When you think of protecting your home and family, do you only think about owning a smoke alarm? While the smoke alarm is a great tool that every home should have, an alarm will not provide enough protection by itself. To ensure that you can eliminate most small fires once they begin and reduce the amount of loss that a fire can bring, you will need to purchase a home fire extinguisher in Iowa.
What Types of Fire Extinguishers Are Available?
Not all fire extinguishers in Iowa are designed to fight every type of fire. There are five different classes, which are grouped by the type of fire they are designed to fight.
- Class A: These extinguishers are used in fires containing cloth, paper or wood.
- Class B: These are used for any type of flammable liquid, such as gasoline.
- Class C: This class is designed for fires that involve electrical tools.
- Class D: These are mostly used in manufacturing facilities and are for flammable metals only.
- Class K: This extinguisher can be used for kitchen oils.
How Many Fire Extinguishers Should You Have?
Since they are designed to fight different types of fires, you might wish to have multiple types of extinguishers in your home. You might have a Class K in the kitchen in case of a cooking-related fire. But if you do a lot of work in the garage, you might want to have a Class B stored safely there. If your family uses a lot of electrical supplies in the bathroom, you might want to have a Class C stored in or near the bathroom.
When Should an Extinguisher be Used?
Fire extinguishers should only be used on fires that are small enough that they do not block your vision or give you problems breathing. If either of those situations occur, it is time to evacuate and call the fire department immediately.
