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 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 make sure your home’s essential systems are adequately 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 residence often prove to be irresistible areas for small children. Here’s how to make sure they are safe:

• Fasten registers: If your floor or wall registers easily detach, 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 residence.

Block Access to the Thermostat

Kids are attracted to buttons and screens, which makes the thermostat a potentially tempting plaything. Follow these tips to prevent small children from creating temperature control problems in your home:

• Move the thermostat away from children: The thermostat should be installed at adult eye level. Avoid placing objects near it that could tempt kids to climb up for a closer look.
• Lock down the controls: Some thermostats feature locking functions to prevent anyone from messing around with the settings. If yours doesn’t have this feature, consider investing in a thermostat cover that prevents curious kids from adjusting 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 a critically important place for babyproofing. These are no places for [babies|children|infants or toddlers|any child}, so try these tips to ensure they are safe:

• Install doorknob covers: If the utility area is enclosed, you have an easy task. Just put a childproof cover on the doorknob to stop your kids from opening the door to the room.
• Set up a safety gate: If your heating and cooling equipment is in an open area, set up a safety gate to stop 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. But, plug-in versions are simple for kids to reach. Consider installing 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 confined to the utility room. Here are other ways to shield your child from the dangers of hot surfaces:

• Place heat guards: Put a baby gate or specially designed heat guard around radiators, baseboard heaters or fireplaces to create a barrier between babies and potentially dangerous hot surfaces.
• Stop using space heaters: A correctly adjusted and tuned heating system should keep you comfortable in every room, and there should be no need to add a space heater to endanger curious kids.

How to Childproof Your Electric System

We all need electricity in our homes, but electricity also poses safety hazards for little ones. Here’s how to secure your home’s electric equipment and wiring:

• Install outlet covers: Building code requires that new receptacles be tamper resistant. If you have old outlets, you can increase safety by adding outlet covers. Choose childproof covers instead of plug-in styles, because clever children can sometimes remove the plug-in styles.
• Conceal cords: Exposed cords are a chewing risk. Use cord concealers or fasten them along the baseboards. Power strip covers are also important for preventing kids from reaching the sockets.
• Keep the electrical panel locked: If your electrical panel is within reach, make sure it’s adequately closed and locked to stop inquisitive kids from tampering with it.

Increase Plumbing Safety

Babies love 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 safety tips for plumbing systems:

• Adjust the water temperature: Turn 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.
• Use a faucet cover: Has your baby ever bumped their head on the bathtub faucet? Cushioned covers are a quick and easy way to avoid this kind of injury.
• Use toilet locks: Babies are often very curious about the toilet. A special lock stops 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 home safety tips, you can easily create a child-friendly environment in your home. At Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing, we’re honored 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 exceptional workmanship and customer service.