Hazards in the home

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In a new study sponsored by the Home Safety Council and New York-based GarageTek, 33 percent of respondents said a garage-related injury had occurred in their homes, and nearly 60 percent of all garage users said they didn't dwell on the safety hazards in their garages.

The findings paint only a partial picture of the possible dangers existing in seemingly tranquil homes.

Bob Sisson, who runs Inspections by Bob in Boyds, says undetectable wiring hazards often lurk under the kitchen sink. Garbage disposal units typically involve a clamp at the bottom of the unit, but often that clamp is loose or a stray wire peeks out from it.

"It's amazing what you find under kitchen sinks," Mr. Sisson says.

Another hidden kitchen-related danger can be found at the sink's faucet.

Many homeowners set their water heater's thermostat at too high a temperature. The proper heating range is around 120 degrees, Mr. Sisson says, but often the heaters are cranked up as high as 140 degrees.

It takes up to six minutes of exposure to 120-degree water for an adult male to get burned but only a few seconds for a burn to develop at the highest range, he says.

"Children, women and the elderly burn much faster," he adds.

The danger exists primarily for children, who may not pull their hands from a hot faucet in time to avoid a burn.

Another kitchen-based problem can be found with stoves that aren't properly secured. Stand-alone stoves should be anchored to the floor with an anti-tip bracket, he says, something many homeowners don't know.