House fires are not uncommon and can have life-threatening consequences. Quick action taken with a fire extinguisher or ladders will help protect the lives of you and your family, in addition to reducing the risk of sustaining significant damage to your dwelling. Having a fire extinguisher in the home is also required by law in many states.
It is important to note that commercial and residential fire extinguishers may not put out a fire completely. An extinguisher can put out small fires, or contain them before the firefighters arrive, while those in the home move to a safe area. Many people can put out small fires quite safely, however, serious injury or death can occur by attempting to put out a fire that is beyond the capabilities of a fire extinguisher. You should only tackle a fire if it’s in its very early stages.
With a reliable extinguisher in the home, you can address this emergency if it arises—on the other hand, this tool offers peace of mind, even if you never have to use it. There are many extinguishers on the market, each intended for specific types of fires. So, which is the best fire extinguisher for your home? This guide will outline classes of fires and corresponding extinguishers, shopping considerations for extinguishers, and recommendations for top-performing models, to help you to incorporate one into your home’s fire safety plan.
- BEST OVERALL: Amerex 5-Pound B500 ABC Fire Extinguisher
- RUNNER-UP: Kidde Pro 210 ABC Fire Extinguisher
- BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Kidde FA110 Multipurpose Fire Extinguisher
- BEST CAPACITY: Labelmaster 10-Pound ABC Fire Extinguisher
- BEST FOR THE CAR: Amerex 2.5-Pound B417T ABC Fire Extinguisher
- BEST FOR THE KITCHEN: First Alert Kitchen5 Fire Extinguisher
- BEST FOR ELECTRICAL FIRES: First Alert PRO5 Rechargeable Fire Extinguisher
How We Chose the Best Fire Extinguishers
We researched the most sought-after commercial and residential fire extinguishers for emergencies in their respective categories and discovered that the best models are determined by their compatible fire class, size and weight, and other special features included by top brands.
After extensive product research, we chose extinguishers compatible with A-, B-, and C-class fires, meaning they can take on small kitchen fires or large backyard or camping fires. We also chose models that range from compact to large to suit user preferences, with some models weighing 2.5 pounds while others weigh 10 pounds or more. Plus, some of the tanks are made with aluminum, making them lightweight enough to grab quickly.
As for added safety features, we made sure to select fire extinguishers that are user-friendly with color-coded or large pressure gauges, instruction manuals, and wall brackets to prevent unwanted spraying while being stored.
Our Top Picks
With those shopping considerations in mind, you’ll likely have a better sense of what to look for to find the best fire extinguisher for your home. You’ll find an extinguisher on the list for the most important locations, and in sizes that you can handle easily to get you and your family to safety.
Photo: amazon.com
If you’re looking for an extinguisher that you can trust to tackle the most common house fires, the B500 model from Amerex is a reliable option. This is a tried-and-true extinguisher, trusted by fire safety professionals. This set comes with two commercial-grade extinguishers as well as wall brackets for both. These extinguishers are perfect for A-, B-, and C-class fires, making them perfect for any room in your house.
They each hold 5 pounds of ABC dry chemical, and they have easily-observed pressure gauges to help you determine if they’re still in working order. Also, the rubber hose is easy to aim at the base of the fire, allowing you to sweep a path in front of you. If you’d prefer to have your extinguishers maintained, these extinguishers are also serviceable if you take them to a local fire safety supplier.
Product Specs
- Fire class: A-, B-, and C-class
- Size: 15.25 inches high by 7.25 inches wide
- Weight: 5 pounds
Pros
- Suitable for most common household fires; wall brackets are included
- Easily observed pressure gauges keep user sure the extinguisher is in working order
- Includes rubber hose that can be directed right onto the fire without tilting the canister
Cons
- Some users report that the item arrived below charge and needed to be replaced
Get the Amerex B500 fire extinguisher at Amazon (2-pack), The Home Depot, AmerexFireExtinguishers.com.
