A fire extinguisher is one of the most underutilized appliances for protecting your home from fire damage. You see them commonly in commercial buildings, but many individuals do not consider keeping one in their Idaho Falls home. A fire extinguisher may significantly reduce damage to your house and can provide the best chance of putting out a fire before it spreads out of control.
Fire Damage Cleanup Idaho Falls
Having a fire extinguisher is useless though if you do not know how to work it, so we are going to give you a basic rundown on what you need to know about having and using a fire extinguisher in your home.
To begin with, bear in mind that fire extinguishers are only meant to be used in situations where the fire is small and contained. If the fire is spreading or growing quickly, don’t waste time attempting to put it out, instead call 911 and get everyone safely out of the home. Never attempt to put out a fire that is not responding to your efforts.
Since there are several kinds of fire extinguishers, it is important to choose the proper one for your home. A type of fire that involves combustibles like wood, paper, or cloth and can be put out with water is designated with the letter “A” to indicate that it can be put out with that type of extinguisher. Fires involving flammable liquids, such as oil, require a fire extinguisher with the letter “b” and fires involving electrical equipment call for a fire extinguisher denoted with the letter “C.” For your home, you will want an extinguisher that is an A-B-B rated unit so it will work on all types of fires because all of them could occur in your home.
Become familiar with how to use a fire extinguisher. Simply having one in your home will not do you any good if you do not know how to use it. House fires can be put out within the first few minutes of starting if properly handled with a fire extinguisher. To help you remember how to correctly use a fire extinguisher, you can use the acronym PASS:
P= Pull the pin at the top of the fire extinguisher to break the seal before the extinguisher will start working. Once set, the pin prevents the handle from being accidentally depressed and accidentally firing the extinguisher.
A= Aim the nozzle at the fire’s base while keeping a safe distance between it and yourself.
S= Squeeze the grips together to release the extinguisher agent.
S= Sweep the nozzle back and forth, in a sweeping motion side to side along the flame’s base.
Pay attention to the directions on your fire extinguisher; not adhering to the manufacturer’s instructions could lead to severe injury or property damage. Check the fire extinguisher’s expiration date and throw it away if it has passed the date – the extinguishing agent is no longer effective past the expiration date. Keep in mind that every six years your fire extinguisher may need to be recharged or replaced. Have a certified fire services specialist recharge the extinguisher for you if the pressure gauge reaches the red zone.
Here at Restore Rite, we specialize in fire damage cleanup services and we know how beneficial having a fire extinguisher can be for your home. When you need fire damage cleanup services, whether from the flames or from the discharge from the fire extinguisher, we can help 24-7.
A fire extinguisher is one of the most underutilized appliances for protecting your home from fire damage. You see them commonly in commercial buildings, but many individuals do not consider keeping one in their Idaho Falls home. A fire extinguisher may significantly reduce damage to your house and can provide the best chance of putting out a fire before it spreads out of control.