kcharley
Fish Fanatic
I apologize if this belongs in the equipment forum. My thinking is with the CO2 users it might be more appropriate here.
Several months ago I bought a new CO2 tank. It came pressure tested and with a pressure relief valve. (It is apparently a law in the US that CO2 tanks have to be pressure tested once every five years and stamped with the test date.) I didn't realize the importance of the pressure relief valve but now understand how it minimizes the chance of an explosive catastrophe should the tank be subjected to a fire. Now household fires are thankfully a rare occurrence but, IMO, the valve is still a good thing to have.
When I refilled my CO2 tank last week I bought a foam based fire extinguisher.
Here's my point. For those who use a fire extinguisher as a CO2 tank I suggest you check for a pressure relief valve and make a conscious decision about having that valve. I say this because my new fire extinguisher doesn't have a pressure relief valve. Maybe it isn't needed on a foam based extinguisher and maybe CO2 based extinguishers have the valve (I'm too inexperienced to know.)
Just thought others might benefit from my being inattentive/naive when I purchased my tanks.
I don't mean to scare anybody from a CO2 tank. Other than seeing them tested on Mythbusters, I have never heard of one exploding. Given their prevalence to run kegs, soda fountains and paintball guns, the tanks are probably a lot stronger and safer than we realize. Personally I'm not scared of mine at all.
HTH somebody who is considering or using a CO2 tank.
Greg
Several months ago I bought a new CO2 tank. It came pressure tested and with a pressure relief valve. (It is apparently a law in the US that CO2 tanks have to be pressure tested once every five years and stamped with the test date.) I didn't realize the importance of the pressure relief valve but now understand how it minimizes the chance of an explosive catastrophe should the tank be subjected to a fire. Now household fires are thankfully a rare occurrence but, IMO, the valve is still a good thing to have.
When I refilled my CO2 tank last week I bought a foam based fire extinguisher.
Here's my point. For those who use a fire extinguisher as a CO2 tank I suggest you check for a pressure relief valve and make a conscious decision about having that valve. I say this because my new fire extinguisher doesn't have a pressure relief valve. Maybe it isn't needed on a foam based extinguisher and maybe CO2 based extinguishers have the valve (I'm too inexperienced to know.)
Just thought others might benefit from my being inattentive/naive when I purchased my tanks.
I don't mean to scare anybody from a CO2 tank. Other than seeing them tested on Mythbusters, I have never heard of one exploding. Given their prevalence to run kegs, soda fountains and paintball guns, the tanks are probably a lot stronger and safer than we realize. Personally I'm not scared of mine at all.
HTH somebody who is considering or using a CO2 tank.
Greg
