Glass doors on fireplaces can reach a broiling hot temperature of 500 degrees — and the doors can stay hot long after the gas fireplace has been turned off.  That’s a painful lesson learned by more than 2,000 children under the age of 5 since 2009.  Toddlers are especially vulnerable to glass fireplace burns and emergency rooms see a parade of these burns every winter.

About 11 million U.S. homes have gas fireplaces. Fireplace manufacturers have agreed to voluntarily add screens to the glass doors by January 2015 to prevent serious burns to children.  Companies are stepping up production of screens that can be purchased separately long before that time.  They are also trying to get retrofits ready so consumers can get them to protect kids now, says a Consumer Product Safety Commission spokesman. It’s a great example of how companies can address safety issues outside of federal rule making.

Gas fireplace safety guide:

• Supervise children, the elderly, disabled and pets near a fireplace, stove or insert that has been turned off.
• Keep any fireplace remote out of the reach of children.
• Install a switch lock to keep kids from turning on the fireplace.
• Make sure family members know that the glass door can be very hot.
• Be aware that metal surfaces, including door frames and grills, can get very hot.

Fireplace owners can contact their gas-fireplace manufacturer to see if it sells a screen that fits. There may also be a fireplace screen that will fit sold by other manufacturers.

 Your Monthly Maintenance Minute

Most people only think of ceiling fans when they want to stay cool,  but they can actually help keep you warmer and save as much as 10% on heating costs during the cooler months.   More recent ceiling units come with a handy switch that reverses the direction of the blades.

How do you know if your fan is ready for winter? As you look up, the blades should be turning clockwise.   A counterclockwise rotation produces cooling breezes while switching to clockwise makes it warmer:   the warm air pooled at the ceiling is pushed down to your living space.