How to Check a Home Fire Extinguisher Before You Need It

The extinguisher has been under the sink or in the garage since you moved in, and the assumption is that a full-looking red can will work. It may be past its date, low on pressure, the wrong class for a grease fire, or one of the 37.8 million Kidde units recalled because they can clog and fail to discharge. Checking takes five minutes and nothing has to be bought unless something fails.

Read the pressure gauge

Hold the extinguisher upright and look at the small dial near the handle. The needle must sit in the green or full band. If it points to the red recharge side or to overcharged, the unit is not reliable. Kidde says a unit with the needle in the green and a manufacture date under 12 years old is still good.

Find the manufacture date

Look on the bottom of the cylinder for a 2-digit year, or for a 4-digit year stamped into the metal. On Kidde units made from 2007 on, a 10-digit date code is printed on the side of the cylinder near the bottom. If the unit is 12 or more years old, replace it. Other brands print their own service life on the label, so read it.

Check the rating on the label

The label shows letters for the fires it can fight. A covers wood, paper and cloth, B covers grease, gasoline and oil, and C covers electrical equipment. For a kitchen or garage, look for ABC or at least BC, and for a UL Listed or ULC Listed mark.

Look for damage and blocked access

Check that the can, hose and nozzle are not dented, cracked or rusted, and that nothing is stacked in front of it. Wipe off dust and grease. Some models need a monthly shake, others need a pressure test every few years, so follow the maker's instructions on the label.

Check whether it is a recalled Kidde unit

Kidde recalled 134 models with plastic handles or push-button Pindicators, sold in red, white and silver, made from January 1, 1973 through August 15, 2017. The model number is on the label. Compare it with the list on the CPSC recall notice, then request a free replacement through Kidde product safety notices or by calling 800-880-6788.

Learn PASS before the fire

Pull the pin, aim low at the base of the fire, squeeze the lever slowly and evenly, and sweep side to side. Use it only if everyone is alerted, 911 has been called, the fire is small and contained, and you have a clear way out. Otherwise leave and call 911.

If it has been used. Read the gauge again. A rechargeable unit whose needle has left the green goes to a fire extinguisher service center for a refill, and a unit that cannot be recharged gets replaced.

Sources. USFA: Choosing and using fire extinguishers, CPSC: Kidde recall of fire extinguishers with plastic handles, Kidde: when to refill your fire extinguisher, Kidde product safety notices.