Papa D Loc: Mantweeka, Ca

This morning my 3 year old grandson saw me smacking all the household fire extinguishers against my anvil and wanted to know why.

My first reply was that I was going fishing this coming weekend and wanted to get a headstart on my daylight savings time change routine.

From the look on his face (like the one I give him when he forgets to say please or thank you), I could tell didn't like my answer.

Here's a summary of my second attempt to answer his question.

The following is based on first hand experience and recommendations from a retired fireman.

Background: After hanging for a year, the powder in an ABC fire extinguisher will settle and set in the bottom. The longer it hangs, the harder it sets up. (If you want to see for yourself, grab yours and give it a shake--if you can't feel and hear the powder moving, it's packed.)

My experience: I have a sister in law that lives with me and she's a firebug (too much oil in the deep fryer, Christmas presents on top of a 500 watt pole lamp, portable bathroom heater to close her bedding, etc). A couple of the times when I grabbed the closest extinguisher, all I got out of it was air.

Fireman's recommendation: When you change your clocks:

(1) put new batteries in your smoke detectors (the ones that I take out go into the remote control bag).

(2) Collect all your extinguishers and one-by-one beat them up. Rap them against something hard but don't hit them so hard that you leave big dents. Then give them a good shaking like you would a can of spray paint. If you can't get it to free up, replace it with a new one.

(3) Hang or lay the extinguishers horizontally. They won't pack up that bad.

(4) If you need to use it rap it against something before squeezing the handle.

My boat owner recommendation:

Add mugging your extinguishers to your biannual maintenance list.

Be safe and GO OUT AND GET SOME
PapaD

EZ Fishing Loc: College Ward, Utah

Great advice for all of us. Thanks for posting.

Gordon Loc: Charleston South Carolina

Wow. Thanks Papa D. Good advice

Foodfisher Loc: SO. Cal coast

Kuddos, wasn't aware. Thanks.

Grizzly 17 Loc: South central Pa

I check mine PapaD. Had to do routine extinguisher check at work. Most people aren't aware of that. The thing will still show green so we think they're good. Sam's club has a 2pk on sale now n then. I recently picked up a few. New one in ea boat one in garage /kitchen/basement n one upstairs. My wife is a fire Hazzard. Melted a plastic bag on a hot burner yesterday 😡👍

Fireguy Loc: Alton Bay NH

Good advice, but the recommended procedure is to tip the extinguisher upside down and hit the bottom with a rubber mallet. The powder should loosen, then shake it vigorously. Don't forget to check the pressure gauge, and make sure the pin is secured in place.

If you purchase a new extinguisher, take the old one outside and practice PASS.
Point
Aim
Squeeze
Sweep

And hope you never have to use one.

Grizzly 17 Loc: South central Pa

I used one of my new ones a few months ago. Freezer shorted out n a fireball came out of it. I was lucky enough to be looking at it when it happened. 👍

Fireguy Loc: Alton Bay NH

Lucky you were there Griz, and had an extinguisher nearby.
Over the years I saw quite few horror stories related to small fires that weren't handled correctly.

stuco Loc: Northern Utah - Salt Lake City

Good info Papa, and Fireguy! Thanks to both of you for the information and reminders.

Billycrap2 Loc: Mason county,W(BY GOD) Virginia, 🇺🇸🦅

Thank great advice 👍🏽👍🏽

Grizzly 17 Loc: South central Pa

Yes I was Fireguy. I went to the basement to check freezer n fridge before going to store. It had the hot wire smell. I checked everything n it seemed okay. Headed for town. Only went a couple miles n had that uneasy feeling went back. Started checking again. Unplug everything n plug in one at a time. Though it was fridge but pulled freezer away from wall. Plugged it in n pop pop I looked down n the fireball came out. What a rush. When I was 16 a house fire across the street burned out. When the smoke cleared I saw the charred body of one of the women that lived there. I can still see that horrible sight. That was 60 yrs ago. I enjoy the flames of a campfire but I'm anal when it comes to fire safety since then. Too many careless fires brother 👍👍

Papa D Loc: Mantweeka, Ca

Good catch!

I forgot to include the inversion part.

On the rubber mallet part, everybody else uses it, nobody puts it back. I can always find my 300 pound anvil.

OJdidit Loc: Oak Creek Wisconsin

Great tips guys, thanks!

Fireguy Loc: Alton Bay NH

😂 yup, pretty hard to miss that anvil.

Fireguy Loc: Alton Bay NH

Glad you followed that gut feeling. That feeling is an accumulation of our sensory inputs over a lifetime, things our mind stores to be recalled later. In your case, that childhood experience probably really heightened your perception.