Can a Fire Extinguisher Put Out Any Type of Fire?

In 2014, there were nearly 1.3 million outbreaks of unwanted fire in the United States. This led to the death of over 3,000 people and at least $1 billion in damages — and these are just the fires that went reported. Needless to say, an unintentional fire is a common, dangerous and expensive hazard.

The first line of defense against fire is (and has been for over 100 years) the fire extinguisher. With many different classes specialized in battling a variety of blazes, fire extinguishers are designed to be portable, easy to use, and effective at putting out fires.

Like any tool, however, a fire extinguisher is only effective when it’s taken care of. Most houses, businesses and buildings are equipped with a fire extinguisher, but too often it’s tucked away and forgot about — until the moment a conflagration erupts.

Fire extinguishers should be serviced frequently. Here’s what you need to know about maintaining your extinguisher and keeping yourself and your property safe:

Why Do I Need to Service My Fire Extinguisher?

Leave your car parked too long somewhere, and you’ll likely need to have it towed, or at least some maintenance performed on it. Like a car sitting too long unused, your fire extinguisher may not be functional when you need it if you’ve ignored it.

The number one reason you’ll likely need your fire extinguisher serviced is depressurization. Similar to an old tire, an aging fire extinguisher can develop a small, unseen leak that will eventually drain its expellent gas. This gas is essential for discharging the substance that combats fires.

Imagine standing face to face with a fire, extinguisher in hand. You pop the pin, pull the trigger and — nothing. The gas which would have propelled the water/foam/powder is all gone, and now you’re at risk of a small fire becoming an uncontrollable blaze. This is a very real situation people who don’t check their fire extinguisher frequently face.

A good rule of thumb to ensure your fire extinguisher is functional when you need it is to check it yourself once a month. Is the pressure gauge low? Then it’s time to call in the professionals for a tune up. Even if the pressure looks fine, it’s important to have the fire extinguisher inspected and serviced once a year to ensure it’s up to snuffing out fires.

Professionals can see what you can’t — is the gauge displaying correctly? Are there subtle signs of damage or wear? A professional fire inspection company can provide the answers you need to have peace of mind.

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You wouldn’t let your car go too long without an oil change. It’s not worth the risk — an unlubricated engine could mean an expensive repair down the road. In the same vein, it can be a tremendously expensive mistake to not have your fire extinguisher serviced.

To protect your property, yourself and your family, it’s important you visually inspect your extinguisher every month. If you see something looks amiss, don’t wait — call fire protection specialists right away and have it serviced. Even if everything looks in order, ensure a professional looks at it annually.

Remember — servicing your extinguisher can mean the difference between putting out a fire and ending up a statistic. Don’t wait, have a professional look at your extinguisher today!