Home Safety: How to Childproof Your Home HVAC, Plumbing and Electrical Systems 

As a parent, absolutely nothing is more critical than protecting your baby’s safety. When your little ones start crawling, it seems like the whole house looks like one big hazard! The HVAC, plumbing and electrical systems are particularly concerning. With this guide from the Experts at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing, you can ensure your home’s essential systems are properly babyproofed—which is one less thing to worry about!

Block Access to Air Vents and Registers

HVAC registers that fit over the air vents throughout your home often prove to be irresistible areas for small children. Here are tips to keep them 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 prevent small objects from falling inside without restricting airflow throughout your residence.

Move the Thermostat Up High

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

• Move the thermostat out of reach: The thermostat should be installed at a height for adults. Avoid placing chairs near it that could encourage kids to climb up for a closer look.
• Lock down the controls: Some thermostats feature safety functions to stop 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 cellar or utility closet, this is a critically important place for babyproofing. These are no places for [babies|children|infants or toddlers|any child}, so try these tips to keep them safe:

• Install doorknob covers: If the utility area is enclosed, you have it easy. Simply put a childproof cover on the doorknob to keep your kids from opening the door to get inside.
• Use a safety gate: If your heating or air systems are in an open area, put up a safety gate to block curious crawlers from getting too close to your furnace or water heater.
• Inspect your carbon monoxide detectors: Every residence 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 mounting combination CO/smoke detectors on the ceiling for maximum safety.

Follow These Tips to Prevent Burn Injuries

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

• Use heat guards: Put a baby gate or specially designed heat guard around radiators, baseboard heaters or fireplaces to create a barrier between infants and potentially dangerous hot surfaces.
• Avoid space heaters: A properly adjusted and maintained heating system should heat your entire 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 for modern living, but electricity also poses safety hazards for kids. Here’s how to secure your home’s electrical system:

• Add outlet covers: Building code requires that new receptacles be tamper resistant. If you have old outlets, you can update them by using outlet covers. Choose sliding covers instead of plug-in styles, because determined toddlers can sometimes yank out 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 small children from reaching the sockets.
• Keep the electrical panel locked: If your electrical panel is within reach, make sure it’s securely closed and locked to stop inquisitive kids from tampering with it.

Safeguard Your Plumbing

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

• Set the water temperature: Turn your water heater to 120 degrees F to prevent scalding injuries. 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 bumped their head on the bathtub faucet? Soft covers are a quick and easy way to avoid this sort of injury.
• Use 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 result in 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 confidently create a secure environment in your home. At Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing, we’re honored to help parents protect their little ones with reliable HVAC, plumbing and electrical services in the U.S.. We strive to make 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 top-notch workmanship and customer service.