Photo: amazon.com
Kidde has been a leader in fire safety for over 100 years, and the company’s extinguishers are top-notch. The Kidde Pro 210 extinguisher uses an aluminum bottle, rather than steel, to help reduce weight and make these extinguishers more maneuverable. They hold four pounds of powder, and feature an easily-read pressure gauge to tip you off when the pressure drops.
The Kidde also features a rubber discharge hose to help you aim the suppressant powder at the base of the fire. This ABC extinguisher is appropriate for most household uses, and comes with a wall bracket to hang it from. This extinguisher is conveniently serviceable and you can maintain it by bringing it to an extinguisher service shop.
Product Specs
- Fire class: A-, B-, and C-class
- Size: 14 inches high by 4.5 inches wide
- Weight: 7.5 pounds
Pros
- Lightweight and maneuverable for putting out a variety of fires
- Holds 4 pounds of powder; can be used multiple times
- Easy-to-read pressure gauge so users can ensure the extinguisher is operational
- Rubber discharge hose makes pointing and aiming easy when putting out a fire
Cons
- Heavier than comparable options; some users report difficulty using this fire extinguisher
Get the Kidde Pro 210 fire extinguisher at Amazon, The Home Depot, or Kidde.
Photo: amazon.com
In some cases, it’s just not feasible to mount a 5- or 10-pound extinguisher to a cabinet or a wall. This budget-friendly ABC extinguisher from Kidde is a great choice for multipurpose fire protection. Weighing 3.9 pounds, Kidde’s FA110 fire extinguisher covers most household needs, and its small size makes it easy to aim. The extinguisher can be stored in areas most vulnerable to fire, including cars and trucks, RVs, kitchens, garages, the laundry room, or an upstairs hall closet.
Product Specs
- Fire class: A-, B-, and C-class
- Size: 14.2 inches high by 3.25 inches wide
- Weight: 3.9 pounds
Pros
- Lightweight and easy to grab quickly during a fire emergency
- Built-in gauges ensure that this compact fire extinguisher is operational
- Can be stored in small places including cars, trucks, RVs, kitchens, garages, and laundry rooms
Cons
- May not be suitable for extinguishing a large household fire
Get the Kidde FA110 fire extinguisher at Amazon or Kidde.
Photo: amazon.com
While fires can happen anywhere, there are some places that a fire will spread faster than others, like barns, garages, or warehouses. For these places, bigger is better. Labelmaster’s ABC fire extinguisher is suitable for these scenarios, as it holds 10 pounds of ABC dry powder chemical—enough for large spaces with a lot of different combustible materials. This extinguisher comes with a pressure gauge, a rubber discharge hose, and easy-to-read instructions.
While it’s not an inexpensive option, it’s commercial-grade, so it can be serviced, potentially saving you money in the long run. While it does come with a wall bracket, be sure to screw it into a stud. This isn’t a light extinguisher so it may eventually pull an anchor out of standard drywall.
Product Specs
- Fire class: A-, B-, and C-class
- Size: 20 inches high by 9 inches wide
- Weight: 10 pounds
Pros
- Suitable for heavy-duty use; holds 10 pounds of dry powder chemical
- Comes with a pressure gauge, a rubber discharge hose, and instructions
- Affordable compared to other options; wall bracket included for easy storing
Cons
- Pricey compared to similar extinguishers; some users have difficulty using
Get the Labelmaster fire extinguisher at Amazon.
Photo: amazon.com
While keeping a fire extinguisher in your vehicle is not mandatory, it’s a sensible precaution. The B417T ABC extinguisher from Amerex is a 2.5-pound model that fits under a passenger seat or in the trunk of the vehicle without issue. It comes with an excellent bracket that you can screw to a body panel, latching it securely in place. This bracket keeps it from accidentally discharging in the vehicle and obstructing your view with a dry chemical, or becoming an airborne safety hazard in an accident. There’s no hose to aim, but at this small size, pointing it at the base of a fire isn’t a challenge.
