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

As a parent, there is nothing more important in life than protecting your baby’s safety. As soon as your little ones start crawling, it seems like your entire home is one big hazard! The HVAC, plumbing and electrical systems are very concerning. With this guide from the Experts at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing, you can take steps to make sure your home’s essential systems are properly babyproofed—which is one less thing to worry about!

Hands Off Your HVAC Vents and Registers

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

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

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 small children from creating temperature control issues in your home:

• Install the thermostat up high: The thermostat should be installed at a height for adults. Avoid placing furniture near it that could encourage kids to climb up for a closer look.
• Lock down the controls: Some thermostats feature safety functions to prevent anyone from changing the settings. If yours doesn’t have this feature, consider installing 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 lower level or utility closet, this is an extremely important place for babyproofing. These are no places for [babies|children|infants or toddlers|any child}, so use these tips to keep them safe:

• Install doorknob covers: If the utility area is enclosed, you have it easy. You can put a childproof cover on the doorknob to stop your kids from opening the door to get inside.
• Use a safety gate: If your heating or air systems are in an open area, install a safety gate to block curious 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 each floor, especially if you have gas appliances. But, plug-in versions are within reach for kids to reach. Consider mounting 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 confined to the utility room. Here’s how to protect your child from the dangers of hot surfaces:

• Install heat guards: Place a simple baby gate or specially designed heat guard around heat-producing appliances or equipment, baseboard heaters or fireplaces to form a barrier between young children and potentially dangerous hot surfaces.
• Don’t use space heaters: A professionally adjusted and maintained heating system should comfortably heat every room in your home, and there should be no requirement to use a space heater to attract curious kids.

Tips for Babyproofing Your Home Electric System and Equipment

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

• Use outlet covers: Building code requires 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 pull off the plug-in styles.
• Conceal cords: Exposed cords are a chewing risk. Use cord concealers or secure them along the baseboards. Power strip covers are also effective for preventing kids from reaching the sockets.
• Keep the electrical panel secured: If your electrical panel is within reach, make sure it’s adequately closed and locked to stop inquisitive kids from tampering with it.

Make Sure Your Plumbing Is Safe

Babies love playing in water. That’s why it’s so crucial 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:

• Set 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, because this could risk microbial growth in the tank.
• Install a faucet cover: Has your baby ever bumped their head on the bathtub faucet? Rubberized covers are a quick and easy way to prevent this sort of injury.
• Use toilet locks: Babies are often intrigued by the toilet. A special lock prevents little ones from accessing unsanitary water or tossing toys inside, which can lead to 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 confidently create a child-friendly environment in your home. At Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing, we’re proud to help parents protect their children with fast HVAC, plumbing and electrical services in the U.S.. We are proud to follow our motto of 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 outstanding workmanship and customer service.