RoyF wrote:
This serves as a good reminder to think about fire extinguishers. My RV and truck extinguishers are from 2008. The one in the truck had a gauge that was in the "red". I tried it, and it didn't work. Tried the one that came with the RV and it didn't work either. Don't know how long they are supposed to last.
Fire extinguishers need to be checked MONTHLY. This means they need to be taken off the wall (mount), the pressure gauge checked, the safety pin and seal, the powder needs to be agitated and general condition checked. Never squeeze the trigger to see if it'll work. Even if it does, the pressure will be gone in a day or two. To agitate the powder invert the extinguisher, strike it with the heel of your hand, a rubber hammer or a piece of 2x4 while shaking it. If you're still not sure of what to do, take it to the nearest fire house. Anyone there will be happy to teach you to do it right. These things can save your rig and your life, but they need maintenance. Also check operation of the emergency exits, smoke detector and CO2 detector at the same time.
