How to Safely Tackle Home Projects

(Family Features) When contemplating home upgrades or building projects, contractors and DIYers alike focus on factors such as budget, scheduling and materials. Another important consideration before starting work on any project - from renovating a main living area to expanding a bathroom or transforming your outdoor space - is safety.

While having properly functioning tools is crucial to completing projects both big and small, proper handling and transportation of power tools and batteries can sometimes be overlooked. Due to their efficiency, energy storage capabilities, convenience and durability, lithium-ion battery-powered tools are a popular choice for taking care of task lists of all sizes, but must be handled correctly.

With members representing portable and stationary power tool brands, the experts at the Power Tool Institute - the leading organization for power tool safety resources, information and education - recommend these tips for safe use, storage, transportation and disposal of lithium-ion batteries.

Use:

• The higher energy potential and small size of lithium-ion batteries makes them ideal for cordless power tools but also pose additional safety risks when misused.
• Batteries are not interchangeable, so it's important to only use batteries and chargers from the original power tool manufacturer.
• Original manufacturer batteries are engineered to communicate and work with specific tools and chargers. These components go through a rigorous certification and testing process. Third-party batteries are not always held to the same standard, and can pose fire, property damage or personal injury risks.
• Never modify, disassemble or tamper with a battery. The performance of damaged or modified batteries can be unpredictable and dangerous.
• If a lithium-ion battery is damaged, contact the manufacturer before use.
• Never immerse your tool, battery pack or charger in fluid or allow fluid to enter it

Storage and Transportation:

• Inspect batteries regularly for signs of damage, such as crushing, cuts or punctures.
• Store your battery in a cool, dry place, away from combustible and flammable items.
• Avoid contact with metal objects, such as keys, coins, screws and nails.
• Always transport and store lithium-ion batteries as instructed in the owner's manual.

Disposal:

• Throwing a lithium-ion battery in the trash or municipal recycling can be a fire hazard.
• Safely dispose of used or damaged lithium-ion batteries by taking them to a local battery recycling center or placing them in a receptacle specially designed for recycling batteries.

Find more information on safe battery use at TakeChargeOfYourBattery.com, or visit PowerToolInstitute.com for additional power tool safety and operation tips.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

8 Tips for Safer Power Tool Performance

(Family Features) For many homeowners, a list of seasonal chores and home improvement projects can add up to a whole lot of work. Power tools often get called on for heavy use to whittle away at that list, but the batteries used to power these devices can pose certain risks.

Lithium-ion batteries have become quite common due to their efficiency, energy storage capacity, durability and safety. These batteries' higher energy potential in a smaller battery makes them ideal for cordless power tools, but higher energy density also means higher potential for damage when misused.

While they offer great versatility and portability, batteries also need to be handled properly to prevent potential dangers. Safe, proper use of lithium-ion batteries from the original tool manufacturer is key to preventing battery-related accidents.

Before operating a battery-powered tool, heed this advice from the experts at the Power Tool Institute, a leading voice on power tool safety issues and standards for the industry.

• Know that batteries are not interchangeable. It's important to only use batteries and chargers from the original power tool manufacturer. Original manufacturer batteries are specifically engineered and tested for use with the tools and chargers from the original manufacturer.

• Aftermarket batteries may not be tested to the same standards as original manufacturer batteries and therefore come with additional hazards that can result in fire, property damage or personal injury.

• Always transport and store lithium-ion batteries as instructed in the owner's manual.

• Avoid contact with metal objects, such as keys, coins, screws and nails, and liquids, which present safety hazards. Inspect batteries regularly for signs of damage, such as crushing, cuts or punctures. Do not use a battery that has received a sharp blow, been dropped or is damaged.

• Never modify, disassemble or tamper with a battery. The performance of damaged or modified batteries can be unpredictable and dangerous. 

• Be mindful of abnormal battery behaviors such as failure to fully charge or hold a charge, longer-than-usual charging times, overheating, a noticeable drop in performance, unusual LED activity when placed on a charger, liquid leakage from the battery or melted plastic anywhere on the pack. These are indications of an internal problem.

• Do not immerse the battery or allow any fluids to flow inside. Conductive liquid ingress, such as water, can cause damage resulting in fire or explosion. Store your battery in a cool, dry place, away from combustible and flammable items.

• When disposing of a lithium-ion battery, never throw it into the trash or a municipal recycling bin, as it can become a fire hazard. Instead, take it to a local recycling center or place it in a receptacle specifically designed for recycling batteries. If your lithium-ion battery is damaged, contact the manufacturer.

For more information on safe battery use, storage and disposal for power tools, visit TakeChargeOfYourBattery.com, or find more tips for safe and proper operation of your power tools at PowerToolInstitute.com.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images