For Fire Extinguishers Inspections in Killeen, Temple & More, Trust Us
At Ables Top Hat Home Services, we’re a high-quality hometown company that believes in maintaining safe fires – and being able to effectively put them out when necessary. That’s why we’re here to provide in-depth fire inspections to ensure you’re always stay up to code. We’re also ANSUL distributors, here to sell the very best fire extinguishers in the market to our local customers.
We believe in the quality and effectiveness of these extinguishers and are confident that they are necessary for every home and commercial property. Gain the peace of mind you deserve – work with us. Call or text now, or you can reach out online with questions.
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254-477-6535
Who Needs Fire Extinguishers?
We believe everyone – homeowners, business owners, foster families, and more – need fire extinguishers in their home.
For the Home
Each year there are over 360,000 unintentional home fires. Each year, those fires cause nearly $6.5 billion in property damage. Each year, over 2,250 people die and nearly 11,500 are injured in those fires.
We don’t think that’s okay.
Cooking equipment, heating and cooling equipment, cigarette butts, and candles are some of the leading causes of home fires. How many of these fires could have been slowed or even stopped simply by having a functional fire extinguisher on hand?
A fire extinguisher in the home is a great choice to stop a small fire in its tracks or even to slow its spread to buy your family time to escape before firefighters are able to arrive. A functional fire extinguisher is a great way to protect your home and protect your family.
As a distributor of premium ANSUL fire extinguishers, we’ll be happy to get you set up with the best fire extinguishers on the market. Sure, you could find some cheaper options, but we don’t think saving 20 bucks is worth it when your home and family may be on the line.
Foster Families
We are thankful for those who have taken the leap to support our community as foster families. We know there are a lot of checklists and hoops you have to jump through, and we want to support you in that process.
Whether you need a fire extinguisher inspection or fire extinguisher installation, we’re happy to help make sure you’re in compliance with the state’s fire safety evaluation requirements and, more importantly, help you protect your home and your whole family. Show us your foster paperwork for a 10% discount on fire extinguishers, installation, and annual inspections.
Commercial Extinguishers
Starting and running a business is not easy – trust us, we know. After long days and hard nights of pouring your heart and soul into taking care of your customers, employees, and equipment and perfecting the art of your craft, researching commercial fire extinguishers is probably the last thing on your mind.
That’s what we’re here for. Let us take that off your plate.
Where Should I Have Fire Extinguishers?
Not sure what you need? Well, it depends on your specific needs. Smaller extinguishers are typically sufficient for home use, where fires are usually smaller and can be controlled quickly. Larger extinguishers are usually necessary for environments with higher fire risks or where fires can spread rapidly. Here are the basics for home protection:
- Kitchen: Your kitchen is the most likely place for a fire to start in the home. If you don’t have any other fire extinguishers, a 5-pound multipurpose extinguisher is recommended here at a minimum for protection
- Upstairs: Each floor of the home should have a 5-pound extinguisher – if you have to run downstairs to get your fire extinguisher, it may be too late by the time you come back!
- Garage: Most garages can adequately be covered by a 5-pound ABC extinguisher…but if your garage serves as a storage unit, or you do a lot of woodworking, mechanic work, painting, etc., then you should upgrade to a 10-pound fire extinguisher. The more combustible material there is, the bigger extinguisher you’ll need!
- Car: A small 2.5-pound dry chemical extinguisher is recommended to be securely installed in your vehicle.
- Grill: If you spend a lot of time outside grilling or hanging around the fire pit, it might not be a bad idea to have a 5-pound extinguisher on hand! If you enjoy deep-frying your turkey for Thanksgiving, then you should definitely invest in a K-Class fire extinguisher designed for grease fires.
Need help going through your options? We’re here for you. Call, text, or reach out online now.
How Do Fire Extinguishers Work?
Fire needs three things to burn: heat, fuel, and oxygen. Fire extinguishers work by disrupting at least one of these components.
Some extinguishers smother the fire by removing heat or oxygen. Water or foam extinguishers serve this dual function. Carbon dioxide extinguishers are geared toward electrical fires or flammable liquids, and they work by shooting icy blasts of CO2 that displace the oxygen to suffocate the fire. Dry chemical extinguishers are effective at fighting numerous types (classes) of fires by interfering with the chemical reaction of a fire, bringing the combustion process to a screeching halt.
