What Do You Need to Know about Your Home's Fire Extinguishers?

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Most homes have a fire extinguisher of some kind. The curious thing about these fire extinguishers is that many people don't know how to use theirs, what type they need, or what the different codes on the extinguisher mean. Before you just write off your fire extinguisher as something you need and then let it begin collecting dust under a sink or in the cabinet, there are a few things you should know.

Class Codes

Fire extinguishers have a set of codes located on a label somewhere on the extinguisher itself. These codes signify the class level of the extinguisher, which corresponds to the type of fire the extinguisher is designed to put out. The codes are Class ABC and Class K. Class ABC refers to fire extinguishers that extinguish fires on certain materials such as wood, plastic, and electrical-based fires. Class K extinguishers are for kitchen fires. This means, ideally, you would have two extinguishers in your home. A Class K in the kitchen area and a Class ABC somewhere else in the home.

Proper Storage

The key thing to remember about storing your fire extinguisher is location. If you purchased your extinguisher and it is stuck away behind a pile of boxes or clothes, it really isn't going to help you much. You need to store your extinguisher in a place that is out of reach of children and easy to grab should a fire break out. Though this may sound like common knowledge, it often may go unnoticed until it is time to have an inspection or until a fire breaks out. The ideal way to store your extinguishers are either in a stand or in a case that can be attached under a cabinet or in a hall closet for easy storage and reach.

Replacement and Maintenance

One of the things you need to consider is the type of extinguisher you have. For example, you may have a rechargeable or you may have one that can be disposed once it has been used. If you have a rechargeable extinguisher, you will need to have it professionally serviced in order to keep the charge that allows you to use it properly and put out the fire in question. You can check the extinguisher with a button or spring that should be located on the device. This is a pressure gauge that allows you to see if the extinguisher is still holding a charge. If it is not, then it needs servicing. If it is, you can wait and check it again the following month. According to several sources, extinguishers should be checked monthly.

These are only three things you need to know about your home fire extinguishers. You should, ideally, take a course or training session from your local fire department to use your extinguisher properly.

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11 October 2016

Creating An Organised And Functional Kitchen

The kitchen is the most used room in my home, and in the past, I found it could get messy and chaotic very quickly. Trying to cook dinner when you can't find an essential appliance or see past the clutter on the counter is no fun. I realised I enjoyed my time in the kitchen more and was more productive when my kitchen was organised and laid out in a way that optimised functionality. I changed my kitchen cleaning and organising routine, decluttered, got rid of appliances I don't use and moved things around to ensure frequently used items were easy to reach. I started this blog to share my tips for creating a kitchen that's enjoyable to use, and I post about ways you can optimise the space you have. I hope you find my posts useful.