How Many Fire Extinguishers Does My Home Need?
Every home needs at least one fire extinguisher, and most should have at least two or three. The number of fire extinguishers that you should have in your home depends on a couple of things: the size of your home and if your home is a multi-level home or not.
Where Fire Extinguishers Are Needed
If you don’t have another fire extinguisher in the house, then make sure that the one you have is in the kitchen (or very close to it). Most home fires occur in the kitchen, and quick access to a fire extinguisher usually spells the difference between a messy clean up and the loss of a home.
Besides the kitchen, you should have a fire extinguisher next to the front and rear exits of the house. In addition, placing a fire extinguisher in the main hallway is always a good idea, as it is usually centrally located in the house and can be reached easily from most points in the house. Also if your house has a second or third story, make sure that you place at least one fire extinguisher on each floor.
When choosing a fire extinguisher, always get a dry chemical fire extinguisher rather than a water-based extinguisher. Dry chemical extinguishers are more effective in smothering fires, and are safe to use with small electrical or grease fires. Never use water-based fire extinguishers for these types of fires. Water only creates more problems with grease or electrical fires.
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![Justin Stewart]()
Justin Stewart is a contributing writer to DoItYourself.com. He loves researching new home improvement techniques, and has written about a huge range of topics, from electrical wiring, to plumbing, to carpentry.![Lindani Chirambadare]()
With over 20 years of professional home cleaning experience, Lindani has extensive knowledge about best practices, space management, and cleaning solutions. Lindani especially loves researching natural, non-harmful ways to clean. She holds an LLBS from the University of Zimbabwe, and is a lifelong learner who always seeks to improve the world around her.