Whatever type of extinguisher you have, the procedure for actually using it should be the same. It’s often summed up using the acronym “PASS” – pull, aim, squeeze, sweep.
- Pull the pin. A fire extinguisher has a safety pin that keeps it from accidentally discharging. Step one is removing this pin.
- Aim at the base. Your gut impulse may be to point the nozzle or hose at the flames themselves, but instead aim at the base of the fire. That’s where the fuel source is meeting the heat, and that’s the critical spot you need to apply the extinguisher to.
- Squeeze the handle. Squeezing the handle unleashes the extinguishing agent.
- Sweep side to side. Move the nozzle to cover the entire base of the fire. Your goal is to smother the flames and cool the fuel source.
If this seems like a lot of information, have no fear! We’ll work with you to understand your needs and make sure you have the information you need to both find the right solution and know how to use it.
We are committed to fire safety, and that informs how we serve you!
Do Fire Extinguishers Expire?
It seems like everything has an expiration date, from the gallon of milk in your fridge to a bottle of pain relievers or sunscreen. Fire extinguishers do expire, too. They expire in the sense that their effectiveness and reliability in fighting fires can diminish over time due to different internal factors.
You may wish life presented fewer pressures at times, but this is one case in which you definitely want to keep the pressure on. The internal pressure of a fire extinguisher is a significant factor affecting its lifespan. Extinguishers are pressurized, and that pressure helps them expel the fire-retardant contents when you activate them – in other words, when you’re responding to a fire. Over time, small leaks or other factors can cause pressure loss, causing a fire extinguisher not to discharge in the critical moment.
The substances inside a fire extinguisher (particularly when dry chemicals or powders) can also settle or solidify as they grow old. As a result, they may not disperse as they’re designed to and would during their stated lifespan.
Other wear and tear can impact the useful life of a fire extinguisher. Physical damage such as dents or cracks can affect performance, so fire extinguishers should be stored and handled well. Inspecting your fire extinguisher will help identify signs of damage, corrosion, or depressurization.
Manufacturers have guidelines for how to care for fire extinguishers and when they should be replaced. Fortunately, a quality fire extinguisher can be relied upon to help protect against fires for up to 12 years, making them an important and worthy investment in the safety of your home.
A decade of peace of mind? Definitely worth it. And because we distribute ANSUL, we know the quality is top of the line.
How Do I Dispose of an Expired or Damaged Fire Extinguisher?
Because of the components and pressure involved, disposing of a fire extinguisher – whether because it was used, it expired, or it has signs of damage – needs to be done with thoughtful consideration to environmental and safety concerns.
Start by checking local regulations. Different localities and disposal sites will have distinct procedures for disposing of hazardous materials. Contacting your local fire department or municipal waste management is a great first step. They can give you some direction about proper disposal methods and drop-off locations.
After seeking local counsel, you’ll need to get your extinguisher ready for disposal. It will need to be completely discharged to remove any remaining pressure. This needs to be done in a safe and environmentally friendly way, so be sure to follow the guidelines received by your fire department or waste management. Another part of preparing your extinguisher is labeling it to indicate that it’s no longer functional, and documenting its discharge and disposal.
Transport your discharged, labeled fire extinguisher in an upright position, bringing it to the facility recommended for hazardous waste collection. The disposal facility will be able to advise you on whether some parts of the extinguisher are recyclable.
Finally, replace your fire extinguisher to be sure to keep your home protected against an uncontained fire. Contact us to learn what options will work best for your setting.
For Fire Extinguisher Sales Near You, Reach Out Now
Everyone should have a fire extinguisher and know how to use it. If you agree, please give us a call or reach out online now. We’ll be happy to bring you the right fire extinguisher, install it, and show you how to properly operate it. We can also inspect a fire extinguisher you already have.
Reach out to get started – call, text, or fill out our online form today!
One of the best things you can do for your chimney system is to schedule regular chimney inspections and chimney sweepings. You can always count on our home services expertise.