Why Every Homeowner Needs a Home Fire Extinguisher

The Importance Of Having a Home Fire Extinguisher 

Many homeowners don’t think a house fire can happen to them. But all it takes is a piece of equipment sparking or a culinary experiment gone wrong for a fire to spark. In addition to having the proper home insurance policy in place, having a home fire extinguisher is critical for the safety of your home. 

While in the event of a major blaze, you should get out as quickly and safely as possible, having a home fire extinguisher on hand can not only aid you in putting out small fires, but can also provide you with peace of mind knowing that you have some level of protection on hand should a fire start in your home. At Morison Insurance, we understand the importance of home fire safety and want you to avoid filing a claim. Even seemingly small measures, such as having a fire extinguisher for home use, can play an essential role in fire protection. 

What Homeowners Need to Know About Home Fire Extinguishers 

The purpose of having a fire extinguisher for home use is to provide your household with an extra element of protection in case of a fire. Much like the name implies, the purpose of this safety equipment is to extinguish fires, and they do so by releasing an extinguishing agent that targets the fire’s heat, fuel, oxygen supply, or chemical reaction. 

When Should I Use a Home Fire Extinguisher?

Ultimately, home fire extinguishers are best used for putting out minor fires in your home. There is a wide variety of scenarios that may require the use of a home fire extinguisher. A kitchen fire with cooking oil, for instance, or if a dishcloth touched a hot burner and caught fire, may be scenarios that require the use of a home fire extinguisher. Another scenario might be if a candle got knocked over and ignited something, or a sparking electronic device set the carpet or the couch on fire. 

Keep in mind that in the above scenarios, you have an appropriately rated home fire extinguisher, and you are putting out small fires. This bears repeating: you are using your home extinguisher to put out small fires in your home. In the event of any large house fires, you are to get out of the house as fast as possible and call your local fire department. 

How to Use A Home Fire Extinguisher?

When you get a fire extinguisher for home or personal use, make sure that you carefully read any directions to your home fire extinguisher before you may need to use it, lest you be scrambling to learn how to operate it in the face of a kitchen fire. Generally speaking, you should keep the acronym PASS in mind—Pull the metal pull pin, Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, and move it side to side in a Sweeping motion. Be sure that the fire extinguisher fully extinguishes the fire before stopping, and if it fails to do so, exit your home immediately and call 9-1-1. 

What Types of Home Fire Extinguishers Should I Get?

A residential fire extinguisher differs from one in a commercial setting in a number of ways, such as size, durability, fire rating, and regulatory requirements. There are different types of fire extinguishers for home or commercial use that are rated for different classes of fires, so the best type of extinguisher you should get depends on its use. 

Generally, Ontario homeowners should get a multipurpose fire extinguisher, which can put out most household fires. This is generally known as an ABC fire extinguisher because it can put out class A fires (ordinary combustible materials like cloth, paper, and wood), class B fires (flammable liquids such as oil, gasoline, and grease), and class C fires (rated for electronic equipment). This type of home fire extinguisher will function well in most areas of your home, but in your kitchen, you may better benefit from a class K extinguisher (rated for fires involving combustible cooking oils or fats in kitchen appliances). Additionally, a BC fire extinguisher—rated for class B and class C fires—can cause less damage to your appliances while putting out fires. 

Depending on the type of home fire extinguisher you have, it may come in the form of a wet chemical, foam, water-based, or dry powder fire extinguisher. You can also get rechargeable fire extinguishers, so be sure to speak to your local fire department about what type of fire extinguisher for home or personal use may be right for you. 

How Many Home Fire Extinguishers Do I Need? 

The Ontario Fire Code mandates that, with the exception of single-family homes, most buildings need to install portable fire extinguishers and that landlords and commercial property owners are responsible for their building’s fire safety, including for office buildings and apartment buildings. 

While you are not required to have a home fire extinguisher, as fire authorities prefer you to get out of your home in the event of a fire incident rather than attempt to put it out, especially in the case of major fires, it is generally recommended to have at least one home fire extinguisher on every level of your home. This means if you have a two-story house with a basement, you should have at least three fire extinguishers for home use. You may also want to consider getting additional fire extinguishers for high-risk areas, such as kitchens, workshops, and fireplaces. 

Where Should I Store My Fire Extinguisher In My House?

While many homeowners may just store their home fire extinguisher by their stove in a cabinet, that is not the best place to keep a fire extinguisher for home or kitchen use. In the event of a fire, you need to be able to quickly access your extinguisher. Depending on your kitchen shape and layout, you shouldn’t keep it anywhere near where a potential fire may occur in case you are unable to access it. For instance, if a stove fire occurs in a narrow galley kitchen and you have to pass the stove to get to where the home fire extinguisher is stored, it could mean getting into the fire’s path. 

Instead, keep your home fire extinguisher in an easily accessible location on each level of your home, away from stoves and other types of heating appliances. If you’re able to, consider mounting them on a wall or placing them in an easy-to-reach location. In your kitchen, consider keeping one at the entrance so you can grab it in case of a cooking fire without venturing into the fire’s path. Additionally, keep your home fire extinguisher out of reach of children. These are not toys and should be treated with care. 

When Should I Service or Replace A Home Fire Extinguisher?

Servicing regulations for commercial-grade fire extinguishers may be more rigorous, but skimping on servicing a fire extinguisher for home use can have serious consequences for home safety. After all, in the event of a fire, you don’t want to waste precious minutes pulling it out only to discover it doesn’t work. 

A home fire extinguisher should be inspected monthly for damage. Homeowners should also make sure the pressure gauge is in the green zone. If the gauge is in the red zone, it may need recharging or replacing. Homeowners should also ensure the tamper seal is intact and the pull pin is securely in place. If you have a dry chemical fire extinguisher, be sure to shake it on a monthly basis to prevent the chemicals from settling. 

You should also have it professionally serviced on a monthly basis with a certified fire equipment dealer. If you are unsure who to contact, your local fire department or insurance broker may be able to help you out. Finally, make sure to either replace or recharge your home fire extinguisher after every use or accidental discharge to ensure you are prepared in case of an emergency. 

Another Step In Fire Safety 

While having a fire extinguisher for home use is a smart safety measure in terms of fire preparedness, it should not be the be-all and end-all of your fire plan. Every household should have working smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, and an escape plan in place in case of an emergency, ensuring everyone knows the escape routes and what to do in the event of a house fire. If you have home fire extinguishers, make sure those who can safely operate them know what to do, but if there’s a large or out-of-control blaze, do not spend time fiddling with your extinguisher, get out of the house as quickly as possible and call for help.