What Are the Best Fire Extinguishers for Home Use?
The kind of fire extinguisher we purchase is mainly determined by the nature of the fire we are likely to encounter in our home.
What is the best fire extinguisher for home use? The commonly held view, among the experts, is that the ABC-type fire extinguishers are the best on the market for residential dwellings. They are also commonly referred to as multipurpose fire extinguishers.
First, How many types of fires are there?
There are technically five different classes of fire, A, B, C, D, K, and these classes of fire are based on the type of fuel being burned.
- Class A fires include normal combustibles like wood, paper, trash, cloth, rubber, and plastic.
- Class B fires include flammable liquids like oil, gasoline, solvents, paints, lacquer, and other oil-based products.
- Class C fires include all energized electrical fires, including wiring, controls, motors, appliances.
- Class D fires include all combustible metals, Magnesium, Titanium, and Lithium.
- Class K fires involve cooking oils, grease, and animal fat usually found in kitchens.
Fire extinguishers for each class of fire
Water fire extinguishers, for class A fires
The Color Code Label on this extinguisher description panel is RED.
√- Safe for use on wood, paper, textiles
X- Do not use on live electrical fires
X- Do not use on flammable liquid fires
X- Do not use on flammable metal fires
- Designed to fight Class A fires.
- Sprays 2.5 gallons of water for up to one minute
- A range of about 30 to 40 feet.
This type of extinguisher puts out fires by cooling the burning material below its ignition temperature.
It’s important to note that you never want to use a water-based fire extinguisher on a kitchen grease fire because water and grease do not mix.
Spraying this type of extinguisher, or just plain water for that matter, on a grease fire will cause the oil to splash and flames to spread.
This kind of fire extinguisher is most effective on flammable solids like wood, textiles, paper, and furnishings.
Carbon Dioxide fire extinguishers, for class BC fires
The Color Code label on this extinguisher description is Black.
√- Safe for use on flammable liquid fires
√- Safe for use on electrical fires
X- Do not use on wood, paper, textiles
X- Do not hold horn when operating, gets extremely cold
- Designed to fight class B and C fires
- Ineffective on class A fires.
- They come in various sizes and varying discharge times, between eight and thirty seconds.
The discharge time is the amount of time you can spray until the canister is empty.
Carbon Dioxide extinguishers work differently than water extinguishers in that they don’t cool the burning material. Instead, the carbon dioxide displaces the oxygen needed for the fire to keep burning.
The CO2 canister goes by weight and does not have a pressure gauge as found on other types of extinguishers.
CO2 fire extinguishers are not as messy as other types of extinguishers and require minimal cleanup, making them ideal in areas with expensive electronic equipment.
When using the carbon dioxide fire extinguisher, you will find that the gas discharge is extremely cold. It would probably be in your best interests to avoid handling the discharge nozzle when fighting a fire of this type.
Multipurpose dry chemical fire extinguishers, class ABC
The Color Code label on this extinguisher description is Blue.
√ Safe for use on wood, paper, textiles
√ Safe for use on flammable liquid fires
√ Safe for use on gaseous fires like propane and butane
√ Safe for use on electrical fires
- Generally used in most multipurpose ABC residential fire extinguishers
- Dry chemical extinguishers have a pressure gauge to allow you to check the pressure.
- The range on a dry chemical extinguisher is generally between five to twenty feet, depending on the size of the unit.
Dry chemical extinguishers are very messy and require the most cleanup. This is why CO2 extinguishers are the preferred choice for fighting fires in rooms with expensive electronics.
Foam fire extinguishers, class AB fires
The Color Code on this extinguisher description panel is CREAM.
√- Safe for use on wood, paper, textiles
√- safe for use on flammable liquid fires
X- Do not use on live electrical fires
X- Do not use on flammable metal fires
- Used to fight fires on flammable liquids like gasoline, oils, and solvents.
- Water based.
- Can also be used to negotiate fires on flammable solids like wood, paper, and textiles.
Foam fire extinguishers work by smothering the fire, cooling the combustible material below its ignition temperature, and preventing re-ignition of the fire.
Wet chemical fire extinguishers, class K
Finally, there is something called a wet chemical fire extinguisher, and as the name would suggest, this is essentially used in highly specialized environments.
These are generally color-coded YELLOW.
√- for use on cooking grease, oils, and deep fat fires
√- Safe for use on wood, paper, textiles
X- Do not use on live electrical fires
X- Do not use on flammable liquid fires
X- Do not put the nozzle into oil
Even though class K fires technically fall under the class B category, they require a specialized extinguisher type.
