JHZR2
Staff member
I happened upon a type A and K, kitchen optimized extinguisher on Amazon. It made me figure I should assess the fire extinguisher set we have in our home.
I've always known that ABC type extinguishers are kind of nasty - they make a big mess that can be tough to clean up. Of course, they're cheap and reasonably capable, and the mess sure beats the alternative.
I also don't have any extinguisher in my garage. Big electrical fires are not a real risk here, IMO, but say I was working on a car and got something burning - don't want to make a huge mess in a car, so thinking halotron or CO2.
I'm thinking 10-15# ABC dry type at the bottom of the basement stairs, an A-K type 5# in the kitchen in a cabinet, then a smaller couple (halotron, co2 or abc) upstairs and in the walk-up attic, finished section.
In the garage, where I do have access to water, I was thinking CO2 or halotron, and then perhaps purple k if the threat justifies (stored fuel).
Maybe that's overkill, but I sort of doubt you can have overkill in these situations. The main thing is that quality, refillable extinguishers are around $100 each so it becomes a decent investment. But my little abc is just not a smart way to operate.
I'd lie accessible options and more of them.
I'm thinking the A-K type extinguisher may be the best choice for all over. Reality in a home is type A is most important, other than the kitchen. I'm guessing that the kitchen is the highest risk area, though we really don't cook with a lot of grease, and never fry stuff in oils. The risk profile everywhere else seems pretty benign unless a piece of consumer electronics starts on fire... But if something (say, a laptop) starts on fire, it's not the electronics that's a concern in the home, it's the sheets and curtains and wood furniture, right??
I've always known that ABC type extinguishers are kind of nasty - they make a big mess that can be tough to clean up. Of course, they're cheap and reasonably capable, and the mess sure beats the alternative.
I also don't have any extinguisher in my garage. Big electrical fires are not a real risk here, IMO, but say I was working on a car and got something burning - don't want to make a huge mess in a car, so thinking halotron or CO2.
I'm thinking 10-15# ABC dry type at the bottom of the basement stairs, an A-K type 5# in the kitchen in a cabinet, then a smaller couple (halotron, co2 or abc) upstairs and in the walk-up attic, finished section.
In the garage, where I do have access to water, I was thinking CO2 or halotron, and then perhaps purple k if the threat justifies (stored fuel).
Maybe that's overkill, but I sort of doubt you can have overkill in these situations. The main thing is that quality, refillable extinguishers are around $100 each so it becomes a decent investment. But my little abc is just not a smart way to operate.
I'd lie accessible options and more of them.
I'm thinking the A-K type extinguisher may be the best choice for all over. Reality in a home is type A is most important, other than the kitchen. I'm guessing that the kitchen is the highest risk area, though we really don't cook with a lot of grease, and never fry stuff in oils. The risk profile everywhere else seems pretty benign unless a piece of consumer electronics starts on fire... But if something (say, a laptop) starts on fire, it's not the electronics that's a concern in the home, it's the sheets and curtains and wood furniture, right??
