2 Things Every Homeowner Needs to Know About Fire Extinguishers

Having a fire extinguisher in the home is always recommended, even if you don't smoke or tend to cook with grease and oil. A fire can still easily start if you were to leave a dish rag by an electric burner or forget to extinguish a candle overnight. While having a fire extinguisher can protect you in the event of a fire, simply having it in the home is not the only step you should take to protect yourself. Note a few simple but important facts that every homeowner should know about keeping fire extinguishers in the home.

1. Where to keep an extinguisher

Keeping an extinguisher in or near the kitchen is somewhat obvious, as fires are likely to start on the stove or in the oven. However, if you're a smoker, note that you may want to keep an extinguisher in the bedroom, living room, on the front porch, or wherever it is that you tend to smoke most often. If you were to neglect putting out a cigarette or were to nod off to sleep with a lit cigarette, the embers can easily start a fire. This is especially important if you smoke in bed, where you may be more likely to fall asleep with a cigarette in your hands or on the nightstand.

2. Height of an extinguisher mount

You may not think much about how high up the wall you mount an extinguisher or if you should mount it on the wall at all, but remember that extinguishers can be very heavy. If you store it on a hook above your head, you may find that it's very cumbersome to lift off the hook. If you store it on the floor, this too can be very difficult as you struggle to pick it up. If there is any obstruction you need to work around, this can also make it challenging to access the extinguisher. Note that delaying even a few seconds while you try to get control of the extinguisher can be very dangerous, as fires spread quickly. 

Hold the extinguisher a comfortable height for your frame and build and then install the wall mount accordingly. If you have family in the home with you, have them do the same. You might even practice taking it off the mount a time or two so you can get accustomed to the weight in your hands and know you won't struggle to pick it up or control it in case of a fire. For more information about fire extinguishers, visit The Fire Protection Specialist Company Pty Ltd.