Warning: don't trust a fire extinguisher that's been sitting in your garage for 12 years

Last Tuesday I was grilling burgers in my backyard in Phoenix when the grease tray caught fire. I grabbed the old extinguisher off the wall, pulled the pin, and squeezed the handle. Nothing came out. Just a sad little puff of dust. Had to dump a whole pitcher of water on it and the flames flared up worse before dying. Check your extinguisher date before you need it. Anyone else have old safety gear fail on them?

2 comments

2 Comments

eric_johnson7d ago

I read somewhere that extinguishers lose pressure after like 5 years even if they look fine.

ivangrant7d ago

Bought a used one at a garage sale and it looked spotless. Checked the gauge and it was in the green so I thought I was good. Year later I had a small grease fire in the kitchen and pulled the pin and barely got a puff out of it. Now I just replace them every 5 years on the dot even if the needle looks fine.