Ding! Cool Tool!

I bought this exact model for my girlfriend (now wife) who had just moved into a new apartment. The very next day while canning, giant flames start shooting out of the stovetop - turns out the previous occupant had melted an entire candle down into the stove, and when she was using all 4 burners it caught fire. She grabs the extinguisher and blasts the stove. Fire out. I don't think that she would have been able to get that fire out without this extinguisher.

Hmm. A little research on the Intertubes points out that sodium bicarbonate fire extinguishers are ineffective for grease fires. On one hand, something nontoxic and easy to clean is appealing. On the other hand, I'd feel safer with a fire extinguisher that can also deal with grease fires (class K) on top of flammable liquids and gases (class B) and electrical fires (class C).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_extinguisher#Dry_chemical

Actually Christian, the article you cited states that sodium bicarbonate (BC) fire extinguishers are only LESS effective on grease fires, than wet chemical alternatives. Sodium Bicarbonate will extinguish small grease fires.

You usually only see class K extinguishers in commercial kitchens.

Im also reading that both BC types of fire extinguishers, that is potassium bicarbonate and sodium carbonate leave a mildly corrosive residue which should be cleaned up immediately to prevent damage to material...

I would advise not worrying about contaminating your counters or food if a fire breaks out in your kitchen...

I think it's also important to point out that you need to check your fire extinguisher at least once a year.

Can this extinguisher be refilled after discharge? My recycling station refuses to accept empty fire extinguishers.

I prefer a fireblanket, especially after witnessing my parents attempt to use an 'approved' kitchen fire extinguisher that had sat untouched for a year or so. The fire retardant had settled in the bottom of the extinguisher, the propellant was highly flammable, the whole thing went off like a massive flame-thrower and did more damage to the kitchen than the original fryer fan would have done!

almost all ABC home-use extinguishers use ammonium phosphate, which is actually very acidic if it gets wet. it can ruin the finish on electronics, for example. plus it smells acrid.

a baking soda extinguisher sounds like a great idea

The RSS feed has an additional article on "Rocket Mass Heaters" preceding this one that I don't see here.

What happened to the rocket heaters post?

You need to invert and shake your dry chemical fire extinguishers about once a month to prevent the powder from caking. Also, many small extinguishers can be recharged, but the service will cost about the same as buying a new one.

Ahem... Sodium Bicarbonate is "Baking Soda". Baking *powder* is baking soda with other stuff added to it (look it up).

I once put out a small kitchen fire with a box of Arm & Hammer baking soda. I'm not sure putting it into a pressurized bottle would have helped all that much.
The fire blanket is also a good idea, if you have one.

This model was also tested and most recommended by America's Test Kitchen (I think the mag is Cook's Illustrated, but I'm pulling this from memory, it would be a recent issue in any case).

While everyone needs a fire extinguisher in their home, a fire extinguisher is not going to be of much help if you're not in the room when the fire starts. Unattended cooking is the number one cause of cooking fires. Check out the StoveTop FireStop - it's the size of a tuna can and magnetizes underneath the venthood. When flames touch the bottom of it the canister pops open and dumps sodium bicarbonate onto the fire and puts it out for you. I bought one for my kitchen and my parents kitchen just to be on the safe side. You never know.

@rbean: You are right. Baking powder and baking soda are not the same. I knew that, and made a mental note to make sure I said that, but still flubbed. Will correct.

Others: the rocket mass heater review was not ready and was posted prematurely, but we yanked it when we realized this. Sorry for the confusion.

Wow, how timely! I need to replace three extinguishers... two are dead and the other is on its last legs (forge, shop, kitchen)... and I hate hate hate every dry chemical extinguisher I've ever had to use in the past. THANKS KK!!

Amazon lists this at $44, not $25:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000IHUR58/ref=nosim/kkorg-20

They are available at $18.16 a pop (in quantities of 6)... that Amazon seller is taking an enormous gouge at $44.

@Steve, who says "Amazon lists this at $44, not $25: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000IHUR58/ref=nosim/kkorg-20"

That is very weird, because when I look at that link (on 12/02/10) it says your price: $24.80.

What do others see?

I see it at $24.80 but prices on Amazon can fluctuate by significant percentages several times in one day. Put it in your shopping cart and check your shopping cart a few times a day. I keep a lot of stuff in there and then wait for the price to drop to buy it.

I ordered three a few minutes after I made comment #14, but Amazon now says they won't fill the order, sorry, tough luck.

There's an old joke about prices, something like "I would charge you even less for something I haven't got" ...

As great as powders are for homes, we're finding larger houses are choosing to use a CO2 in the kitchen and a water based else where, due simply to the mess, dust cloud and possible health complications of using a powder especially around children and animals.

http://www.fireprotectiononline.co.uk/co2-fire-extinguishers/

@Molly: What are the disadvantages of a residential CO2 extinguisher?

@KevinKelly - the disadvantages of using a CO2 in a residential setting is that would not put put out most common fires like curtains/carpet/sofas if they go up. (known as class A fires) - ideally Co2's are designed for electrical small fires and VERY small flammable liquid (not chip pans etc)

Ideally a combination of water and CO2 extinguishers would be perfect, but realistically most houses aren’t big enough, and a multipurpose extinguisher like a powder is a compromise most people plump for.

http://www.fireprotectiononline.co.uk/wet-chemical-fire-extinguisher/