How To Choose the Best Fire Extinguisher for Your Home

6/28/2022 (Permalink)

Always have in your Temple, TX home a fire extinguisher

How to Select the Best Home Fire Extinguisher

Accessible fire extinguishers throughout your home are vital for its safety. However, fire extinguisher access is only helpful when you’ve chosen the right ones for your needs. The good news is that it’s not difficult to find the right choices for your home.

Extinguisher ABC Ratings

Every extinguisher bears an ABC-series code on the label. That code defines the type of fire the extinguisher will address. A and B are typically followed by a number to define how effective the extinguisher is against those materials. The higher the number, the more effective it will be.

• Class A extinguishers are for traditional home fires, including upholstery, cloth, carpet, paper and wood. Keep these options in living areas and around your fireplace or furnace.
• Class B extinguishers are ideal for cooking fires. Keep one in the kitchen and an extra in the garage in case of gasoline fires.
• Class C extinguishers are electrical fire models. This choice should be your go-to for any electrical fire, whether from an appliance or computer equipment.

Combination extinguishers give you the best of all of those needs. If you are looking for an overall fire preparedness solution in Temple, TX, ABC extinguishers will get the job done in all areas of your home.

Fire Extinguisher Weight Ratings

The weight stamped on an extinguisher canister details the amount of fire retardant; it does not include the canister's weight.

Five-pound extinguishers are usually sufficient for a home fire in most areas if the fire is caught quickly enough. A 10-pound extinguisher in the garage or your basement might be a good investment as well. Fires in those areas can grow quickly, sometimes leaving you in need of a fire damage restoration company, so larger extinguishers are often better.

The right combination of fire retardant solution and weight can ensure that your home's fire hazards are quickly addressed. These tips make it easier to choose the right fire extinguisher for each part of your home.