well as your home’s structural type. You can find information about the minimum wind speed that your garage door should be able to withstand by visiting windspeed.atcouncil.org .

    Why do garage doors need a hurricane code?

    Many people assume that because garage doors are so big and heavy that there is no need to worry about them suffering hurricane damage. However, the truth is very much the opposite. It is because garage doors cover such a large opening in your home that hurricane code compliance is vital for avoiding hurricane damage.

  • A Look at the Financial Benefits of Getting a New Garage Door

    New garage doors offer plenty of aesthetic and functional benefits, but they can be wallet-friendly as well. If you’re on the fence about garage door replacement in Amelia Beach , then read on to learn about some of the financial benefits of installing a new garage door.

    Avoiding Repairs

    It’s common for homeowners to choose repairs over replacement when it comes to garage door issues, as the investment required for the former is typically significantly less than that of the latter. While it’s true that garage door repair can often be the financially smart option, it isn’t always the case. For example, if you’re frequently calling a garage door repair company for one reason or another, then investing in a new garage door may be the cost-saving choice in the long run.

    Improving Efficiency

    Cooler weather has arrived, and if you’re like many homeowners, then you’re taking care of home maintenance tasks that help seal up your home and prevent heat loss and higher heating bills. Besides plugging up gaps around your windows and installing door sweeps, another way to improve your home’s insulation is to replace your old garage door, as newer ones tend to have better insulating qualities.

    Increasing Value

    A better-looking garage door can do a lot to enhance the look of your home, which means better curb appeal for your property and the potential for higher home value. Also, replacing your garage door may boost the value of your home in the same way that installing new windows or appliances would.

    Preventing Theft

    One final financial benefit to consider if you’re dealing with an out of shape garage door is that a new, well-functioning one may do a better job of protecting your property. For example, a garage door that is stuck open or that can be opened by anyone can be an invitation for theft. Lastly, you can choose to have your new garage door installed with an electronic keypad for an added level of security.

  • What You Need to Know About Garage Door Maintenance

    It’s easy to take your garage door for granted. Most of us use our garage doors every day without thinking twice about how they work or even whether they’re working as well as they should. This changes, however, when your garage door malfunctions. One of the best ways to minimize the number of repairs you’ll need to make to your garage door is to seek out professional maintenance from a garage door company in Jacksonville, FL. Here’s what you need to know about maintaining your garage door. white - garage

    Garage doors experience a lot of wear and tear

    Think of how many times a week you use your garage door. You may only be opening and closing it, but it puts a great deal of stress on the internal components of your door. The more often you use your door, the closer those components come to wearing out and breaking down. That’s why regular maintenance is so important—it can help to ensure that your garage door stays in great condition.

    Broken garage doors make noise

    It isn’t always easy to tell when it’s time to call for professional maintenance of your garage door, but one way is to listen for any unusual noises when you open or close your door. If the door creaks, it could mean that you simply need to oil the hinges—or it could indicate a more serious problem. To be on the safe side, you should have it checked out by a professional right away.

    Garage door malfunctions can be subtle

    It’s easy to overlook many of the most common garage door malfunctions. If your garage door is refusing to open or close, it could be because the rollers have gone off-track, because of a broken sensor, or even because of changes in the humidity level. Calling for a quick repair will help to ensure that your door continues to operate reliably and safely.