One of the most dangerous parts of fighting greasy kitchen fires is the re-ignition of the fire once it is put out. The wet chemical discharges as a foaming agent and prevents the fire from reigniting.
The wet chemical fire extinguisher has a discharge spraying capacity of up to 40 seconds, with a range reaching up to ten to twenty feet.
Class K fire extinguishers are typically found in commercial kitchens and not in home kitchens because of the large size of the canister. If you operate a commercial kitchen of any kind, this is the fire extinguisher for you.
It is there to fight cooking fat and cooking oil fires, which can be vicious at the best of times.
ABC Type fire extinguishers:
When shopping around, you will find many different types of and sizes of fire extinguishers, each one designed specifically for a particular kind of fire.
Instead of buying specific fire extinguishers for each room, you can purchase a multipurpose ABC-type fire extinguisher to cover all the possibilities.
The ABC-type fire extinguisher is currently the most popular fire extinguisher used in the home. Having this one unit gives you the ability to fight different types of fires caused by various combustible materials found throughout the rooms in your home, including:
- Main living areas
- Kitchen
- Hallways
- Storage rooms
- Laundry rooms
- Furnace room
- Garage and workshops
Household fires are surprisingly common. Therefore, it is always good to have several ABC-type fire extinguishers throughout the house. Where you place the fire extinguisher is critical, and I will touch on where they should be placed a little later in this article.
One of the main benefits of the ABC-type fire extinguishers is that they are compact and can easily store away in the rooms where a fire is more likely to start.
Where should you put a fire extinguisher and what type to use?
Main living areas
Primary areas include bedrooms, hallways, living rooms, home offices, storage rooms. Install an ABC-type fire extinguisher in the main living areas on every level of your home, no more than 40 feet apart.
Fire extinguisher for the main rooms of the house?
- ABC type fire extinguisher
- Multi-purpose dry chemical
- Monoammonium Phosphate
- Fights common fires in the main living areas such as fabrics, wood, furnishings, and drapes, flammable liquid,s, and electrical fires
The kitchen
I’ve had three cooking-related fires in my kitchen over the past seventeen years, and thankfully they were all small fires that we put out quickly.
One was on the stove caused by cooking grease, and the other two because we had paper towels and an oven mitt too close to the stove’s flames.
According to the NFPA, cooking is the leading cause of home fires. Unfortunately, about 25 percent of homes are equipped with a fire extinguisher in the kitchen to help contain a small fire before it quickly grows out of control.
Fire extinguisher for the kitchen
- ABC type fire extinguisher
- Multipurpose dry chemical
- Suitable on most common fires
I bought two smaller fire extinguishers for the kitchen because there isn’t room for me to mount a larger extinguisher, and I also wanted it to be easy to handle.
I bought the Kidde RESSP designed for kitchen use from Amazon
- Weighs 4 pounds
- Capable of spraying up to five feet
- The spray discharge time is 8-10 seconds
Garage/workshop
I store flammable liquids like cleaners, paint thinners, and solvents. I also have a portable generator and a snowblower fueled by gasoline.
Not to mention all the stuff that eventually finds its way into the garage, a lot of paper, plastic, wood, and other junk.
For the garage, I installed a higher rated unit such as the 3-A:40B-C rate fire extinguisher,
I purchased two fire extinguishers for the garage, one by the door that leads into the house and one just inside the main overhead door.
Having two fire extinguishers is overkill for a garage, but I always want to have a fire extinguisher by an exit. I don’t want to have to go inside the garage to reach for one.
Fire extinguisher for the garage/workshop
- ABC type fire extinguisher
- Multipurpose dry chemical
- Suitable on most common fires
- Class A: Trash, wood, paper
- Class B: Flammable liquids
- Class c: Electrical equipment
Basement
In my basement, my main concerns are the laundry area, the furnace room, and the electrical closet where I have my main electrical circuit panel, so I wanted to get a fire extinguisher that can handle a fire in any of these rooms.
The ABC-type fire extinguisher makes the most sense for my basement. I bought three fire extinguishers for my basement, and I placed one in the laundry area in case there is a dryer vent fire or electrical fire, one in the furnace room, and one on the bottom of the stairs just outside the electrical closet.
- ABC type fire extinguisher
- Multipurpose dry chemical
- Suitable on most common fires
- Class A: Trash, wood, paper
- Class B: Flammable liquids
- Class c: Electrical equipment
How often do fire extinguishers need to be replaced?
