Fire Extinguisher Disposal – Many of us go to the store, purchase a fire extinguisher, and keep it for years. Whether you end up using it or not, these things expire over time. Because it has metallic parts, it can rust and become useless when you need it the most. If you have taken a course on the fire extinguisher’s correct use, you may know how to perform maintenance on the fire extinguisher.
You would also understand that you should take it to a fire safety specialist for routine annual inspection. If that’s the case, then your extinguisher should give you about twenty years, particularly if you have a refillable container. Click here for the Best-Selling Fire Safety Products.
How Do You Know It’s Time to Replace the Fire Extinguisher?
It best to inspect the average canister found in the home or office to make sure it’s in working order; however, you will have to replace it as time goes by. These average extinguishers generally last about twelve years. After that, as the homeowner, you must change the extinguisher for the safety of you and your family.
When you do your routine monthly visual inspection, if you see rust and corrosion, or the parts don’t seem to function correctly, then immediately take it to a professional fire protection company. The professional company will check for several things to be sure the fire extinguisher is in working order.
The fire extinguisher professional will check
1. for damages like dents, cracks, or rust on the exterior of the container.
2. if the gauge is pointing to the charged position.
3. the hose and nozzle for damage.
4. by shaking the canister to loosen the contents.
5. by performing a hydrostatic test to be sure there are no leaks or flaws.
6. and by attaching a tag with the date of inspection.
Once the inspection is complete, they fix the extinguisher if needed. If not, the professional fire inspection company will replace it with a new extinguisher.
What happens if the fire extinguisher content has expired? You may ask yourself, what if there are rust and corrosion found, but you have not gone to a professional? You must understand that you cannot merely toss the container into the trash. Fire extinguishers are considered hazardous because of the chemical content in most of the canisters. These chemicals can be dangerous to someone who does not handle the disposal correctly. Because of the pressurization of the container, it could explode if it becomes old and rusty.
How Do You Dispose of a Fire Extinguisher?
You have several options in disposing of a fire extinguisher. One, you could contact your local fire department and discuss dropping it off. Not every fire department accepts these, so that they may decline. If they do, then you should take it to a Household Hazardous Waste location in your area.
Another option is if the container is not damaged, but you used up the contents, then you can pay a small amount to have the container entirely emptied then refilled.
Suppose it becomes necessary for you to dispose of it yourself, then be sure to release the press inside the container by squeezing it out. Let the canister sit for a period of a few days. After a few days, check to make sure nothing is remaining in the container. After that, it is safe to dispose of it in the garbage.
While you can dispose of your fire extinguisher through the regular trash by using precautionary measures; however, the best solution is to have it disposed of by a professional. After you have disposed of the older extinguisher, it’s always good to replace it as soon as possible. Click here for the Best-Selling Fire Safety Products.