Up in the attic, down in the basement

Safety in the crawl space

Standing water and dampness are big concerns in crawl spaces, experts say. Electricians may have run wires through your crawl space, and if any are faulty and moisture is present, you could be electrocuted – especially if you’re using metal tools or if you touch any ductwork.

Lesh said inspectors won’t go into a crawl space if they see standing water.

Additionally, unwelcome animals – including snakes – can pose the same hazards in crawl spaces as they do in attics.

“Snakes can get in almost anywhere,” Gromicko said.

Added Lesh: “There can be a lot of germs from feces or decaying feces.”

Finally, as Lesh can attest, exposed nails sticking out from the top of crawl spaces can be just as painful as those in attics.

Garage safety tips

One of the biggest hazards in garages are the heavy doors, especially if safety devices such as photoelectric sensors aren’t properly installed or working. These sensors – located at the base of each side of the garage door and emitting and detecting beams of light – should be installed no more than 6 inches above the standing surface, Gromicko said.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends testing the sensors once a month to make sure the door reverses when the beam of light is broken by an object.

“If the door fails to reverse, adjust the door according to the owner’s manual or have it inspected by a professional repairman,” the CPSC says.

Carbon monoxide is another potential fatal hazard, especially in attached garages. People have died when their vehicles with keyless-start ignitions have been left running inadvertently.

If your furnace is in the garage, it can draw your vehicle’s exhaust into your home, Lesh cautioned. Prevent this by moving your vehicle outside the garage when it’s idling.

And although garages are great for storing items you don’t want in the house, boxes and other items shouldn’t be stacked in a way that could make them topple over.

Finally, be sure to keep a close eye on young children when they’re in the garage.

“Always assume children might try to climb your stored items and shelving,” Gromicko said.