How To Select the Best Fire Extinguisher for Your Home

7/15/2021 (Permalink)

Not all fire extinguishers are created equal.

What Is The Best Type Of Fire Extinguisher For Home Use?

Not all fire extinguishers are created equal. When shopping for one for your home, it’s important that you understand the differences between each type of fire extinguisher, what they’re used for and how to select the right one for your home. There are a few factors to consider before making your purchase:

• Size
• Classification
• Use

Size

There are four different sizes for extinguishers used to fight home fires: 10-pound, five-pound, two-pound, and stove-top. The 10-pound extinguisher is best for garages, sheds, and outbuildings in which a fire might have the potential to grow without being noticed.

A five-pound extinguisher is best for in the home and for combatting kitchen fires and electrical fires. If you want to be able to combat a home fire, the five-pound fire extinguisher is ideal.

A two-pound extinguisher is best for on-the-go, such as in a vehicle. These models are typically disposable and come with mounts to keep them from rolling around in the trunk.

Stove-top extinguishers are exactly what they sound like—extinguishers used to fight stove fires. They’re lightweight and can be mounted directly on the range hood for easy access.

Classification

Home extinguishers are labeled as either A, B or C. Models with an “A” are effective on ordinary combustibles such as paper, wood and cloth. Those with a “B” are ideal for flammable liquids such as oil or grease. Extinguishers with a “C” can be safely used on live electricity.

Use

Finally, you want to consider ease of use. An extinguisher won’t do you any good if you do not know how to use it or if you do not have the capacity to operate it. When shopping around, ask a technician for a demonstration or, at the very least, step-by-step instructions.

A fire extinguisher needs to be a part of your fire preparedness plan.