If you own a home or business, it’s important for you to have several fire extinguishers in it in case of a fire. A fire extinguisher can help home and business owners put out small fires and prevent them from growing larger and doing serious damage. However, simply putting fire extinguishers in a home or business isn’t the only step you should take. You should also conduct routine maintenance on your fire extinguishers and even have them inspected to make sure they’re up to the task of fighting a fire. Here are some of the steps you’ll need to take to maintain fire extinguishers properly.
Visually inspect your fire extinguishers at least once every month.
Once a month, you should get into the habit of taking a look at your fire extinguishers and inspecting them for any signs of trouble. You should make sure the fire extinguishers aren’t damaged in any way and ensure that the safety seals on them aren’t broken. You should also check to see that the hoses on your fire extinguishers aren’t blocked and that the fire extinguishers are located in a place where people will be able to find them quickly and easily if a fire breaks out.
Hire a professional to inspect and maintain your fire extinguishers once every year.
While visually inspecting your fire extinguishers once a month should help you avoid any big problems, you should also have an annual inspection done by a professional who can give your fire extinguishers a more thorough examination. During your annual inspection, a professional will be able to inspect the mechanical parts of your fire extinguishers and make sure everything is in order with them. Your inspector will then record the inspection on the fire extinguishers’ tags when he or she is finished.
Conduct a six-year inspection on your fire extinguishers.
A six-year inspection of a fire extinguisher is similar to an annual inspection. The biggest difference is that, during a six-year inspection, your fire extinguishers will be emptied out completely so that an inspector can take a closer look at the mechanical parts inside of it. As long as everything checks out, your fire extinguishers will then be refilled, re-pressurized, and resealed, and once again, your inspector will make a record of the six-year inspection taking place.
By maintaining the fire extinguishers in your home or business and having them inspected regularly, you can avoid potential problems with them and get the peace of mind that comes along with knowing that your fire extinguishers are working properly. Rich Fire Protection can provide you with inspection services and help with all of your fire suppression needs. Call us at 609-641-7776 today to set up a consultation with us.
