 |
Maintaining a residential fire sprinkler system is not the same as maintaining a smoke alarm system. Homeowners can check on the operation of smoke alarms without costly professional intervention. The fire sprinkler valves must be checked periodically to verify the system is activated. Sprinkler heads must be checked to make sure they are clear of obstacles. Homeowners must be careful not to block them or paint over them. Also, if a backflow preventer is installed, an expensive annual inspection is usually mandated by the local water purveyor. A sprinkler industry advocacy group, the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition, recommends that home sprinkler systems be installed according to the latest recommendations from the National Fire Protection Association, or NFPA 13D, “Installation of Sprinkler Systems in One- and Two-Family Dwellings and Manufactured Homes.” This same document advises that the sprinkler pipes in the antifreeze-type systems installed in colder climates be emptied and then refilled with an antifreeze solution every winter, and that monthly inspections and tests of all the water flow devices, pumps, air pressure and water level be performed. When the home relies on a well rather than a municipal water source, the costs of maintaining the necessary pumps and holding tanks must be factored in as well. |
    |
