Fire Extinguisher Checks

[JayDavis]

I did a walk around my barn and shop today and noticed that just about all my fire extinguisher's nozzles were all plugged up by insects. Not sure what they are, but they have always jambed up the ground hole in my electrical sockets or even air line tool fiittings. They build a mud nest in this sized hole, inject a larvae and seal it up completely with mud. Bad idea for a fire extinguisher. I unscrewed the nozzles and used a small drill to ream out the mud etc. I hope you never need one, but in case you have them hanging around outside or in sheds or buildings, check the nozzles. I think I've seen plastic or rubber plugs to solve this problem at TSC or Lowes/Menards/Home Depot, etc/

I guess I am getting into this conversation late.... but if you get a package of yellow ear plugs (you know, the ones that are shaped like little cylinders) you can take one of them and it will lightly fit into most fire exstinguisher nozzles. The fit isn't very tight so when you squeeze the trigger, it will launch it out. They do good at keeping bugs out.

 

[Bird]

I guess I am getting into this conversation late.... but if you get a package of yellow ear plugs (you know, the ones that are shaped like little cylinders) you can take one of them and it will lightly fit into most fire exstinguisher nozzles. The fit isn't very tight so when you squeeze the trigger, it will launch it out. They do good at keeping bugs out.

Another simple solution that I, and probably lots of others, never thought of. Very good suggestion.

 

[RobertN]

Ok this has kinda gotten off topic and is about to go further so.

I read too many reports in "Close Calls" and other Dept bulletins that come through our station. Too many people get hurt or die over $50 worth of smole detectors and batteries that are 1) not there at all, 2) broken, 3) dead batteries, 4) out of date, 5) dirty. There are other issues too, but those seem to top the list.

On top of civilians hurt or dying, are the firefighters and medics that get hurt or die trying to rescue people whom a simple $1 battery might have saved.

Some manufacturers recomend cleaning the detectors.

 

[Zephrant]

If they don't work well (false alarm) throw them away and replace them with another brand. I put in new ones on a central security system 9 years ago, and have never had a false alarm.

The only time they have ever gone off was when I was using a gas concrete saw in the basement. I had a respirator and hearing protection on, and didn't even know the siren was going off until I stopped the saw.

 

[dmccarty]

I don't know the answer you want, but I have lived in Florida under severe humidity conditions for over thirty years. I don't think I have ever heard that moisture would set off fire alarms. I have not heard them go off because of humidity, only smoke. However, if moisture were to form on a cold fire detector lens, it might confuse the alarm. I test mine by putting smoke near it. If I am cooking and things smoke a little, the alarm will go off, but that is to be expected.

I don't remember if you said they were hard wired, but a voltage interruption might trigger the alarm.

Have you changed brands of smoke alarms, and does it still do the same?

They are hardwired.

I have not changed the alarms since they all say they will have problems in high humidity.

I don't think it was voltage related. At the the time we had one or two UPSes that beep when we have power issues. Now we have three. The go off frequently around 5:00-6:00am. They did not go off when the fire alarms went. Course the UPS alarms could have been drowned out by the fire alarms. All FIVE of them.

Read the small print on the detectors humidity and dust can set them off. You are supposed to vacuum your detector frequently. We never cleaned the one we had in the city house.

When the alarms started going off in our new house I changed batteries, checked connections, and vacuumed them. They still went off.

I just grabbed one of the alarms and put a battery in it. I'll see what happens over time.....

Later,
Dan

 

[tallyho8]

I live in southern Louisiana and the humidity is 100% very often and I have never had one of my smoke alarms go off due to humidity. If my wife burns something in the kitchen it goes off fast.

 

[Treemonkey1000]

After a little thinking on this whole thread of which I may have missed this suggestion. The warning labels do state about humidity. If the alarm is on the ceiling and cut into the ceiling of homes with Air conditioning. Could the alarm be getting condensation inside the cover if warm air is meeting with the cool air from the A/C?
I would rather have false alarms than no alarms if there were ever a fire or carbon monoxide leak. Even if it scared the boogers out of me in the middle of the night

 

[J_J]

Dan, I believe those alarms work using the photo cell principle, and a transmitter. If something, smoke, steam/moisture, dust, interrupts the beam, then it will sense that something is wrong and sound the alarm. It appears to be doing it's job, but false alerts will scare the he** out of anybody. and you might get use to false alerts, and that ain't good. do this check and let us know the results. Use one of those hand steamers and see if they will set it off. If they do go off, what do yo do to shut off the alarm? I just purchased one of the talking alarms, and I am curious to hear what it says, and is it alarm and voice or what.