Don’t Leave Power Tools in Hot Cars

Here’s a hot tip for the hottest time of year: don’t leave battery-powered tools inside a customer’s car — not even for a minute.

Last week in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, a parked car caught fire after a lithium-ion battery inside a backpack vacuum exploded. According to the Upper Allen Fire Department, the car had been sitting in the sun when the battery overheated and ignited. By the time firefighters arrived, the interior was already badly damaged. Thankfully, no one was hurt — but the car was a total mess.

It’s a scary reminder of what can happen when lithium-ion batteries get too hot. And let’s be honest — it could’ve just as easily been one of our power screwdrivers or drills.

As auto upholstery professionals, we use battery-powered tools all the time. It’s easy to toss one on the seat or center console while we work. But when the sun is beating down and the temps hit the 90s or higher, those batteries can become dangerous fast.

If a tool explodes inside a customer’s car, the damage — and the headache — is all yours.

So as a rule of thumb:

Don’t leave battery-powered tools inside vehicles
Keep tools out of direct sunlight
Bring them inside the shop when not in use
Let hot tools or batteries cool down before storage

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: treat every customer’s car like it’s your own. Fire risk might not be top of mind in the middle of an install, but it should be — especially in summer.

Stay safe, stay cool, and protect those interiors.