According to the National Fire Protection Association, 75% of all fire-related deaths in the U.S., happen within the home.
Having a residential fire sprinkler system installed will provide protection to your home, restore peace of mind an potentially save lives.
Unfortunately, many homeowners neglect to maintain their systems. If a sprinkler system is in good working condition, it can stop a fire before it becomes fatal.
Below are a few tips on how to keep your sprinkler system in great condition.
Inspect sprinklers regularly
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.
Keep the power on
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
This can be done 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. Afterward, slowly close the test drain. If you need to notify your alarm company, do so before beginning this test.
Check insulation
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.
Hire a professional team
Just like a car or central climate control, sprinkler systems need regular maintenance to ensure proper functionality and longevity.
Hire a licensed sprinkler contractor to inspect your system annually to ensure your fire sprinkler system will be there when you need it most.
At Fire Tech Residential Sprinklers LLC, we are dedicated to keeping your family safe. We specialize in installing and maintaining residential fire sprinkler systems in Maryland, Washington DC, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and the Baltimore Metropolitan Area.
Contact us today to schedule whatever maintenance services you require for your home sprinkler system.