C02 Extinguishers You Should Keep One In The House In The Event Of A Fire

Fire behaves in a manner that is similar to a living thing. It tends to replicate a monster that devours everything in its path. If you have ever seen a forest fire then you know how this monster can destroy hundreds and thousands of acres of trees and brush. In order to stop fire it needs to be suffocated. C02 extinguishers are used to suffocate fires.

An uncontrolled fire, such as a home on fire, will burn in a wild manner. In order to stop this out of control monster you literally need to suffocate it. Fires feed on fuel and oxygen as do most living things. All living things eat and require oxygen to survive.

Cutting off the oxygen of a fire requires a method of suffocating it, much like you might smother someone with a blanket. C02 extinguishers cut the oxygen out of the air and so they are effective for killing some classes of fires.

Fire falls into several classifications. These classifications are all grouped by letters. Class A fires are those that are made from standard combustible products such as paper or wood. Class B fires are the result of bringing flammable liquids such as gasoline. Class C fires are electrical fires. These are most often caused by faulty wiring that causes a spark. C02 extinguishers are used for class B and Class C fires.

Paper and wood fires are extinguished by placing water on them. Water is effective with class A but not Class B or C fires. Water will actually fuel a Class B or C fire. This can be dangerous when trying to put out a fire. A lot of fires that burn in a home are the class B or C fires. It is pertinent for your family’s safety that you keep a properly functioning c02 extinguisher on hand in your home.

The c02 inside of the extinguisher is liquid but when it is dispensed it mixes with the air and creates foam. This foam looks like snow and is a form of dry ice. You have probably seen foam used to put out a fire, this foam was most likely c02.

To operate a cO2 extinguisher you will need to aim the extinguisher toward the fire then pull the plug in the handle. This plug is a safety device so the extinguisher will not go inadvertently. Once the pin has been pulled you need to squeeze the trigger (lever) to release the gas. You should point the extinguisher toward the bottom of the fire, and then spray in a side to side motion. As you put out the fire aim the extinguisher at the far edges of the fire and spray until the fire is completely put out.

A little known tick is to use a c02 extinguisher to chill beer. If you have warm beer and need it cold right away then you can actually chill it with a c02 extinguisher faster than any other method. Be sure to wipe the bottle off before drinking from them.

Jason Williams is an expert in home alarms. If you would like more information about CO2 extinguishers or are searching for a reputable security company please visit http://www.adt.co.uk