Storing functional fire equipment in your home is vital to protecting your family in the event of an unforeseen household fire. Dysfunctional fire extinguishers serve no purpose when a fire needs to be put out, which could end up damaging or burning your entire house down. This guide is designed to equip you with clever methods to enhance the operational shelf life of your home's fire extinguisher.

Check The Pressure Regularly

Most fire extinguishers come with pressure gauges that indicate whether they are in proper operating condition. Your fire equipment manufacturer will typically recommend the pressure reading, which must be followed diligently to apply pressurised compressed gas for dousing the fire. If the pressure gauge indicator points to recharge, it's probably because the pressure is too low to eject the compressed gas. Ideally, you should get the professionals to check the pressure regularly to ensure that your fire extinguisher is set at the right pressure. These regular pressure checks will enable you to continue using your fire extinguisher for a long time.

Check The Safety And Anti-Tamper Seals

Check the anti-tamper and safety seals to ensure that they remain intact. If these seals have been broken or come off on your fire extinguisher, then it indicates that the device may have been used –– perhaps by someone else in your family without your knowledge or maybe they have worn out of time. These seals are vital because they prevent the pull pin from unintentionally being dislodged. These can easily be broken by pulling or twisting, allowing you to operate the device quickly when necessary. If these seals are broken or damaged, then you may need to get fire equipment technicians to inspect and replace them once again.

Look For Visual Signs Of Damage

While some signs are internal and need the assistance of fire equipment professionals, you can undertake regular checks on your own to look for visual signs of damage like leakage, clogged nozzles and corrosion. If you notice any of these signs, you will need to get them fixed quickly to prevent replacing them completely. For instance, a small clog in the nozzle can easily be cleaned, but if it becomes worse, then the clog may be too stubborn to remove. You will then have to replace the entire extinguisher. Picking up on these visual signs in advance will help save your fire extinguisher from breaking down completely, allowing you to use it for longer.

Keep in mind that fire equipment maintenance is central to your safety always. Follow these clever inspections in your quest to prolong the operational shelf life of your fire extinguisher or contact your supplier to learn more about this topic.