Amerex B500 – Pros and Cons of This Fire Extinguisher. It is recommended that every homeowner has to have at least one fire extinguisher at home. While everybody hopes that they will never have a need to use it, it is better to be prepared and safe than sorry. Thankfully, fire extinguishers are readily available and they come in a variety of different sizes and models, with lots of different features. So many are there to choose from, in fact, that many people feel somewhat confused on which one to choose. One of the options out there is the Amerex B500 and it is hoped that this review will give you an idea of the pros and cons of this particular extinguisher, helping you to determine whether it is right for you.
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What Is the Amerex B500?
Generally speaking, the Amerex B500 offers everything that a home owner could possibly need. In fact, it is the extinguisher that many other fire extinguisher manufacturers try to emulate. This is because it has a number of key features that people are looking for, one of which is that it is fully charged and that it weighs only around 10 pounds. Additionally, it is rated 3:A, 40B, C and is fully rechargeable. And all its components are made of the highest quality materials.
Of particular importance is that virtually all fire service and other industry professionals recommend this brand and this particular model, as the best out there. Indeed, Amerex is known for their high quality products and attention to detail. The Amerex B500 features a high quality steel body with seamless welds. The valve assembly, meanwhile, is made from aluminum rather than plastic, further ensuring its durability. It is quite common to see valves made of plastic on fire extinguishers made for domestic consumers. These fire extinguishers have gotten a poor reputation because they generally lose their pressure after some time. This is due to the plastic slowly drying out and shrinking, essentially making the extinguisher unusable. If you end up choosing a fire extinguisher other than the Amerex B500, therefore, do make sure that you choose one where all the assembly parts are metal.
When you purchase the B500, you will notice that it comes with an articulating hose as well. This means that, if you ever have to use it, it is much easier to direct the fire suppressing material without needing to tilt the fire extinguisher itself. Small, cheap fire extinguisher models usually do not feature this, which means you cannot keep your extinguisher upright, which in turn means the pressure is lost and that you won’t be able to get all of the fire suppressant out.
The fire suppressant, meanwhile, is also state of the art. It contains mono ammonium phosphate, a known chemical that looks like a pale yellow powder. It is extraordinary how well this chemical works when suppressing a Class A, B, or C fire. The fact that the Amerex works on all common household fires, therefore, is another thing that sets it apart.
Some key features of this device include the fact that:
⦁ It weighs just 10 lbs, five of which are the dry chemicals to suppress the fire.
⦁ It measures 15.25”x7.25”x4.25”, making it highly portable.
⦁ It has a 12 to 18 foot discharge range.
⦁ It has a 14 second discharge time.
⦁ It is provided with a vehicle bracket, meaning you can also store it in your vehicle.
⦁ The metal cylinder is coated with polyester paint. This makes it look beautiful and shiny and, more importantly, ensures that the extinguisher’s container is corrosion resistant.
⦁ The temperature range is between -65C and 125C, meaning it can also be used during winter.
⦁ It has a large safety pin that is very easy to pull out. Hence, the device is very user friendly even for people who have no experience in putting out fires.
⦁ As required for obtaining UL approval, the extinguisher is fully rechargeable, meaning it can be reused.
If you do use the Amerex B500, it is important that you recharge it as soon as possible. This is not because the device will lose any of its integrity, but rather that it is all too easy to forget it and possibly find yourself with an unusable extinguisher the next time it is needed. Make sure you ask a professional, such as the fire department, to refill the extinguisher for you. They may also give you some additional maintenance tips.
What I Liked About the Amerex B500
⦁ It is rated for all common fires – A, B, and C class.
⦁ It is reusable as it can be recharged.
⦁ It features a mounting bracket for easy storage.
⦁ The discharge is just 14 seconds, one of the quickest in the industry.
⦁ The valve is made of aluminum rather than plastic.
⦁ The cylinder is made of metal.
⦁ It has a temperature range of -65C to 125C, so it can always be used even during winter.
⦁ It has a polyester coating that is completely corrosion-free.
⦁ It is the fire extinguisher that others are modeled on.
⦁ It comes with an articulating hose.
What I Didn’t Like About the Amerex B500
The construction of the bracket leaves something to be desired. Some people have mentioned that it isn’t very tight, which means further external support is needed.
The Final Verdict
Nobody expects to ever have to deal with a fire. However, we are usually surrounded by a range of combustible materials, including paper, wood, and plastic, and we use electronic equipment on a 24/7 basis. While most people go through life never experiencing a fire, an accident is always only just around the corner and it is better to be prepared. Having a fire extinguisher in your home is a simple safety feature that won’t get in your way but that could just save your life one day.
If you are considering which fire extinguisher you should choose for this, then you really can’t go wrong with the Amerex B500. This is the one that all others have been modeled on. Recommended by experts and users alike, there is very little that can be said about this particular option that isn’t positive.