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

As a parent, absolutely nothing is more essential than protecting your baby’s safety. As soon as your little ones start crawling, it seems like the whole house is 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 adequately babyproofed—giving you one less thing to worry about!

Block Access to Air Vents and Registers

HVAC grills that fit over the air vents in your home often prove to be irresistible areas for small children. Here are ways to keep them safe:

• Fasten registers: If your floor or wall registers easily pop out, screw them in place so they won’t come off.
• Install some vent covers: These use a fine mesh to stop small objects from falling inside without hindering airflow throughout your residence.

Block Access to the Thermostat

Kids tend to zero right in on buttons and screens, which makes the thermostat a potentially inviting plaything. Follow these tips to stop little family members from creating temperature control issues in your home:

• Place the thermostat away from children: The thermostat should be installed at a level high enough where kids can’t easily reach it. Avoid placing furniture near it that could encourage kids to climb up for a closer look.
• Lock the controls: Some thermostats feature child-lock functions to prevent anyone from fiddling with the settings. If yours doesn’t have this feature, consider installing a thermostat cover that keeps curious kids from adjusting the temperature.

Block Access to HVAC and Mechanical Room Equipment

If your HVAC system is located in your home’s lower level 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 keep them safe:

• Add doorknob covers: If your utility area is enclosed, you are in luck. Simply put a childproof cover on the doorknob to stop your kids from opening the the door and accessing your HVAC system.
• Set up a safety gate: If your HVAC is in an open area, set up a safety gate to block intrepid crawlers from getting too close to your furnace or water heater.
• Test the carbon monoxide detectors: Every home 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 access. Consider placing combination CO/smoke detectors on the ceiling for maximum safety.

Ways to Prevent Hot Surface Burns for Children

In many homes, the threat of burn injuries isn’t limited to your home’s utility room. Here’s how to protect your child from the dangers of hot surfaces:

• Use heat guards: Place a simple baby gate or specially designed heat guard around heat-producing appliances or equipment, baseboard heaters or fireplaces to create a barrier between babies and potentially dangerous hot surfaces.
• Stop using space heaters: A professionally adjusted and tuned heating system should keep you comfortable in every room, and there should be no requirement to use a space heater to tempt curious kids.

Childproof Your Home’s Electrical System

We all need electricity to run today’s appliances, but it also poses safety hazards for toddlers. Here’s how to babyproof your home’s electric equipment and wiring:

• Use outlet covers: Building code requires that new receptacles be tamper resistant. If you have old outlets, you can retrofit them with outlet covers. Choose secured covers instead of plug-in styles, because clever children can sometimes take off the plug-in styles.
• Hide cords: Exposed cords are a chewing risk. Use cord concealers or secure them along the baseboards. Power strip covers are also useful for preventing kids from reaching the sockets.
• Keep the electrical panel locked: If your electrical panel is within reach, make sure it’s adequately closed and locked to stop inquisitive kids from tampering with it.

Increase Plumbing Safety

Babies love playing in water. That’s why it’s so important to take preventive measures to make sure they stay safe around home plumbing fixtures like basins, tubs and toilets. Try these babyproofing tips for plumbing systems:

• Control the water temperature: Set your water heater to 120 degrees F to prevent scalding injuries. However, be careful not to turn the temperature down any colder than this, because this could risk microbial growth in the tank.
• Install a faucet cover: Has your baby ever bumped their head on the bathtub faucet? Soft covers are a very simple way to avoid this kind of injury.
• Install toilet locks: Babies are often fascinated by the toilet. A specialized lock keeps little ones from playing in 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 babyproofing tips, you can easily create a child-friendly environment in your home. At Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing, we’re proud to help parents protect their families with quick HVAC, plumbing and electrical services in the U.S.. We are dedicating to making a meaningful difference in the lives of every family member we serve—even the little ones! Contact Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing at 866-397-3787 today for superb workmanship and customer service.