Question:
Fire extinguishers - recharging My question is how often should fire extinguishers be recharged? My daughter had to use one at home that had been on the wall for years and showed a full charge. Problem was the powder had packed and very little came out. I understand that boats and cars cause the packing more quickly

Answer: Fire extinguishers need recharging only after they have been discharged. Powder/dry chemical will settle and cake if the units sit, so it is a good idea once a year to turn them over and shake them to loosen any caked powder. Movement of a boat or car is actually good as it shakes the powder in the units and prevents caking. It is still a good idea to turn the units on your boat over and shake them before spring launch and during mid season. On the same topic, there is also no law stating that recreational boaters must have their fire extinguishers inspected by a fire extinguisher company annually. If you want to pay for the service, fine. You can check it over yourself, making sure the unit is charged, the hose is not cracked and the nozzle is not obstructed.