While the chestnuts are roasting on the open fire, take a moment to perform a safety check on all of your fire extinguishers.

On Nov. 2, Kiddie Manufacturing issued a recall of 134 fire extinguisher models. Some of these had already been recalled in March 2009 and February 2015. Follow these steps to assure your fire extinguishers are in working order.

Step 1: The recall includes only plastic handle and push-button extinguishers. Check to see if the extinguisher has a plastic handle or a push-button trigger. If it has a metal handle, it is not affected by the recall.

Step 2: Check for a 10-digit date code printed on the side of the cylinder, near the bottom. If there is no code, the extinguisher was manufactured prior to 2007. The fifth through ninth digits of the 10-digit code represents the manufacturing date in a DDDYY format. If the date code falls between 00212 and 22717 (Jan. 2, 2012-Aug. 15, 2017), the unit might be included in the recall.

Step 3: Confirm whether the extinguisher has been recalled by calling Kiddie Manufacturing at 855-271-0773 between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday (excluding holidays), or between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. on weekends. You can also visit Kiddie’s website at kiddie.com and click on the Product Safety Recall Notice to check the listing of recalled models.

Step 4: Ask Kiddie to replace the recalled extinguishers by calling 855-271-0773. New extinguishers will be shipped within two to three weeks.

Step 5: When the new extinguishers arrive, follow the provided instructions to return the recalled extinguishers to Kiddie Manufacturing.

For extinguishers not affected by the recall, check for an expiration date. Nonrefillable extinguishers should be replaced every 10 to 12 years.

Check the pressure gauge on the extinguisher. If the pressure is out of the green zone, replace the extinguisher or, if the extinguisher is refillable, take it to a fire equipment supply company to have it refilled.

Dispose of old extinguishers by spraying the contents out of the canister to release the pressure. Let the canister sit for a few days and check it again to ensure all of the pressure has been released. Once the pressure is released, the canister can be recycled at a metal recycling center.

— Have a home improvement question for Fix-It Chick? Email it to Linda Cottin at hardware@sunflower.com.