According to statistics, 74% of all deaths in the U.S., caused by fire, happen within the home. Installing a sprinkler system, provides protection, saves lives, and restores peace of mind. Unfortunately, many homeowners neglect to maintain their systems; which is the saddest news a fire marshall has to report. If a sprinkler system is in good working condition, it can stop a fire before that fire takes lives.
Here are a few tips on how to keep your sprinkler system in great condition. It is imperative that you perform these tasks quarterly.
● Walk around the home and visually inspect your sprinklers. Check for rust, or any type of corrosion. Sprinklers should not be painted over; so if you’ve recently painted or had remodeling done in the home, make sure that the sprinklers are not damaged.
● Make sure you know how to open the sprinkler system control valves. Familiarize yourself with how your sprinklers work, so that you are not caught off-guard in the midst of a disaster.
● The power to the sprinkler system should remain on. In most cases, there is a separate circuit breaker panel for the sprinklers; so this should be easy to accomplish. It is wise to have a lock on this panel, so no one accidentally opens it.
● Conduct a flow test by opening the test drain valve slowly until fully opened. Within 15-30 seconds you should hear an alarm bell. Allow the system to flow for approximately 3 minutes. Afterwards, slowly close the test drain. Note: If you need to notify your alarm company, do so before beginning this test.
● Check to make sure that your sprinkler pipes are well insulated to prevent them from freezing. The home should always remain at a moderate temperature, even when on vacation.
Just like a car or central climate control, sprinkler systems need regular maintenance to ensure proper functionality and decent longevity. Hire a licensed sprinkler contractor to inspect your system annually to insure your sprinkler system will be there when you need it most.
Fire Tech Residential Sprinklers maintains fire safety in homes in Maryland, Washington DC, Baltimore Metropolitan Area, Virginia and Pennsylvania. With a variety of sprinklers available, you can find the perfect system to protect your home!