5 Ways About How to handle expired fire extinguisher
Are you wondering How to handle expired fire extinguisher? Smoke alarms are the best investment you can make when it comes to home security.
However, if you want to go to the next level of fire protection, such as putting out a fire before it spreads to your home, you’ll need to consider purchasing a fire extinguisher.
A household fire extinguisher can be important to your home fire protection plan. It can be used to extinguish small fires or to suppress them until help arrives from the fire department.
Caution must be exercised, however, as this popular firefighting tool carries hazardous materials under high pressure.
More importantly, if you have an expired fire extinguisher in your home, it should be kept from the rest of your trash. Instead, you need to figure out how to dispose of it properly.
When do fire extinguishers expire?
Fire extinguishers typically last between 5 & 15 years, although often, you can find an expiration or manufacturing date listed on some canisters. This will help you determine the age of your fire extinguisher.
Still, it’s only sometimes necessary to look at a fire extinguishers expiration date to determine whether your model should already be destroyed.
Examine your fire extinguisher closely and look for any bumps or dents, missing pins/tamper seals, or a pressure gauge needle that points red or white to the appliance. If one or all of these are present, they signify that it is time to throw away the extinguisher.
What to do with an expired fire extinguisher
Some components or parts of a fire extinguisher can still be repaired, especially if it is a relatively new unit. If you’re unsure whether the appliance should be repaired or thrown away, you can call the manufacturer for clarification.
On the other hand, if your extinguisher shows an expiration date that has already expired, you should not throw it away like ordinary trash. Fire extinguishers are considered dangerous goods, and their high-pressure chemicals can be quite dangerous if not handled properly.
When dealing with expired, damaged or old fire extinguishers, you can call your local fire department to find out if they take drop-offs. If not, you should take the unit to a hazardous waste disposal center.
Alternatively, if the fire extinguisher is empty, you can contact your local recycling center and inquire about dropping off the steel container.
How to dispose of an expired fire extinguisher
Dropping off expired fire extinguishers at your local fire station is one of the best ways to dispose of them. However, this will also depend on what type of fire extinguisher you have.
How to handle expired fire extinguisher
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Water-based fire extinguisher
Water extinguishers are usually recyclable, so it is possible to empty the cylinder yourself. Begin by draining the contents, and once the cylinder is empty, carefully remove the head.
Call your local government for current guidelines on proper fire extinguisher disposal. In all likelihood, they can help you recycle the steel cylinder along with the head.
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CO2 fire extinguisher
For this type of fire extinguisher, you need to check whether it has a hard horn. If it doesn’t, bring the extinguisher directly to your local recycling center. On the other hand, if a hard horn is present, you can empty the extinguisher by turning the handle on the discharge side.
Leave the unit for a few days, making sure it is kept in an upright position. Afterward, remove the head from the cylinder and take the fire extinguisher to your local recycling center.
As mentioned earlier, if your CO2 fire extinguisher does not have a rigid horn, you should not attempt to empty the cylinder. This fire extinguisher type has strong built-in pressure. Without the rigid horn, the cylinder may vibrate violently when the CO2 inside is released, causing injury to you and those around you.
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Powder extinguishers
Powder fire extinguishers should be disposed of professionally. Bring it to your local recycling center, and they will dispose of the equipment for you.
Powdered fire extinguishers are not entirely toxic but can cause skin irritation. The powdered material also has a fine texture and can be easily inhaled when discharged. In terms of volume and speed, it cannot be easy to control the powder once it is released, which can injure you.
How to handle expired fire extinguisher
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Foam Extinguishers
Foam extinguishers can be safely emptied on their own, although precautions must be taken. Ideally, the material should be disposed of in sewer waste.
Spills should be avoided as the foam content is slightly toxic. Once empty, leave the cylinder out for a few days and then take the fire extinguisher to your local recycling center.
Emptying a foam fire extinguisher can be messy, so you need to be careful. Also, don’t try to empty the amount of suds into your bathroom sink or toilet bowl.
The foam can affect your home plumbing system, resulting in unwanted problems. Lastly, if you feel uncomfortable carrying out this process, you can take your fire extinguisher to the local fire extinguisher disposal near you, and they will handle things there.
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Wet Chemical Fire Extinguisher
Professionals should dispose of an expired fire extinguisher of this type. They should be taken to the nearest local recycling center, where they will be disposed of carefully and appropriately.
How to handle expired fire extinguisher
Important Achievements
Fire extinguishers should be made part of every home’s fire prevention plan. However, a faulty or expired fire extinguisher can put lives at risk and cause property damage at the same time. Thus, these essential safety devices must be maintained regularly to serve their intended purpose.
Meanwhile, suppose fire extinguishers must be disposed of because they have expired or been damaged. In that case, this should be done properly and by the current guidelines provided by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) should be done.
Failure to do so will result in associated consequences, including OSHA fines for an expired fire extinguisher.
If there is a fire, There is also a possibility of facing fire damage as your fire extinguisher has become ineffective. Consequently, you will need to obtain the services of fire damage restoration professionals.
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