I thought lightning strikes tall buildings. A lightning struck my house and there was a flame in my basement. Could that be prevented by lightning rod?
Column replacement is not necessary. The cylinder comes out without a key similar to a GM of that era. I would get a locksmith to do it and set the new lock to the old key since it also works your doors.
If you have had it that long, the seal that holds the pressure inside the unit has failed. Get a new one. Residential units without the dial, can not really be repaird. If your unit is a commercial type unit, a fire extinguisher company can open it, hydrostatic test it, replace the seals, replace the powder, and you have a new unit. Ask about their cost, before you do it. You should inspect your extinguisher every 6 months, when you change your smoke detector batteries. Check the hose to make sure it is not dry rotted, and not clogged up. Check the dial to make sure the pressure is right. Then turn the unit over and hit the bottom with a rubber mallet or a phone book. The goal is to get the powder off the bottom. Now shake it up. Over time, the powder can get hard packed on the bottom, and the unit will not work. Every 3 to 5 years, have the unit checked by a fire extinguisher company. I keep three extinguishers in my home. One in the kitchen, one in the shop, and one by my bed. (If the alarm goes off at night, I want to be able to get to the kids and make sure they are out.) We also have a fire evacuation plan, and drill it every six months.
the fire hazard is useless now as its in the empty panel. its contents doesnt evaporate nor does it dissapear. it just cant extinguish fire
