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

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

Block Access to Air Vents and Registers

HVAC covers that fit over the air vents throughout your home often prove to be irresistible areas for small children. Here’s how to make sure they are safe:

• Secure 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 small grid to prevent 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 tempting 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 chairs near it that could invite kids to climb up for a closer look.
• Secure the controls: Some thermostats feature safety functions to stop anyone from fiddling with the settings. If yours doesn’t have this feature, consider adding a thermostat cover that stops curious kids from adjusting 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 try these tips to make 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 keep your kids from opening the door to the room.
• Add a safety gate: If your heating or air systems are in an open area, put up a safety gate to stop curious 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. But, plug-in versions are easy for kids to access. Consider placing combination CO/smoke detectors on the ceiling for maximum 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 other ways to keep your child from the dangers of hot surfaces:

• Install heat guards: Use a baby gate or specially designed heat guard around radiators, baseboard heaters or fireplaces to create a barrier between toddlers and potentially dangerous hot surfaces.
• Avoid space heaters: A professionally adjusted and maintained heating system should heat your entire home, and there should be no requirement to use a space heater to endanger curious kids.

How to Childproof Your Electric System

We all need electricity for modern living, but it also poses safety hazards for little ones. Here’s how to babyproof your home’s electrical setup:

• Add outlet covers: Building code requires that new receptacles be tamper resistant. If you have older outlets, you can increase safety by adding outlet covers. Choose locking covers instead of plug-in styles, because determined toddlers can sometimes yank out the plug-in styles.
• Conceal cords: Exposed cords are a tangling risk. Use cord concealers or fasten them along the baseboards. Power strip covers are also helpful for preventing kids from reaching the sockets.
• Keep the electrical panel secured: If your electrical panel is within reach, make sure it’s firmly 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 make sure they stay safe around home plumbing fixtures like sinks, tubs and toilets. Try these childproofing tips for plumbing systems:

• Set the water temperature: Set your water heater to 120 degrees F to prevent scalding injuries. Just don’t turn the temperature down any lower than that, because this could risk microbial growth in the tank.
• Install a faucet cover: Has your baby ever hit her or his head on the bathtub faucet? Cushioned covers are a quick and easy way to stop this sort of injury.
• Use toilet locks: Babies are often intrigued by the toilet. A special 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 childproofing tips, you can confidently create a secure environment in your home. At Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing, we’re pleased to help parents protect their children with reliable 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 top-notch workmanship and customer service.