Every home and business should have at least one fire extinguisher on site. What you may not know is that fire extinguishers need to be serviced and recharged periodically, even if they haven't been used. There are several benefits of scheduling this service at regular intervals.

1. Improved Functionality

Over time, a fire extinguisher that has never been used can begin to lose pressure, which means it won't provide the distance or coverage that you would expect and need during an emergency. A simple inspection will determine if loss of pressure due to aging is an issue. And a quick recharge will help bring it back to its rightful pressure so you can be assured it will work as needed in the event of a fire.

2. Legal Requirements

There may be fire code restrictions that apply to your fire extinguishers, such as if they are in a business or rental housing that you own. Usually, these regulations require periodic extinguisher testing and maintenance every few months. Failure to fulfill these requirements can result in fines or even the closure of the business.

3. Avoids Mishaps

A recharge also includes checking that everything is working properly. A common issue many fire extinguishers face is the valve corroding so it doesn't operate easily, which is a problem easily fixed during recharging. Cracks in the hose is another problem that can make an extinguisher malfunction, so your recharging service will also check and replace the hoses as needed. The repair inspection is a nice side benefit of a recharging service that will prolong the life and safety of your extinguishers.

4. Cost-Effective

You could opt to replace the fire extinguisher frequently instead of scheduling maintenance and recharging visits. In the long run, though, this will cost much more than simply servicing your existing extinguishers. This is especially true for larger extinguishers and those made for special uses, such as putting out chemical fires. A quality fire extinguisher can last for a decade or longer if it is regularly serviced by a professional. 

5.  Environmentally Friendly

Each time you replace a fire extinguisher it ends up in a landfill. Opting to service and recharge them instead is environmentally friendly because you are putting fewer old extinguishers into landfills. This also means fewer new ones need to be manufactured, a process that uses up energy and resources.

Contact a fire extinguisher recharging service if you have old extinguishers that should be inspected and recharged.