In addition to installing smoke alarms throughout your home, you may opt to keep a couple of fire extinguishers on hand in case of an emergency.
Yet fire extinguishers, like most other things in your home, need to be inspected regularly to ensure they’re in proper working order. Experts recommend waiting no more than a year to inspect your fire extinguishers, but checking them more often is encouraged. You may want to consider planning your fire extinguisher inspection to coincide with Daylight Saving Time, which is also an ideal time to check your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.
Check your fire extinguisher’s gauge. If it doesn’t read 100, you’ll want to have it examined by a professional. It may be fixable, but you may also need to replace the extinguisher.
If your fire extinguisher is more than 6 years old, you’ll need to have it taken apart, inspected internally, reassembled and recharged to ensure that the extinguisher continues to work properly. You can check with a local fire safety program for recommendations on a fire extinguisher professional who can perform the needed maintenance.
Do you keep fire extinguishers in your home?
Photo: Flickr.com/stevendepolo
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