Used it once? Refill it now.
Any discharge empties part of the charge. A short squeeze counts. Even a few seconds of use can leave the valve seal unseated, so the remaining pressure leaks out over the following days while the unit hangs on its hook looking ready.
A used extinguisher is out of service until it is recharged and retagged. If your Paramount business just put out a small fire, or someone set off a unit by accident, call us before you hang it back up.
Fire extinguisher recharge in Paramount
Recharge and refill are the same job. Here is how it usually goes for a stored-pressure unit:
- The technician empties any agent left in the cylinder.
- The valve, O-ring, hose and nozzle are checked, then cleaned or replaced.
- The cylinder is refilled with the right agent for its class and pressurized.
- The unit is leak-checked, weighed and tagged.
First, though, the technician reads the test date stamped on the cylinder. Dry chemical units need a hydrostatic test every 12 years, while CO2, water and wet chemical (Class K) units need one every 5 years, and a cylinder that is past due has to pass that pressure test before it can be filled again. Our hydrostatic testing page for Paramount explains that step. Stored-pressure dry chemical units also get an internal teardown every 6 years.
On site or at the shop
It depends on the unit. Some refills are done at your site during the visit. Others go back to the shop and come back to you once they've been recharged, checked and tagged. Ask about timing when you book. Got a fire department notice with a deadline? Give us that date on the first call.
Expired or very old cylinders can add cost. Some can't pass inspection and won't be refilled at all.
A unit can feel full and still fail
One Paramount caller told us their extinguisher seemed to have weight and charge, yet it didn't discharge when they used it on a real fire. It happens. Weighing is a real maintenance check (it's how CO2 units are judged), but weight alone won't reveal a blocked hose, a corroded valve or dry chemical packed solid at the bottom of the cylinder.
So the owner looks each unit over monthly. A certified technician does the maintenance yearly. Our annual extinguisher certification in Paramount page covers that visit, and extinguisher training for Paramount staff covers how to use one.
Commercial cooking kitchens with a hood suppression system also need a Class K extinguisher. Its wet chemical agent is its own refill. For the hood system, see kitchen fire suppression service in Paramount.
Who does the work, and who inspects
In California, extinguisher service must be done by a firm and technician licensed by the State Fire Marshal. Our California work is done by Hedrick Fire Protection, which holds C-16 and C-10 contractor licenses, is licensed by the State Fire Marshal under Title 19 for portable extinguisher service, and is also licensed to install and service commercial kitchen hood suppression systems.
Paramount uses the Los Angeles County Fire Code. Business fire inspections in the city are done by the Los Angeles County Fire Department's Fire Prevention Division through its East Regional Office in Cerritos, (562) 860-8014. Questions about a citation go there.
To schedule a refill or recharge in Paramount, call (213) 568-0188 or email socal@1profire.com
Paramount extinguisher refill questions
Can your technicians service extinguishers at several separate job sites?
Yes. Send us each address and the number of units at each one when you book. You don't have to bring them to one place.
Do extinguishers over 12 years old need hydrostatic testing?
Dry chemical units need a hydrostatic test every 12 years, counted from the last test date on the cylinder. CO2, water and Class K units run on a 5-year cycle.
What is a K-Class extinguisher, and is it portable?
Yes, it's portable. It's a wet chemical extinguisher made for cooking oils and fats, and commercial kitchens with a hood suppression system need one.
Are extinguishers from 1984 or older still serviceable?
Often not. The technician checks the cylinder's condition, markings and test history, and a unit that can't pass is taken out of service.
Do you service the Paramount area?
Yes. Paramount, ZIP code 90723, is one of our listed service areas.