[vreihen16]

Originally Posted by M_Six

Is it even worth having cheapo dry powder extinguishers tested/recharged?

Many of the cheap ones are disposable, and there is no way to refill them. Check the labels, because they are clearly marked.

After personally witnessing a neighbor's ancient air compressor tank, um, rapidly venting itself due to years of condensation/rust inside, I will always spend up for heavy-gauge pressure vessels and not pressurized "tin cans" whenever possible. (Steel air tanks are now stamped with a 10-year lifetime expiration date by law for this very reason.)

Oh, and I'm pretty sure that there is a bold print warning on every fire extinguisher saying not to test it by giving it a squirt. I suspect that the powder getting under the valve seat during a discharge prevents it from sealing 100% afterwards.....