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

As a parent, there is nothing more essential than keeping your baby safe. As soon as your little ones start crawling, it seems like the 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 ensure your home’s essential systems are thoroughly babyproofed—which is one less thing to worry about!

Make HVAC Vents and Registers Off Limits

HVAC grills that fit over the air vents in your residence often prove to be irresistible targets for small children. Here’s how to keep them safe:

• Secure registers: If your floor or wall registers fit loosely, screw them in place so they won’t come off.
• Install some vent covers: These use a thin screen to stop small objects from falling inside without restricting airflow throughout your home.

Block Access to the Thermostat

Kids are fascinated by 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:

• Install the thermostat away from children: The thermostat should be installed at a level high enough where kids can’t easily reach it. Avoid placing objects near it that could encourage kids to climb up for a closer look.
• Lock the controls: Some thermostats feature safety 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 inadvertently changing the temperature.

Make Your Utility Room Safe

If your HVAC system is located in your home’s cellar 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 ensure they are safe:

• Put on doorknob covers: If a home’s 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.
• Add a safety gate: If your HVAC is in an open area, set up a safety gate to stop intrepid crawlers from getting too close to your furnace or water heater.
• Test the carbon monoxide detectors: Every house, mobile home or apartment should have at least one carbon monoxide detector on each floor, especially if you have gas appliances. However, plug-in versions are within reach for kids to access. Consider placing combination CO/smoke detectors on the ceiling for better safety.

Protect Your Baby from Burns

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:

• Place heat guards: Place a simple baby gate or specially designed heat guard around radiators, baseboard heaters or fireplaces to create a barrier between young children and potentially dangerous hot surfaces.
• Stop using space heaters: A correctly adjusted and tuned heating system should heat your entire home, and there should be no reason for a space heater to tempt curious kids.

How to Childproof Your Electric System

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

• Use outlet covers: Building code mandates that new receptacles be tamper resistant. If you have older outlets, you can increase safety by adding outlet covers. Choose childproof covers instead of plug-in styles, because determined toddlers can sometimes remove the plug-in styles.
• Hide cords: Exposed cords are a pulling risk. Use cord concealers or tape them down along the baseboards. Power strip covers are also useful for preventing kids from reaching the sockets.
• Keep the electrical panel secured: If your electrical panel is within reach, make sure it’s properly closed and locked to stop inquisitive kids from accessing it.

Make Sure Your Plumbing Is Safe

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

• Set the water temperature: Set your water heater to 120 degrees F to prevent children from being burned by hot water. However, be careful not to turn the temperature down any cooler than that, or you risk microbial growth in the tank.
• Use a faucet cover: Has your baby ever hit her or his head on the bathtub faucet? Cushioned covers are a very simple way to stop this kind of injury.
• Try using toilet locks: Babies are often very curious about the toilet. A specialized lock keeps little ones from getting covered in unsanitary water or tossing toys inside, which can lead to pipe clogs.

Call Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing for HVAC, Plumbing or Electrical Services in the U.S.

With these childproofing tips, you can easily create a safe environment in your home. At Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing, we’re proud to help parents protect their children with efficient HVAC, plumbing and electrical services in the U.S.. We are dedicating to making a meaningful difference in the lives of all our customers—even the little ones! Contact Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing at 866-397-3787 today for superb workmanship and customer service.