Product Specs
- Fire class: A-, B-, and C-class
- Size: 15.5 inches high by 5.75 inches wide
- Weight: 2.5 pounds
Pros
- Small enough to keep in a car’s front seat, back seat, and trunk
- Comes with a bracket that can be screwed to the body panel
- Best for extinguishing fires that are small or at close range
Cons
- Smaller than comparable fire extinguishers; doesn’t include a hose, which may make aiming difficult
Get the Amerex B417T fire extinguisher at Amazon, Grainger, or AmerexFireExtinguishers.com.
Photo: amazon.com
When it comes to fire in the kitchen, one of the worst things that you can do is try to use water to extinguish it. Water can spread grease fires, and an electric appliance can shock the user upon contact with water. The First Alert Kitchen5 fire extinguisher sidesteps problems.
Not only is it small enough to keep close by in the kitchen, but it also uses a dry chemical BC powder to suffocate the fire, removing oxygen from the equation. It comes with a small bracket which can be easily installed inside of a cabinet or pantry space. It has a color-coded push button pressure gauge. It holds just under 1½ pounds of an agent, which is enough to put out a small grease fire.
Product Specs
- Fire class:B and C
- Size: 10.1 inches high by 3 inches wide
- Weight: 3 pounds
Pros
- Small enough to store under a sink or cabinet; includes small bracket for safe storage
- Uses dry chemical BC powder; removes oxygen and contains fires quickly
- Easy-to-read color-coded push-button pressure gauge is corrosion-resistant and provides accurate measurement
Cons
- Not suitable for Class A fires, which involve combustible materials, including cloth, wood, and plastics
- Smaller than comparable options; suitable for small fires no larger than grease fires
Get the First Alert fire extinguisher at Amazon or First Alert.
Photo: amazon.com
The First Alert PRO5 is a great choice for those looking for a reliable fire extinguisher for household use. This 10-pound, UL-rated extinguisher has an all-metal bottle, valve, and head, making it lightweight and easy to carry, which adds to its user- friendliness. Speaking of which, this pick can be recharged by a certified professional for long-term reuse.
Unlike other fire extinguishers, this pick uses mono ammonium phosphate to extinguish fires, which is a finely ground extinguishing agent that leaves limited residue behind. This top pick also comes with a mounting bracket and an easy-to-read, color-coded, corrosion-resistant pressure gauge so users can always know if the extinguisher is operational. Finally, this top pick is rated 3 A: 40 B:C and exceeds minimum 2 A:10 B:C code requirements.
Product Specs
- Fire class: A-, B-, and C class
- Size: 16.2 inches high by 4.6 inches wide
- Weight: 10.2 pounds
Pros
- All-metal bottle, head, and valve provides ample durability
- Rechargeable and can be reused
- Mono ammonium phosphate extinguishing agent leaves behind limited residue
- Mounting bracket included for safe storage
- Easy-to-read, color-coded, corrosion-resistant pressure gauge
Cons
- Heavier than comparable options
Get the First Alert PRO5 fire extinguisher at Amazon.
What to Consider When Buying a Fire Extinguisher
While it might seem like the best approach is to keep a complete set of fire extinguishers, it’s not practical—and the cost adds up. When adding a fire extinguisher to your fire safety plan, there are some important factors to keep in mind. Take note of these shopping considerations to help you find the fire extinguisher that is most appropriate for your needs.
Classes of Fire Extinguishers
There are four classes of fires that occur within the home, which are categorized based on the source of the fire. All fires require fuel to combust, and oxygen is necessary for most combustion reactions to occur. By smothering the flames, most extinguishers work to cut the fuel off from the oxygen around it, either to put out or contain the fire.
Household fire extinguishers consist of a pressure tank, containing a propellant gas, and a separate chamber for a suppressing agent. They come in four classes, corresponding with the classes of fires. Extinguishers can contain water, powder, foam, or non-flammable gas to smother the flames, depending on the source of the fire.
