Fire Extinguishers

[Cushing H.]

Pick it up, turn it upside down a couple times, hit it with a rubber hammer if the powder is not free.
Check for gauge, check for white powder leaks, check that it's not at inspection due date
We bought new ones on a staggered schedule so we accumulated more but the expiry dates didn't happen all on the same year.

Agreed on all. two problems typically occur with extinguishers: 1) the powder settles into a more solidified mass, so that when you release the valve, nothing comes out (hence the turn it over and bang it with a rubber mallet), 2) the valves leak and they have no pressure. Check the pressure, and if not in the "green" area, discard, or refill (see below).

the typical extinguishers you buy at home depot and the like have plastic valves - they are inexpensive, but prone to leaking (unpredictably), and also can not be refilled. The more expensive extinguishers have metal valves, are less prone to losing pressure, and are able to be refilled. Per the local extinguisher shop I have dealt with, if you inspect it yourself to verify the pressure is in the green, AND you do the invert-and-bang on it thing, then you are good-to-go (they do not have a natural expiration date that just renders them not functional)

 

[Drew Riley]

Check out ebay for a water extinguisher. They run about $40, they're reusable, and they've saved my shop....twice.

Plus they're pretty much the ultimate squirt gun fight winner.

I've got a rechargeable water extinguisher, as well as a standard dry chem.

Just make sure you mix in some anti-freeze if you live in colder climates. Otherwise you'll have to thaw your extinguisher in the fire before you put it out...

 

[Britt_Askew]

Glad you had one when you needed it. I keep mine by the doors

 

[GoldSkula]

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