I want to buy fire extinguishers. What do I need to know?

Question

One for kitchen and BBQ deck just off kitchen.
One for REC ROOM where wood stove.
Do I need one for Laundryroom (electric furnace)?
One for livingroom where gas fireplace is?
Any risk of fire by the Heat Pump
or water filter system (we are on well water)

Answer 1

I am a retired firefighter and fire protection engineer, and do not have a fire extinguisher in the house. I do have garden hoses that will reach any point in the house. Also I keep a box of baking soda in the kitchen, well away from the stove.

Because you are on a well, you could run out of water if power failed, but your tank would probably give you enough water for a fire that is small enough for you to tackle it.

If you do buy a fire extinguisher or two, mount them away from a likely source of fire, so you can get to them

My hoses (fire extinguishers?) have an unlimited supply of extinguishing fluid, and will take care of any fire other than a deep fat fire. The baking soda will take care of that.

The hoses would get me out of the house, where I will be safe. I can go back in and attack the fire from a good distance away.

My photoelectric smoke alarms will tell me in plenty of time to get out of the house. Photoelectrics are much better than ionization type for home fires.

If you do buy a fire extinguisher or two, mount them away from a likely source of fire, so you can get to them.

Answer 2

Fire Extinguishers are a great idea for your home and your cars and trucks. A garden hose can work, but it's not safe to use on flammable liquid fires and around electricity! Plus, this time of year, my hose is under a foot of snow! (I guess I should have brought that in.)

As many have suggested, the ABC multipurpose dry chemical fire extinguisher is a good choice because it can safely extinguish almost any type of fire you would encounter in a typical home. Here are a few things to remember...

Size matters!
A little 2-1/2lb. fire extinguisher is better than nothing, but you aren't going to have much firefighting capability with that little thing. A 5lb. or even a 10lb. ABC unit would be ideal for the home.

Keep it in a safe, accessable place.
The safest bet would be to have a unit on each level of the home in a place that keeps the unit dry, not exposed to high heat and easily accesible. If it's burried in the back of a closet, that's not going to do you much good in a fire emergency. Also, do not mount them right next to a potential fire source or the fire itself could make the unit hard to safely reach.

You get what you pay for.
Yeah, those cheapies on the shelves at the local Home Depot or Wal-Mart may look like a good deal, but many are made with plastic parts! You want to make sure you purchase a decent unit with a METAL head and handle and equipped with a hose so you can easily aim and use the unit. If the head isn't made of metal, consider it a disposable unit and discard it after any use. If the head is metal, it can be recharged at any number of local fire extinguisher service centers (look in the yellow pages under fire extinguishers.)

Have the unit inspected regularly.
At least once a year or after ANY use, take it in to have it inspected. If chemical gets past the valve assembly, no matter how little of the unit you used, the nitrogen will leak out over a period of days or weeks. Make sure the pin is in place and sealed and that the unit's guage reads in the "operable" range at least monthly. If not, take the unit in for service. (Again, check yellow pages for fire extinguishers for service locations. Don't assume you can take it to the fire department as most will not be able to help you.)

Know how to use the unit BEFORE a fire emergency...
Only attempt to fight a fire if you can do so safely and with your back to your exit. Always start from a few feet away, particularly with grease fires. (You don't want to splatter the hot cooking oils.)
Remember P - A - S - S.
P - Pull the Pin
A - Aim the Extinguisher at the base of the fire.
S - Squeze the Handle.
S - Sweep the discharge from side to side.

For more information about the different types of fires and fire extinguishers you can visit...

http://www.fireextinguisher.com

or contact me directly...

Answer 3

Get ABC rated extinguishers and put them in kitchen, out on deck, rec room (maybe two) and basement. What you want to do is to make sure you have some way to put out a fire without being trapped. Hallway closet near bedrooms is also a good idea and the garage.

Answer 4

What you need is a ABC Fire Extinguisher. They come in diff. sizes so you pick the one right for your home. I recommend picking up more than one. Place them where you know where they are and in reach if you ever need to use them..Also read how to use them...before useing....really simple. You can get them at WalMart lowes HomeDepot ect. You are a smart person for asking and getting them. Have a great day.

Answer 5

A - type fires are burning wood, paper, and textiles.
B - type fires are burning chemicals (i.e. grease, oil, and gasoline.)
C- type fires are burning electronics
D - type fires are burning metals such as magnesium (I seriously doubt you'll ever encounter these though.)

Water is only good for A and B type fires. Dry chemical extinguishers are for A, B, and C. They are inexpensive, last a long time before recharging, and should meet all your needs, but make a mess when you use one.

Answer 6

if you go down to your local fire department they will supply you with all the information you need. They will tell what to buy for where, how often to take them in for service and the correct operating procedured. It is recommended to have a fire emergency plan in place for the home. Good to hear you are being responsible.

Answer 7

It is a good idea to have them anywhere that there is a chance of fire. The important thing to remember is that there are different types for different types of fires so you will want to do some homework.