How To Choose a Fire Extinguisher for Your Home

11/24/2019 (Permalink)

Having a fire extinguisher within reach of every area of your home can help you manage small flames

You know you need smoke detectors throughout your home in Dickson,TX, but what is your plan if a small fire breaks out? Having a fire extinguisher handy can help you protect your home from a larger fire and extended damage. There are many choices of extinguishers.

How Do You Know Which One to Choose?

Type of Fire
Each extinguisher is coded with the type of home fire it works on:

A is for ordinary items such as cloth or wood
B is for liquids such as oil or gasoline
C is for electrical fires

Since you don't really know what kind of fire you're going to have, it's probably best to get an extinguisher that works on all three types.

Strength of Extinguisher

There are different sizes of fire extinguishers, and some are better at putting out certain fires than others. Before the letter that tells you what kind of flame your fire extinguisher will work on, you will likely see a number. Higher numbers generally mean better effectiveness. When choosing an extinguisher, weigh the effectiveness with the cost to make a reasonable decision.

Choice of Location

According to fire restoration specialists, unless you live in a one-room apartment, you probably want more than one extinguisher. A good fire preparedness plan includes thinking through possible scenarios. If you can imagine a fire breaking out in a room, you need an extinguisher nearby.

Ease of Use

Knowing how to use the extinguisher is also crucial to your plan. If it is too heavy for you, or you use it incorrectly, it doesn't do you much good. Remember to aim the nozzle at the base of the fire as you sweep it along and release the extinguishing agent. Always call 911 if the agent is not enough to put out the flames.
You can prevent extensive damage if you can put out a fire in a hurry. Having a fire extinguisher within reach of every area of your home can help you manage small flames.