Best Fire Extinguisher Reviews 2018

The actual cost of a fire extinguisher is influenced by several factors such as the extinguishing agent inside (water, carbon dioxide or foam), its size, the types of fires it can put out and more. There are even small, handheld sprays available on the market that can put out small fires (such as a pan fire) and they are very valuable in a household. The price range starts from around $25 and goes up to $175 for a large extinguisher made of stainless steel.

At the same time, it’s not necessary to state why it is not a good idea to settle for a really cheap fire extinguisher that might be priced lower than $15-$20. When it comes to such safety products, saving money shouldn’t be your main concern and spending a couple of bucks more can actually make all the difference in the world.

Let's go through the main features of a fire extinguisher, so you can make a better decision when buying one. This section is particularly important if you are buying one for the first time.

• Type - There are small spray cans or large fire extinguishers that might come with an attachment to mount them on walls.
• Extinguishing Agent - Many extinguishers use pure water to put out fires; others use a special agent that doesn’t result in as much damage to your electronics. Carbon dioxide is also used because it is gentle on electronics and can successfully extinguish class B and C fires.
• Size - The size of a fire extinguisher is important if you want to have one in your car, or you have to work with small spaces in your house. Most of them are quite compact though.
• Materials - Larger fire extinguishers might be made of stainless steel, while others that are designed to be lightweight can be made of aluminum.

It is a good idea to plan ahead and decide where you want to put your fire extinguisher. Such a valuable accessory shouldn’t be left in places where kids have easy access (so they don’t accidentally get injured if they want to play with it), but at the same time, you should also know at all times where to take it from in case of emergency. In other words, know exactly where you have put it, make sure it is quickly reachable, but not very close to a kid's room, for example.

Fire extinguishers need to accomplish a couple of tasks to be considered efficient. First of all, they usually feature an all-metal valve construction and a safety pin that is made of stainless steel. These components need to be tough and durable so the extinguisher doesn’t accidentally get discharged unwillingly, but at the same time, the entire design must remain user-friendly, so even an inexperienced user can easily put out a fire in case of emergency.

The good news is that instructions are always printed on the cylinder (which is usually made of stainless steel or aluminum), and they can be in multiple languages such as English, Spanish, French, Italian and even Russian. Some fire extinguishers are even rechargeable, so don’t throw yours away after putting out a fire.

Another important thing to mention is that some fire extinguishers feature a small hose which can be directed toward the flame, while others come with just a nozzle, so you'll have to aim the entire cylinder toward the base of the fire. This is a relatively small and insignificant difference, but if you are not very experienced in using a fire extinguisher, we recommend getting one with a hose because it will be easier to point it toward the flame. Lastly, all extinguishers come with a pressure gauge, which indicates when the extinguisher is ready to be used.

As mentioned earlier, some extinguishers can be mounted on walls, and that’s a great thing. They usually incorporate wall mounts, and this makes them more versatile and easier to store. High-quality fire extinguishers even come with warranty periods that might stretch up to five years, and that’s a good thing to have. If you are buying a fire extinguisher for your household, it would be wise to instruct your family members on how to use one, just in case. This approach is better than hastily reading the instructions when a fire has already started and you need to put it out. Good luck!