Fire extinguishers spend most of their lives sitting quietly on a wall, waiting for the day they when they are needed. Because of that, it’s easy to assume that if an extinguisher looks fine from the outside, it must be fine on the inside, too. But that isn’t always true.
Fire extinguishers can loose pressure. That little gauge can slowly slip out of the “green” or suddenly shoot into the “red.” Either way, your handy fire-putter-outer is not up to the job anymore! Now, if you haven’t put out any fires with that extinguisher recently you may be wondering… Is my fire extinguisher leaking? Could that be dangerous? Will my extinguisher still work? What even happened?
We’ve got the answers to all those questions and, most importantly, we’ve got an answer to the one question you probably forgot to ask… what should you do about a leaking fire extinguisher? Let’s tackle them one at a time.
Why Did My Fire Extinguisher Leak Down?
Fire extinguishers are pressurized mechanical devices. Inside that shining red exterior are a bunch of little components that all have to work together in order for the extinguisher to do its extinguishing. Over time, those components can develop problems.
An improperly installed or damaged valve stem, O-ring, gauge, or even handle can allow pressure to escape from the extinguisher. Sometimes it’s a mechanical issue that develops simply because the extinguisher has been sitting around for years unchecked. Other times, the extinguisher has been bumped, dropped, or damaged without anyone noticing. And then there is one of our least favorite possibilities: someone used it and didn’t tell anyone.
No matter the cause, any loss of pressure is a huge Red Flag and should not be ignored. An extinguisher that is not fully charged, in the green, can not be trusted to work in an emergency.
You should never test a fire extinguisher. Discharging the extinguisher for any duration without proper recharging will result in failed function over time. Extinguishers that show full pressure, with gauges reading in the green, are to be trusted and do NOT require any kind of discharge test.
Is a Leaking Fire Extinguisher Dangerous?
In most cases, a loss of pressure is more concerning because of what the extinguisher won’t do rather than what it will do. A depressurized extinguisher may not discharge properly when needed. That is why it is important to regularly check your extinguishers; for personal use, this means giving your extinguishers a once over every six months, for business owners this means keeping up with your annual fire extinguisher maintenance schedule. Finding out that your extinguisher doesn’t work during a fire emergency is the worst time to discover that your extinguisher isn’t charged!
There are a few types of fire extinguishers that could be harmful to the environment or you if they were to leak. If you have an extinguisher listed below that you believe is leaking, contact your servicing company or local fire department ASAP.
- Halogenated Fire Extinguishers: often found near highly sensitive electronics such as in server rooms or operating rooms these extinguishers were manufactured from the 1980’s-2010’s until being largerly replaced by so-called “clean agent” models.
- Carbon Tetrachloride Fire Extinguishers: the original and preferred fire extinguishers for almost 100 years until Carbon-Tet was found to be incredibility hazardous & was banned as an extinguishing agent in the USA.
- AFFF Fire Extinguishers: also known as foam extinguishers, these were beloved by gas stations, auto repairs shops, and fire departments for decades wreaking untold damage on the natural environment until recently being replaced with less harmful alternatives.
- Carbon Dioxide Fire Extinguishers: the perfect alternative to both Carbon Tet and Halon extinguishers, the CO2 extinguisher is still widely sold today.
The extinguishing agents in these may impact the health of individuals and animals exposed to them. Additionally, the source of the leak could comprise the integrity of the extinguishers shell which could be dangerous under certain circumstances.
The extinguishers listed above are considered specialty extinguishers. The two most common fire extinguisher types, BC and ABC dry chemical, are not considered hazardous. In additional to the difference in chemicals, specialty extinguishers often have unique colors, labels, sizes, and even directions for use that differentiate them.
What Should You Do If You Think Your Extinguisher Is Leaking?
If you notice that the pressure gauge is no longer in the proper range or suspect that an extinguisher has been discharged, don’t just put it back and hope for the best. Get it checked out! Your local fire extinguisher servicing company can do this for you. Signs of a leaky extinguisher include:
- Gauge reading outside of the “green” or “fully charged” zone
- Dispelled chemical in the hose/nozzle or nearby area
- Missing pull pin and/or tamper seal
- Large dents or rust spots, any holes on the extinguishers shell
- Bubbling or bulging on the shell especially around the extinguisher neck
- Recall notices, disposal after/replace after dates
If you are unsure who to contact in your area try reaching out to the fire department or local fire inspector for recommendations. Your local insurance agent may also be able to steer you in the right direction.
Your extinguisher may require hydrostatic testing or may simply need an internal part replaced depending on source of the leak. The worst possible outcome is that you’re extinguisher is deemed out of service (OOS) and needs to be replaced.
Do NOT under any circumstances dump your fire extinguisher in the trash or recycle. Even if you think you’re extinguisher is OOS, it should still be taken to one of these entities to be disposed of properly.
Key Takeaways:
- Fire extinguishers can leak, depressurize, and even discharge due to mechanical failure, physical damage, or tampering.
- Any extinguisher that is not fully charged should NOT be trusted in an emergency.
- Leaking extinguishers should be examined by professionals ASAP.
- Never handle a leaking extinguisher you suspect may contain harmful chemicals or be physically comprised.
- Do NOT dispose of fire extinguishers in your regular trash or recycle.
Disclaimer: This blog post was created, in part, by AI.
