How to Fill a Fire Extinguisher

You should test all of your fire extinguishers once per year. If you do not use your fire extinguisher, you need to refill it once every six years. If you use it, your fire extinguisher should be refilled as soon as possible after use. While it is possible to refill your fire extinguisher yourself if you only have one or two fire extinguishers purchasing the equipment to do so is not cost effective. It is much more affordable to take your fire extinguisher to a store that fills and re-charges extinguishers.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Examine your fire extinguisher. If it has a metal valve, it is refillable. If the valve is plastic, the fire extinguisher can not be refilled and must be replaced.

2. Call your local fire department. Dial the general number, not 9-1-1. Some fire stations refill fire extinguishers for no charge while some fire stations do not have this capability and in fact outsource the filling of their own fire extinguisher.

3. Look up "Fire Extinguishers" in your phone book.

4. Call the closest location to you to make sure that the facility does recharge and refill fire extinguishers.

5. Take you fire extinguisher to this location. The average cost to refill your fire extinguisher is $15.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are refilling several fire extinguishers it may be cost effective to buy a product such as FireAde 2000 and refill the extinguishers yourself.