Home Safety: How to Childproof Your Home HVAC, Plumbing and Electrical Systems 

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

Hands Off Your HVAC Vents and Registers

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

• Secure 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 small grid to prevent small objects from falling inside without hindering airflow throughout your home.

Move the Thermostat Up High

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

• Install the thermostat up high: 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 safety functions to keep anyone from fiddling with the settings. If yours doesn’t have this feature, consider adding 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 cellar or utility closet, this is an extremely important place for babyproofing. These are no places for [babies|children|infants or toddlers|any child}, so try these tips to keep them safe:

• Put on doorknob covers: If a home’s utility area is enclosed, you have it easy. Just put a childproof cover on the doorknob to stop your kids from opening the door to get inside.
• Set up a safety gate: If your HVAC is in an open area, install a safety gate to block adventurous 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. However, plug-in versions are easy for kids to access. Consider installing 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 confined to the utility room. Here’s how to keep your child from the dangers of hot surfaces:

• Install heat guards: Place a simple baby gate or specially designed heat guard around radiators, baseboard heaters or fireplaces to create a barrier between your child and potentially dangerous hot surfaces.
• Stop using space heaters: A correctly adjusted and maintained heating system should comfortably heat every room in your home, and there should be no requirement to use a space heater to attract curious kids.

How to Childproof Your Electric System

We all need electricity in our homes, but it also poses safety hazards for kids. Here’s how to babyproof your home’s electric system:

• Use 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 sliding covers instead of plug-in styles, because determined toddlers can sometimes take off the plug-in styles.
• Cover cords: Exposed cords are a hazardous risk. Use cord concealers or fasten them along the baseboards. Power strip covers are also useful for preventing kids from reaching the sockets.
• Keep the electrical panel secured: If your electrical panel is somewhat low to the ground, make sure it’s properly closed and locked to stop inquisitive kids from tampering with it.

Use Good Plumbing Safety Practices

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

• Adjust 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 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? Rubberized covers are a quick and easy way to stop this type of injury.
• Try using toilet locks: Babies are often very curious about the toilet. A special lock prevents little ones from getting covered in unsanitary water or tossing toys inside, which can result in 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 protected environment in your home. At Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing, we’re honored to help parents protect their families with reliable 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.