Do fires extinguishers need to be shaken to prevent settling?

[RSKY]

I am not an expert. But I can't see how shaking an extinguisher would hurt it. And I have been told that it would help. So about once every year or two I turn mine over, bang on the bottom with a wooden hammer handle, and hang them back up.

RSKY

 

[sixdogs]

Do fire extinguishers have a useful life in that they should be replaced at that number of years in service? When do we just toss them out?

 

[dnw64]

Do fire extinguishers have a useful life in that they should be replaced at that number of years in service? When do we just toss them out?

My recollection is that in commercial use they have an expiration date no matter how well they've been maintained. I do know that every year or two our fire safety company says "This, that and the other one need to be replaced".

My guess is that there's a possibility of hidden damage (rust comes to mind).

 

[bigtiller]

^^^ I bought five 10 pounders because they timed out like that.
The local fire extinguisher service checks them out, recharges them and sells them.

 

[sixdogs]

I've long wondered if older fire extinguishers worked and last weekend got a chance to find out. We were swapping out some older fire extinguisher for newer ones--only because I suspected they might not be good and then duh, it hit me.

I'll try one out in the yard. I picked one that was maybe 14 years old and the needle was on the edge of recharge. It had never been shaken and sat in the corner all that time. If any would fail, this would be it.

The wife tested it out, wind from the back and the thing worked perfect. Dry powder came out under high pressure and filled up a big section of the side yard. No hesitation, no sputtering, no nothing and it worked just like it should. It worked.

 

[masscity]

I didn't read every post, maybe I need to do more, but I've been rolling mine on there side many times hoping to keep the powder from caking.

 

[ultrarunner]

I’ve been a good source for outdated hydro extinguishers from work…

Several that were years out of date saved the day…

One give away was in a horse barn and put out a fire… another was used for a freeway car fire.

I was told giving away outdated extinguishers is bad practice… but in at least two instances saved the day.