Precautions for fireplace use this fall
As summer comes to a close and the days shorten, we begin focusing on the inside of our home. One of the traditions welcoming the arrival of fall is lighting the fireplace for the first time.
Long seen as the spot for congregation and convivial conversation during the chilly months of fall and winter, the fireplace requires more than turning the key, lighting the pilot or throwing a few logs on the grate prior to being lit.
“By following six simple steps to safety, you can get the most enjoyment from your hearth, and maximize safety, during the fireplace season,” said Michael J. Dorsey, President of Fireplace Safety Screen.
The following are Six Steps to (Gas Fireplace) Safety this fall:
- Have your gas fireplace cleaned and inspected, annually, by a fireplace professional: you want to know that your fireplace is functioning at its best and burns properly. This will reduce the chance that guests could experience trouble starting the fireplace, this precautionary measure will assure your guests hours of enjoyment and warmth in front of the fireplace.
- Increase Awareness:Make sure guests are aware that the glass panel of a gas fireplace, stove or fireplace insert can be extremely hot. It is important to educate your guests on the appropriate wait time to ensure that the fireplace and glass panel have properly cooled before allowing anyone to get near it. Cool down takes more time than starting the fire– typically an hour or more.
- Secure Remote Control:Keep the remote control (if your appliance has one) out of the reach of children. It may be possible to shut off your remote when not in use. Consult your manual and post the appropriate safety precautions for guest suites with fireplaces and make certain that all hotel personnel managing the remote are properly instructed.
- Display a warning sign: WARNING HOT GLASS WILL CAUSE BURNS. DO NOT TOUCH GLASS UNTIL COOLED. NEVER ALLOW CHILDREN TO TOUCH GLASS.
- Install Switch Lock: Install a wall switch lock to prevent children from turning on the gas fireplace. Operation of these switches differs by manufacturer, so be sure to read the instructions carefully.
- Install a fireplace safety screen if your glass front gas fireplace doesn’t have one: Installation of a simple safety screen can save guests from experiencing serious burns.
“The glow of a fireplace provides an inviting call for warmth, conversation and relaxation. You want your guests’ experiences to be enjoyable and safe,” added Dorsey.
Fireplace Safety Screen is dedicated to ensuring the safety of consumers and guests wherever gas fireplaces have been installed.
Led by Michael Dorsey, President and Lead Designer of the company, Fireplace Safety Screen, brings more than 30 years of experience in designing and manufacturing the right safety screen for each gas fireplace application.
Dorsey and his team have developed screens that first and foremost improve safety around gas fireplaces, as well as ensure that the aesthetic of the fireplace itself is preserved and uncompromised with the addition of the safety screen.
Click here to learn more about installing a fireplace safety screen on your gas fireplace.