Affiliate Disclosure:This Old House’s Reviews Team is committed to delivering honest, objective, and independent reviews on home products and services. To support this business model, This Old House may be compensated if you purchase through links on our website.
Fire extinguishers are a necessity in any home, as they allow you to put out small fires before they spread and damage your entire house. A standard household fire extinguisher works on fires caused by electrical appliances, flammable liquids and gases, and ordinary combustibles. Before purchasing a model, read our guide below on the best fire extinguishers to learn how a fire extinguisher works and what products on Amazon will serve you best.
Top 5 Fire Extinguishers
- Best Aerosol Spray: First Alert EZ Fire Spray Fire-Extinguishing Aerosol Spray
- Best Pack: First Alert HOME1 Rechargeable Home Fire Extinguisher
- Best 10-Pound Extinguisher: Amerex B402 Fire Extinguisher
- Best Five-Pound Extinguisher: Amerex B500 Fire Extinguisher
- Most Lightweight Standard Extinguisher: Kidde FA110 Multi-Purpose Fire Extinguisher
Best Aerosol Spray: First Alert EZ Fire Spray Fire-Extinguishing Aerosol Spray
This fire extinguisher from First Alert comes in a lightweight aerosol can, which makes it the perfect size for small spaces, such as dorm rooms and vehicles. In addition to being a breeze to store and use, the extinguishing formula wipes away with a damp cloth once the fire is extinguished.
Key Features
- Discharges in 32 seconds
- Weighs 0.15 ounces
- Works on Class A, B, and C fires
- Includes a three-year warranty
- Has an aerosol spray extinguishing agent
- Has an ETL safety rating
What Customers Are Saying
Satisfied customers said that this product worked well on a variety of fires, including those in grills, microwaves, and toaster ovens. They also said that its extinguishing material was easy to clean after discharge. Those who were unsatisfied with their purchase said that the spray was weak or limited, which affected its ability to fully extinguish some fires.
Best Pack: First Alert HOME1 Rechargeable Home Fire Extinguisher
This product comes with four residential fire extinguishers to protect several areas of your home with just one purchase. Buying this four-pack of extinguishers can also save you money, since a single extinguisher from other manufacturers can cost almost as much as this option.
Key Features
- Weighs five pounds each
- Works on Class A, B, and C fires
- Includes a 10-year warranty
- Approved by the U.S. Coast Guard
- Comes with a mounting bracket and strap
- Has a monoammonium phosphate extinguishing agent
- Has a UL safety rating
What Customers Are Saying
A majority of the reviewers were satisfied with their purchase, noting that the extinguishers were well-made and easy to hang. A handful of reviewers used the fire extinguisher for a stove or dumpster fire and said that it worked as advertised. A couple dissatisfied customers said that they ordered the four-pack and only received one extinguisher.
Best 10-Pound Extinguisher: Amerex B402 Fire Extinguisher
This fire extinguisher discharges all of its dry chemical material in 14 seconds, giving you enough time to put out a small fire or leave your home before the fire spreads. The extinguisher also has a 10-pound weight to hold more extinguishing material and increase its chances of putting out fires.
Key Features
- Discharges in 14 seconds
- Weighs 10 pounds
- Works on Class A, B, and C fires
- Includes a 10-year warranty
- Approved by the U.S. Coast Guard
- Comes with a mounting bracket
- Has a dry chemical extinguishing agent
What Customers Are Saying
Customers who used the extinguisher said that it worked well, and those who had issues said that the vendor provided fast and professional responses and solutions. A handful of dissatisfied customers said that their canister arrived with a broken seal, which caused the powder contents to leak in the box.
Best Five-Pound Extinguisher: Amerex B500 Fire Extinguisher
This fire extinguisher looks and functions similarly to the previous model from Amerex with its long nozzle, 14-second discharge time, and wall bracket. However, it’s slightly smaller at five pounds, making it easier to carry and store.
Key Features
- Discharges in 14 seconds
- Weighs five pounds
- Works on Class A, B, and C fires
- Comes with a mounting bracket
- Has a monoammonium phosphate extinguishing agent
What Customers Are Saying
Customers who were satisfied with their purchase liked the medium size and high quality of this product. Those who gave this product a low rating said that the item arrived already discharged and that the company wouldn’t give them a refund.
Most Lightweight Standard Extinguisher: Kidde FA110 Multi-Purpose Fire Extinguisher
This fire extinguisher from Kidde is the most lightweight traditional model in this review at 2.5 pounds, making it easy to carry and use. It works on Class A, B, and C fires for versatility and features an all-metal valve, lever, and handle for durability.