It is highly important to choose the right type of fire extinguisher for your home. Using the wrong type of suppressing agent can be ineffectual at containing the fire, or may worsen it. Read on to learn about the different classes of fires in the home, and the extinguishers that help to put them out.
Class A
Class A fire extinguishers correspond with Class A fires, which contain ordinary combustible materials. A candle knocked over a piece of furniture or a partially lit cigarette burning in a trash can, are all examples of Class A fires. These fires often include materials such as:
- Paper
- Wood
- Fabrics
- Rubber
- Plastics
Non-chemical Class A extinguishers use water to extinguish fires. Other extinguishers in this category contain a monoammonium phosphate foam or powder on the base of the fire to suffocate it. These extinguishers do not instantly cool a fire, they simply remove oxygen. For this reason, if the burning material is jostled or stirred, as can be the case if the fire appears to have been extinguished, there’s potential for a second flare up.
Class B
Class B fires call for extinguishers that contain fires that have been caused by flammable liquids and chemicals, including cooking grease and oils, though only if these kitchen fires are of a small scale. They’re most common in garages and workshops, as well as boilers and furnace rooms. Class B fires often include combustibles such as:
- Oils
- Solvents
- Petroleum greases
- Tars
- Lacquers
- Alcohols
- Gasoline/propane/natural gas/kerosene
Since these fires are often liquid in nature, attempting to smother them is not feasible—they’ll simply spread before the chemical can block out the oxygen. Instead, Type B fire extinguishers use a sodium bicarbonate foam or powder, which induces a chemical reaction that extinguishes the fire.
Class C
Class C fires need extinguishers for fires that occur when an electrical device or wiring ignites. It’s important to understand that if a device is energized (still plugged-in or powered by a battery), it requires a different approach to extinguish it safely. Class C fires involve devices including:
- Computers
- Televisions
- Data equipment
- Transformers
- Motors
- Other appliances
Spraying water on a Class C fire can lead to disastrous results, as there is the potential for electrocution. For this reason, Class C extinguishers typically use non-flammable carbon dioxide gas to smother and cool an electrical fire, providing enough time for someone to deactivate the power source, if the fire is in its early stages.
Class D
Class D extinguishers deal with an uncommon type of fire in the home, though these fires do occur. Class D fires involve combustible metals, which are highly reactive with water. Attempting to put a metal-induced fire out with a water source can cause violent explosions and lead to the fire spreading to other non-metal combustible materials nearby. Fires in this class most often involve a fuel source such as:
- Magnesium
- Titanium
- Lithium
- Potassium
To fight a Class D fire, the extinguisher requires a chemical that removes oxygen from the equation but will not react with metal. Class D extinguishers use powder forms of graphite, sodium chloride, or copper. These materials smother the burning material, preventing oxygen from getting to the fuel source.
Multi-Class
Multi-class extinguishers are formulated to extinguish or contain fires in two or more classes. ABC fire extinguishers are commonly placed in the home and in vehicles, to address the corresponding three classes of fire. BC fire extinguishers are appropriate for kitchens, workshops, garages, and boiler rooms, since these areas often have the potential for both chemical or liquid fires, as well as electrical.
Type and Location of Fire
The location and types of fire are very important considerations when choosing your fire extinguisher. An ABC extinguisher will effectively extinguish or contain fires in most places inside of the home. These extinguishers can handle most combustible materials, with the exception of flammable metals, and provide members of the household with enough time to get to safety. In short, ABC fire extinguishers can tackle some of the most common fires in the home.
B and C or BC extinguishers can tackle most kitchen fires, but there are still elements worth thinking about. For one, most folks don’t want a fire extinguisher on display in their kitchen, so you need to find a place to mount an extinguisher that is close by and easily accessible while out of sight. Also, kitchen fires are usually on stoves or countertops, and a large fire extinguisher can be difficult to lift that high for some people. For both of these reasons, a small fire extinguisher that you can install in a kitchen cabinet and is easy to use on a stove is the best way to go.
