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

As a parent, absolutely nothing is more critical than protecting your baby’s safety. Once your little ones start crawling, it seems like your entire home feels 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 take steps to make sure your home’s essential systems are adequately babyproofed—which is one less thing to worry about!

Hands Off Your HVAC Vents and Registers

HVAC grills that fit over the air vents throughout your home often prove to be irresistible areas for small children. Here’s how to keep them safe:

• Fasten registers: If your floor or wall registers fit loosely, screw them in place to make sure children can’t pry them loose.
• Install babyproof vent covers: These use a small grid to stop small objects from falling inside without blocking airflow throughout your home.

Move the Thermostat Up High

Kids are fascinated by buttons and screens, which makes the thermostat a potentially tempting plaything. Follow these tips to stop little family members 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 encourage kids to climb up for a closer look.
• Lock down the controls: Some thermostats feature locking functions to stop anyone from messing around with the settings. If yours doesn’t have this feature, consider installing 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 try these tips to keep them safe:

• Install doorknob covers: If a home’s utility area is enclosed, you have it easy. Simply put a childproof cover on the doorknob to prevent your kids from opening the the door and accessing your HVAC system.
• Add a safety gate: If your heating and cooling equipment is in an open area, install a safety gate to stop 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 each floor, especially if you have gas appliances. But, plug-in versions are simple for kids to access. Consider mounting combination CO/smoke detectors on the ceiling for better safety.

Ways to Prevent Hot Surface Burns for Children

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

• Place heat guards: Place a simple baby gate or specially designed heat guard around radiators, baseboard heaters or fireplaces to create a barrier between toddlers and potentially dangerous hot surfaces.
• Don’t use space heaters: A properly adjusted and tuned heating system should keep you comfortable in every room, and there should be no requirement to use a space heater to tempt curious kids.

How to Childproof Your Electric System

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

• Install outlet covers: Building code requires 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.
• Hide cords: Exposed cords are a tangling risk. Use cord concealers or tape them down along the baseboards. Power strip covers are also important for preventing kids from reaching the sockets.
• Keep the electrical panel closed: If your electrical panel is within reach, make sure it’s firmly closed and locked to stop inquisitive kids from accessing it.

Make Sure Your Plumbing Is Safe

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

• Adjust the water temperature: Set your water heater to 120 degrees F to prevent children from being burned by hot water. However, be careful not to turn the temperature down any cooler than this, or you risk microbial growth in the tank.
• Use a faucet cover: Has your baby ever knocked his or her head on the bathtub faucet? Rubberized covers are an easy way to prevent this sort of injury.
• Use toilet locks: Babies are often intrigued by the toilet. A special lock keeps little ones from getting covered 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 home safety tips, you can confidently create a child-friendly environment in your home. At Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing, we’re honored to help parents protect their little ones with efficient 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 outstanding workmanship and customer service.