Key Features
- Weighs 2.5 pounds
- Works on Class A, B, and C fires
- Includes a six-year warranty
- Approved by the U.S. Coast Guard
- Comes with a mounting bracket and strap
- Has a dry chemical extinguishing agent
- Has a UL safety rating
What Customers Are Saying
Customers stated that this fire extinguisher served its purpose, with one saying that it stopped a grass fire and one saying that it saved their vehicle from total loss. Others gave the product a high rating for its high quality at an affordable price. Dissatisfied customers said that the product arrived empty without extinguishing powder in its canister.
Buyer’s Guide
Take a look at how the factors below affect a fire extinguisher’s ability to put out a fire.
Class System
Fire extinguishers are given a rating to tell you what type of fire they’re capable of putting out. The canister should clearly indicate what class the extinguisher falls under with words and graphics.
- Class A: Class A extinguishers are used on fires that involve paper, wood, plastic, and other solids. The graphic on the canister should be a campfire or burning trash can.
- Class B: This type of extinguisher is used to put out flammable liquids and gases, including oil, gasoline, propane, and methane. The graphic for this class is a gas can.
- Class C: This type of fire extinguisher puts out electrical fires caused by appliances. Its graphic is a plug and an outlet.
- Class D: Class D extinguishers put out fires caused by flammable metals, such as aluminum, sodium, and magnesium. The graphic for this extinguisher is a gear.
- Class K: This extinguisher puts out cooking oil fires. It’s designed for professional kitchens in restaurants as opposed to households. The graphic for this class is a cooking pan on fire.
Material
Fire extinguishers have different materials that come out when you spray them.
- Dry chemical: This is the most common material found in residential extinguishers. It can put out Class A, B, and C fires.
- Carbon dioxide: Carbon dioxide discharges at cold temperatures and smothers fires, preventing them from getting more oxygen. This material is found in Class B and C extinguishers.
- Foam: Foam removes heat from the fire and prevents oxygen from reaching it. This is another common material used to put out residential fires.
- Liquified gas/clean agent: This material doesn’t leave a residue behind after use, which is why it’s sometimes called a clean agent extinguisher. It’s commonly found in Class B and C extinguishers and can sometimes be found in Class A models.
- Water: You won’t find many fire extinguishers that use water. The only reason firefighters are able to put out fires using water is because they use large volumes of it at high pressures. If you do find a residential extinguisher that contains water, it likely has foam mixed in with the water to work on Class A fires.
- Wet chemical: This type of extinguisher is mainly used in restaurants for Class K fires.
- Dry powder: This powder is only effective at putting out Class D fires, making it an uncommon material to find in residential fire extinguishers.
Size
There are four common sizes for residential fire extinguishers.
- 10-pound: This is the largest extinguisher you’ll find for home use. Ten-pound fire extinguishers typically cost $45-$100.
- Five-pound: This extinguisher costs between $30 and $75.
- Two-pound: A small, two-pound canister will cost around $20-$60.
- Stovetop: This is the smallest type of residential extinguisher. It costs $15-$50.
Maintenance
It’s recommended that you inspect your fire extinguisher at least once a year. Each fire extinguisher will have instructions printed on it that tell you how to inspect it, but most of these instructions involve inspecting the safety pin, nozzle, and valve for cracks and corrosion and the pressure gauge for charge. Some fire departments will also inspect your extinguisher for you if you want proof from an expert that it’s in working condition.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size fire extinguisher do I need?
Mid-sized extinguishers, such as two- and five-pound models, work well in kitchens and other rooms, and canister extinguishers work well for cars. You may want a 10-pound fire extinguisher for a garage or living room to put out large fires.
Can you reuse a fire extinguisher?
If your fire extinguisher isn’t expired and is labeled as reusable, you can refill it for $10-$25 after using it.
Can I test my fire extinguisher?
Some fire departments offer classes that allow you to test a fire extinguisher. This ensures that you know how to use one if you ever have to put out a real fire. If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, contact your local fire department.
Why Trust The This Old House Reviews Team
This Old House has empowered homeowners for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement content in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content on its website and social media platforms. The This Old House Reviews Team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content to help inform your purchasing decision for just about any item or resource that you might need for your home. The This Old House Reviews Team has written over 1,000 reviews on products in the home space, from cordless drills to kitchen trash cans, lawn mowers, and dining room decorations.
We recommend products in each review using an intensive research process, spending hours combing through the best available models on Amazon. For a product to make our list of top picks, it must hold a solid sales record on Amazon, have consistently positive customer reviews, and offer unique features, among other factors. After narrowing down our list of recommendations, we conduct additional research and sometimes in-person testing to ensure that the products meet our standards. Once we conclude the research phase, we craft a well-rounded, user-friendly article that includes our recommended products and additional information to help homeowners like you make the right purchase.
To share feedback or ask a question about this article, send a note to our Reviews Team at reviews@thisoldhousereviews.com.