Choosing the Right Fire Extinguishers for Your Nashville Home Helps Prevent Damage

4/20/2017 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Tip, Keep Your Nashville Home Safe From Fires

Between garage fluids, kitchen appliances, children playing and electrical equipment, there are many things in your home which are possible ignition sources. However, do you have fire extinguishers in your garage, kitchen, and workshop of your home? Also, are they the right kind for your home? Fires are a scary event, no matter their, and SERVPRO is always standing by to help you clean up after a fire has happened in your home.
 
Fire extinguishers to extinguish fires and fire damage in your Nashville home are divided into five categories, depending upon the elements of the fires they are made to fight. Each extinguisher is rated with numbers, serving as a guide for how much fire the extinguisher can fight. As the number increases, it indicates more fire-fighting power. The fuel feeding the flame also indicates the correct extinguisher to utilize.
 
Since there are various fire extinguishers to select from, choosing the right one can be a task that is quite daunting. For some people, not knowing what kind to purchase is the biggest hurdle. The best choice for a home fire is an ABC fire extinguisher which is made for multiple kinds of fires.
 
Besides having one in your home, it is just as important to keep it readily available in case of an emergency. Once the fire is out, our technicians at SERVPRO can get to your home quickly to mitigate the damages and repair your home and possessions before more damage occurs from the settled soot and smoke.
 
You should have one or more extinguishers on each level of your home, and the most important areas to keep them are your garage and kitchen since they are the most susceptible to fires.

Kitchen
Here is where most home fires start. Do not place the extinguisher near the stove since it can be out of reach if it is on the stovetop. The best place to keep it is mounted by the door of the kitchen, so you can easily get to it or under the base sink cabinet.
 
Garage
Since a garage is usually the storage area flammable materials are kept, this is another space you need to have fast access to a fire extinguisher. Like the kitchen, the best position is mounted by a doorway.
 
Your fire extinguishers should be kept in plain sight, easily reachable during an emergency. Do not put them away in closets, since it costs you valuable time when it is needed.
 
Using an Extinguisher Correctly
Remember PASS if you ever do need your extinguisher:
 P – Find the pin in the handle and pull it. The pin keeps the handle from getting squeezed accidentally and discharging the extinguisher.
A – Aim for the base of the fire where you have the most effect on the fire with the extinguisher.
S – Find the lever on top of the extinguisher and squeeze it, starting the deliverance of the contents inside.
S – The spray should go in a sweeping motion side-to-side across the fire’s base.
 
SERVPRO of South Nashville can help you recover from the traumatic event of a fire in your home. We have the correct training and certification, plus the proper tools and equipment, to do the job efficiently and thoroughly while keeping you in mind. Give us a call at (615) 331-0200 anytime.