Kristin, I did read all of the links and even the one from the fire department is incorrect since they do not actually service them. Many firefighters and inspectors have been taught this incorrectly. Other than myself and two other posters, the one with almost 30 years and the one from California have learned the…

Using the term expert can be misleading, but I am a Certified Fire Protection Specialist (NFPA) and a Certified Level 4 Special Hazards/Fire Alarm Technician (NICET) and I have held licenses in Rochester NY and in Georgia. I can tell you that tapping with a mallet/shaking/turning upside down/etc. is a waste of time.…

Kristin, this is an incorrect method of maintaining a portable fire extinguisher. It has been a falsehood for over 20 years since I joined the fire protection industry first as a fire extinguisher service technician. Doing this does nothing as the dry chemical resettles very quickly. The manufacturers have designed…