Placement
The National Fire Protection Association suggests that families locate fire extinguishers where they are easy to grab within seconds. Fires can double in size every 30 seconds, so it’s important to get to them quickly. Central locations like hallways and main living spaces are ideal locations. You should also keep at least one fire extinguisher on every floor. On your main floor, the most important location is the kitchen, one of the most common places for fires to begin.
Pro Tip: Don’t install or keep your fire extinguisher above or next to your stove. As this is the most likely place for a fire to begin, a blaze will make it difficult for you to reach your extinguisher. Instead, place your extinguisher at least a few feet away, so you can step back, compose yourself, and grab your extinguisher.
Maintenance and Refills
Fire extinguishers do require maintenance and refills. Professional fire extinguisher inspectors check commercial extinguishers annually and improve the available models approximately every 6 years. The inspectors check the pressure gauges and “thump” the bottom of dry chemical extinguishers to loosen up the settled powder. Fire extinguisher inspectors also have the bottle pressure tested to ensure there are no leaks.
These are good policies to follow with your extinguisher. Note that the extinguishers mentioned above are generally commercial grade, which makes them easy to service and refill. Homeowner-style extinguishers are neither and generally of lesser quality. It’s most cost-effective to simply replace them.
Size and Weight
Fire extinguishers come in a variety of weights, such as 2.5, 4, 5, 10, and 20 pounds. These values represent how much suppressing agent the bottles hold. The additional weight of the bottle, stem, head, and hose are not factored into the weight.
For most household purposes, 5-pound fire extinguishers are sufficient. In a garage setting, it is better to use a 10-pound extinguisher since you’ll likely have more storage space, and there are more combustibles in a garage (think chemicals, rags, and scrap wood). On the other hand, 2.5-pound extinguishers are perfect for vehicles.
When it comes to the physical bottles, they all have a similar shape and size relative to volume. While it may seem that bigger is better, large extinguishers can be challenging to store and handle. Finding an extinguisher that fits where you need it is key.
Tips for Using a Fire Extinguisher
While fire extinguishers put out fires, anyone from your local fire department would tell you that if your home is on fire, you should use your extinguisher to clear a path to safety for you and your family. Regardless of their size, fires are dangerous, and it’s best to get outside and allow professionals to handle the situation.
When using a fire extinguisher, you should follow the P.A.S.S. system:
- P – Pull the pin
- A – Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire
- S – Squeeze the handle (or trigger in some cases)
- S – Sweep back and forth with the nozzle, extinguishing the fire before escaping to safety.
You should only use a fire extinguisher once before discarding it or taking it for service. Dry chemical will cling to the grease on the valve seal, and allow the nitrogen that charges the bottle to escape. Carbon dioxide detectors don’t use gauges, so you can’t be sure how well they’re charged or how full they are.
- Use your fire extinguisher to get you and your family to safety
- Use the P.A.S.S. system to extinguish a fire
- Only use an extinguisher once before replacing or servicing
FAQs
Below, you’ll find the most frequently asked questions and answer regarding fire extinguishers. If you have more questions, many local fire departments offer fire safety training. They’re a great resource for learning about how to keep your family safe and implement a fire safety plan. They’ll be more than happy to help and answer your questions.
Q. What is inside a fire extinguisher?
You’ll find water, dry chemical powder, wet chemical foam, or carbon dioxide inside a fire extinguisher. It depends on the type of extinguisher.
Q. How do you use an extinguisher?
Use the P.A.S.S. system: Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep. This is the best method for extinguishing a fire.
Q. How long does a fire extinguisher last?
Fire extinguishers have a usable lifespan of 5-15 years, but it’s better to take them for servicing earlier than this.
Q. How do you dispose of a fire extinguisher?
You should take your extinguisher to a hazardous waste disposal center. Call your county office to find out the location nearest to you.
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