Make It Safe: Babyproofing Your Home HVAC, Plumbing and Electrical Systems 

As a parent, absolutely nothing is more critical than keeping your baby safe. As soon as your little ones start crawling, it seems like the whole house feels like one big hazard! The HVAC, plumbing and electrical systems are especially concerning. With this guide from the Experts at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing, you can make sure your home’s essential systems are thoroughly babyproofed—giving you one less thing to worry about!

Block Access to Air Vents and Registers

HVAC grills that fit over the air vents throughout your residence often prove to be irresistible targets for small children. Here are ways to make sure they are safe:

• Fasten registers: If your floor or wall registers fit loosely, screw them in place so you can be sure they aren’t going anywhere.
• Install some vent covers: These use a small grid to stop small objects from falling inside without blocking airflow throughout your home.

Move the Thermostat Up High

Kids are attracted to buttons and screens, which makes the thermostat a potentially fun and exciting plaything. Follow these tips to help keep curious toddlers from creating temperature control issues in your home:

• Move the thermostat up high: The thermostat should be installed at a height for adults. Avoid placing furniture near it that could tempt kids to climb up for a closer look.
• Lock down the controls: Some thermostats feature safety functions to keep anyone from fiddling with the settings. If yours doesn’t have this feature, consider investing in a thermostat cover that prevents curious kids from inadvertently changing the temperature.

Block Access to HVAC and Mechanical Room Equipment

If your HVAC system is located in your home’s basement or utility closet, this is a very important place for babyproofing. These are no places for [babies|children|infants or toddlers|any child}, so follow these tips to make them safe:

• Add doorknob covers: If the utility area is enclosed, you have it easy. Just put a childproof cover on the doorknob to keep your kids from opening the door to the room.
• Add a safety gate: If your heating or air systems are in an open area, put up a safety gate to stop adventurous crawlers from getting too close to your furnace or water heater.
• Inspect the carbon monoxide detectors: Every house, mobile home or apartment should have at least one carbon monoxide detector on every level, especially if you have gas appliances. Unfortunately, plug-in versions are within reach for kids to reach. Consider installing combination CO/smoke detectors on the ceiling for better safety.

Follow These Tips to Prevent Burn Injuries

In many homes, the threat of burn injuries isn’t restricted to your home’s utility room. Here are tips on how to keep your child from the dangers of hot surfaces:

• Use heat guards: Use a baby gate or specially designed heat guard around heat-producing appliances or equipment, baseboard heaters or fireplaces to build a barrier between young children and potentially dangerous hot surfaces.
• Avoid space heaters: A properly adjusted and tuned heating system should heat your entire home, and there should be no requirement to use a space heater to attract curious kids.

How to Childproof Your Electric System

We all need electricity in our homes, but electricity also poses safety hazards for children. Here’s how to secure your home’s electric system:

• Use outlet covers: Building code mandates that new receptacles be tamper resistant. If you have older outlets, you can retrofit them with outlet covers. Choose childproof covers instead of plug-in styles, because clever children can sometimes remove the plug-in styles.
• Hide cords: Exposed cords are a tangling risk. Use cord concealers or secure them along the baseboards. Power strip covers are also effective for preventing small children from reaching the sockets.
• Keep the electrical panel locked: If your electrical panel is somewhat low to the ground, make sure it’s firmly closed and locked to stop inquisitive kids from accessing it.

Safeguard Your Plumbing

Babies love playing in water. That’s why it’s so vital to ensure they stay safe around home plumbing fixtures like basins, tubs and toilets. Try these safety tips for plumbing systems:

• Adjust the water temperature: Turn your water heater to 120 degrees F to prevent scalding injuries. Just don’t turn the temperature down any colder than this, or you risk microbial growth in the tank.
• Install a faucet cover: Has your baby ever hit her or his head on the bathtub faucet? Rubberized covers are a very simple way to avoid this kind of injury.
• Try using toilet locks: Babies are often intrigued by the toilet. A specialized lock stops little ones from accessing unsanitary water or tossing toys inside, which can cause pipe clogs.

Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing: Your Trusted Partner for the U.S. HVAC, Plumbing and Electrical Services

With these home safety tips, you can easily create a protected environment in your home. At Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing, we’re pleased to help parents protect their families with reliable HVAC, plumbing and electrical services in the U.S.. We strive to make a meaningful difference in the lives of every customer we serve—even the little ones! Contact Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing at 866-397-3787 today for outstanding workmanship and customer service.