# How to choose a fire extinguisher service company

Compare credentials, scope, records and the total quote before choosing a contractor.

Updated 2026-11-10. Also on the [web page](https://extinguishers.fyi/guides/choose-extinguisher-service-company).

Send each company the same equipment list and scope. This makes its response easier to compare. Include your address, access arrangements, equipment types, previous service dates and any known damage.

## Confirm the credentials

Ask which agency licenses the company and the person doing the work. Check the official record and whether the proposed service is covered. The Texas Department of Insurance portal is one example of an official company and personnel search [TDI]. Confirm the correct authority for your own location.

## Separate the work

Ask for separate descriptions of visual checks, annual maintenance, recharging, internal maintenance and hydrostatic testing. OSHA 1910.157 treats these as different duties [Cornell LII]. A vague line called inspection can conceal important differences in scope.

Request a written quote with call-out charges, unit charges, repairs, replacement, taxes and disposal shown separately. Ask whether approval is needed before extra work. A low unit price can be difficult to compare when the visit charge is omitted.

## Ask for usable records

CCOHS recommends records covering serial number, extinguisher type, location, inspection date, tests, next inspection, annual service, comments and signature [CCOHS]. Ask for a sample report format before booking. You should be able to match each report entry to a physical unit.

## Agree how defects are handled

Ask who receives the report, who authorizes repairs and what protection is available while equipment is away. For US workplaces, OSHA (e)(5) addresses alternate equivalent protection during maintenance and recharge [Cornell LII].

## Make the choice

Compare the confirmed credentials, written scope, record quality, access plan and total price. Keep unresolved questions visible. A paid listing position on this site is not a recommendation, a license check or a promise of service quality.

## Sources

- [Texas Department of Insurance, Fire Industry Licensing](https://www.tdi.texas.gov/fire/fmli.html), fetched 2026-11-10.
- [Cornell LII, OSHA 29 CFR 1910.157](https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/29/1910.157), fetched 2026-11-10.
- [CCOHS, Fire Extinguishers: Portable](https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/safety_haz/fire_extinguishers.html), fetched 2026-11-10.

Checked 2026-11-10. Planning information only. Confirm the adopted code, equipment instructions and local requirements with your fire authority.

## Questions

### What should I ask for after the visit?

Ask for a report that matches each unit to its location, work completed, defects and next service dates.