Child Safety Tips: Childproof Your Home HVAC, Plumbing and Electrical Systems 

As a parent, there is nothing more critical than keeping your baby safe. 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 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—which gives you one less thing to worry about!

Make HVAC Vents and Registers Off Limits

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

• Fasten registers: If your floor or wall registers easily detach, secure them in place to make sure children can’t pry them loose.
• Install childproof vent covers: These use a fine mesh to stop small objects from falling inside without hindering airflow throughout your home.

Move the Thermostat Up High

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:

• Move the thermostat up high: The thermostat should be installed at adult eye level. Avoid placing chairs near it that could invite kids to climb up for a closer look.
• Secure the controls: Some thermostats feature safety functions to prevent anyone from changing the settings. If yours doesn’t have this feature, consider investing in a thermostat cover that prevents curious kids from adjusting the temperature.

Make the Utility Closet Off Limits

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 ensure they are safe:

• Add doorknob covers: If a home’s utility area is enclosed, you have it easy. You can put a childproof cover on the doorknob to prevent your kids from opening the door to the room.
• Set up a safety gate: If your HVAC is in an open area, install a safety gate to block intrepid crawlers from getting too close to your furnace or water heater.
• Inspect the carbon monoxide detectors: Every residence should have at least one carbon monoxide detector on every level, especially if you have gas appliances. However, plug-in versions are easy for kids to access. Consider placing 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’s how to protect your child from the dangers of hot surfaces:

• Place heat guards: Use a baby gate or specially designed heat guard around radiators, baseboard heaters or fireplaces to build a barrier between toddlers and potentially dangerous hot surfaces.
• Stop using space heaters: A properly adjusted and maintained heating system should heat your entire home, and there should be no need to add 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 it also poses safety hazards for children. Here’s how to childproof your home’s electrical system:

• Install outlet covers: Building code mandates that new receptacles be tamper resistant. If you have old outlets, you can retrofit them with outlet covers. Choose locking covers instead of plug-in styles, because clever children can sometimes take off the plug-in styles.
• Conceal cords: Exposed cords are a hazardous risk. Use cord concealers or fasten them along the baseboards. Power strip covers are also effective for preventing little fingers 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 playing with it.

Safeguard Your Plumbing

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

• Adjust the water temperature: Turn your water heater to 120 degrees F to prevent children from being burned by hot water. Just don’t turn the temperature down any lower than this, or you risk microbial growth in the tank.
• Install a faucet cover: Has your baby ever bumped their head on the bathtub faucet? Soft covers are an easy way to stop this sort of injury.
• Try using toilet locks: Babies are often fascinated by the toilet. A specialized lock prevents little ones from accessing unsanitary water or tossing toys inside, which can cause pipe clogs.

Count on Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing for Reliable HVAC, Plumbing and Electric Service in the U.S.

With these childproofing 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 top-notch workmanship and customer service.