Fire Extinguisher Buying Guide

Make sure it’s certified. Look for a fire extinguisher that has been certified by nationally recognized labs such as UL Solutions, CSA, FM Approvals, and ETL, which ensure that the extinguisher is safe and puts out the types of fires it says it does. 

Understand the label. The label on a fire extinguisher also uses numbers to specify the relative size of the extinguisher, but that specific rating may be harder to spot in the fine print of the label. The A, B, and C, however, will be more prominent. For example, one of the fire extinguishers we tested, the Kidde Basic Use Fire Extinguisher FA110G, has a UL rating of 1A:10B:C. This looks more complicated than it is:

- Class A: The number 1 before the A means that it provides the equivalent of 1 ¼ gallons of water against a paper, wood, or textile fire.
- Class B: Indicates that the extinguisher can extinguish an oil or grease fire. In the case of the Kidde Basic Use Fire Extinguisher we tested, the 10 indicates that it covers 10 square feet. 
- And that it can be used against a fire in an electrically powered device (Class C). 

It’s indeed odd that they use 1 ¼ as the “multiplier” of the number before the A—just know that larger consumer extinguishers will have a 2-A, 3-A, or 4-A rating, meaning they can put out proportionately larger Class A fires. 

Get the right size. Buy the biggest fire extinguisher you can comfortably handle, because you don’t know how big of a fire you might end up someday facing. A 5-pound capacity extinguisher—aka a 2A:10B:C—weighs about 10 pounds and shouldn’t be too cumbersome for most adults. If it’s too big, it’s not much use at all, because you won’t be able to deploy it well, nor do you want the presence of a large fire extinguisher to compel you to hang out and combat a big fire you’re unable to fight. 

Gauge & pull pin. Fire extinguishers have a safety feature called a pull pin that prevents the fire extinguisher from being accidentally deployed. In our tests, we found that fire extinguishers that feature the pull pin on the opposite side of the pressure gauge are more comfortable to use than those in which the pin is on the same side as the gauge. We don’t recommend buying extinguishers without a gauge, because this is essential to know whether the extinguisher is ready to use. When checking the pressure gauge on your fire extinguisher, ensure that its arrow is in the green range; below the green zone indicates pressure has dissipated and the extinguisher should be replaced.

Keep it fresh. Like smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms, which you should replace every 10 years and every five years, respectively, fire extinguishers have a limited service life. Replace home-use nonrechargeable fire extinguishers every 12 years, according to the National Fire Prevention Association. If you’re unsure whether your extinguishers are rechargeable, check the owner’s manual or the pressure gauge. On most extinguishers, a needle on the pressure gauge will sit in a green-colored part of the dial if the unit is properly charged and in red-colored areas if it needs to be recharged or is overcharged.

To determine whether extinguishers are properly charged, inspect them every 30 days and as detailed in the owner’s manual. If you need to charge a rechargeable model, bring it only to a certified fire-equipment-maintenance company.

Though models that weighed more than 9 pounds can be harder to hold and use, you should still buy the largest one you can comfortably handle.

While it might be convenient to keep a fire extinguisher under a kitchen sink, for example, manufacturers recommend you mount extinguishers in their bracket—in a convenient location and in plain sight—3.5 to 5 feet above the ground so that they’re out of the reach of small children.

You also need to know how to properly use your extinguishers; reading the instructions only when a fire breaks out will not serve you well, so read the owner’s manual once you bring your extinguisher home. Be sure to register it with the manufacturer, too, so that you’re aware of any product updates or recalls.

No matter which fire extinguisher you buy, make sure its pressure indicator shows "full" and that it was manufactured within the last year. The National Fire Protection Association recommends that dry chemical extinguishers that are intended to be discarded after use should be disposed of 12 years after the date of manufacture. 

To increase your chances of successfully and safely extinguishing a fire, use the PASS—pull, aim, squeeze, sweep—technique:

• Pull the pin, hold the extinguisher away from you, and release the locking mechanism.
• Aim low, pointing the extinguisher at the base of the fire.
• Squeeze the lever slowly and evenly.
• Sweep the nozzle from side to side.