Selecting a Fire Extinguisher for Your Home

5/17/2019 (Permalink)

Place an extinguisher in the places most likely to have a fire

Selecting a Fire Extinguisher for Your Home

At least one portable fire extinguisher should be in any home. However, the amount will typically vary depending on the size and number of stories to your home. Regardless, the selection of an extinguisher is vital because some will help with certain fires and hurt with others. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the considerations that go into an extinguisher selection before purchase.

1. Location

A home fire is a terrifying thing, but the proper placement of an extinguisher may mitigate it. A two-story home should have a minimum of one extinguisher on each level. However, this number increases when you consider the common locations for fires to occur – the kitchen, laundry room, basement and garage. Therefore, you should place an extinguisher in the places most likely to have a fire.

2. Type

Next, you may want to consider the type of fire extinguisher that would best address the fires that may occur in the previously determined locations. For instance, a kitchen may be more likely to experience a grease and oil fire while a garage may experience a wood fire. Most common extinguisher models for a home come in three types.

• Type A: These extinguishers are used for fires started from ordinary combustibles, like paper, wood and fabric.
  
• Type B: Used to suppress most grease and oil fires, these extinguishers typically douse flames with dry ice and not chemical powders.
  
• Type C: If you are worried about an electrical fire, then you want a class C unit. It may be wise to place these extinguishers near computers and other often used outlets.
  
  

3. Size and Effectiveness

While having extinguishers proves fire preparedness, you want a unit that will be the most effective against common fires. Therefore, you can contact a fire restoration specialist or the fire department in the Prospect Heights, IL, area to discuss your extinguisher needs.

A single fire extinguisher may be suitable for a small house, but a variety of types may provide you with the best protection. Whatever you decide, make sure to have at least one extinguisher on hand in case the worst happens.