Home Safety: How to Childproof 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 feels like 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 properly babyproofed—giving you 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:

• Secure registers: If your floor or wall registers easily detach, fix them in place so you can be sure they aren’t going anywhere.
• Install babyproof vent covers: These use a fine mesh to prevent small objects from falling inside without restricting airflow throughout your residence.

Block Access to the Thermostat

Kids are fascinated by buttons and screens, which makes the thermostat a potentially tempting plaything. Follow these tips to stop curious toddlers from creating temperature control problems in your home:

• Install the thermostat away from children: The thermostat should be installed at a height for adults. Avoid placing chairs near it that could tempt kids to climb up for a closer look.
• Lock down the controls: Some thermostats feature locking functions to keep anyone from messing around with the settings. If yours doesn’t have this feature, consider adding a thermostat cover that prevents 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 keep them safe:

• Install doorknob covers: If your utility area is enclosed, you have it easy. Simply put a childproof cover on the doorknob to keep your kids from opening the the door and accessing your HVAC system.
• Use a safety gate: If your heating or air systems are in an open area, set up a safety gate to stop curious crawlers from getting too close to your furnace or water heater.
• Check the carbon monoxide detectors: Every home should have at least one carbon monoxide detector on each floor, especially if you have gas appliances. Unfortunately, plug-in versions are easy for kids to access. Consider installing 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 restricted to your home’s utility room. Here’s how to protect your child from the dangers of hot surfaces:

• Use heat guards: Use a baby gate or specially designed heat guard around heat-producing appliances or equipment, baseboard heaters or fireplaces to build a barrier between babies and potentially dangerous hot surfaces.
• Avoid space heaters: A professionally adjusted and tuned heating system should heat your entire home, and there should be no requirement to use a space heater to endanger 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 toddlers. Here’s how to secure your home’s electric system:

• Add outlet covers: Building code mandates 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 clever children can sometimes pull off the plug-in styles.
• Tape down cords: Exposed cords are a tangling risk. Use cord concealers or tape them down along the baseboards. Power strip covers are also useful for preventing little fingers 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 playing with it.

Use Good Plumbing Safety Practices

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

• Control the water temperature: Set 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? Rubberized covers are a quick and easy way to stop this type of injury.
• Install 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 lead to 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 confidently create a safe environment in your home. At Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing, we’re pleased to help parents protect their families with efficient HVAC, plumbing and electrical services in the U.S.. We are dedicating to 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.