Powder, foam, and water extinguishers have a five-year life span. CO2 fire extinguishers can have, on average, a 10-year-life span.
It’s a good idea to write the date of purchase on the fire extinguisher and the recommended replacement date from the manufacturer.
What Size Fire Extinguisher Should I Get?
The size of fire extinguishers you buy is determined by:
- The physical weight of the extinguisher
- The weight or amount of extinguishing agent inside the unit
- The distance the fire extinguisher can spray the agent
- The discharge time
I purchased two different sized fire extinguishers for my house, mainly for two reasons: storage and ease of use.
The rest of the house
I purchased a larger unit for the main rooms of the house and the garage, laundry, and furnace rooms because I had the space to mount them, and the larger extinguishers have a larger capacity and spray range.
I bought the Kidde FX340GW-2 on Amazon.
- Weighs 8 pounds
- Capable of spraying up to 12-18 feet
- The spray discharge time of 13-15 seconds
It would be irresponsible for me to advise where you should place your fire extinguishers because a considerable amount can be at stake. As I am not at your premises, I cannot advise on this particular aspect, purely for liability reasons.
Depending on where you live, it is probably best to contact your local fire department so they can advise if you require any specific fire ratings across the floors of your home.
Do I Need To Refill My Fire Extinguisher after using it?
The core component of most fire extinguishers is a type of foam, dry powder, or wet chemical, which is stored inside a pressurized cylinder. The cylinder is pressurized to help discharge that foam or chemical.
So, it is essential to make sure that you have fire extinguishers throughout your home and make sure that they are fully charged and ready to go at all times.
Maintaining the proper pressure is essential because it could ultimately prove the difference between failure and success when fighting a household fire.
Fire extinguishers have a pressure gauge that displays whether or not they are properly charged. When the extinguisher is adequately charged, the pressure gauge dial will be in the green.
The gauge will also display whether or not the fire extinguisher needs to be charged or if it is overcharged. It’s essential to examine your fire extinguisher periodically to ensure that it is not leaking and has sufficient power to put out a fire.
Some fire extinguishers allow you to refill or recharge, but some don’t. Typically fire extinguishers with a silver metal handle are refillable, while units with black plastic handles are not.
How often do I need to maintain my fire extinguisher?
This applies mainly to commercial applications and might vary from state to state, but fire extinguishers are required for certain businesses and multi-family apartment buildings. They need to be inspected by an approved technician or officer every 12 months.
Some states will likely demand that inspections be conducted every six months. It might be prudent to discuss this kind of detail with a local fire department or your insurance provider.
Even though there are no fire codes requiring homeowners to maintain their fire extinguishers, it is a good idea for homeowners to hire an approved fire extinguisher company to inspect and maintain their fire extinguishers at least once a year.
I bought a couple of fire extinguishers many years ago, but I didn’t know how old they were, so I took them down to my local fire department to dispose of them.
I plan to put the date of purchase on the new fire extinguishers because they have a ten to twelve-year life cycle.
To find a certified company for this type of maintenance, do a google search for a fire extinguisher maintenance company near me.
What is a stove top fire suppression?
The conventional fire extinguisher goes a long way to mitigating potential disasters in your house. However, sometimes extra assurances are required. Stove Top Fire Suppression is a relatively modern invention and serves as a potential life-saver, especially for those who encounter troubles while cooking.
In essence, it is an automatic fire extinguisher, which attaches under the vent of a stovetop. Your meal might get ruined because of it, but then again, if the Stove Top is called into action, it is quite likely your meal was already ruined anyway.
The Stove Top Fire Suppressor is triggered if and when a flame grows out of control reaches it. When activated, a powder is automatically released onto the fire. The success rate for this type of device is relatively high.
Conclusion
People often take for granted that household fires are frighteningly common. A fire can start and grow out of control in a matter of minutes. Being prepared with the proper type of fire extinguisher can save your life and your property, but it is essential to know your limitations when fighting a fire that is quickly growing out of control.
A consultation with a local fire expert and your insurance provider will help determine the size of fire extinguisher you should purchase and where you should have it placed in the house. Again, this has a considerable amount to do with preparedness or the lack thereof.
The instructions on using a fire extinguisher will be found on the canister itself, and they are generally clear and straightforward. Take two minutes out of your day to familiarize yourself with those instructions, as this could save you valuable time when fighting a household fire.
