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

As a parent, nothing is more critical than protecting your baby’s safety. When your little ones start crawling, it seems like the house looks 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 ensure your home’s essential systems are thoroughly babyproofed—giving you 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 keep them safe:

• Screw down registers: If your floor or wall registers fit loosely, screw them in place so you can be sure they aren’t going anywhere.
• Install childproof vent covers: These use a fine mesh to stop small objects from falling inside without blocking 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 help keep little family members from creating temperature control issues in your home:

• Install the thermostat away from children: The thermostat should be installed at a height for adults. Avoid placing furniture near it that could tempt kids to climb up for a closer look.
• Lock the controls: Some thermostats feature locking functions to keep anyone from fiddling with the settings. If yours doesn’t have this feature, consider installing a thermostat cover that stops curious kids from inadvertently changing the temperature.

Make Your Utility Room Safe

If your HVAC system is located in your home’s basement or utility closet, this is an extremely important place for babyproofing. These are no places for [babies|children|infants or toddlers|any child}, so use these tips to make 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.
• Install a safety gate: If your heating or air systems are in an open area, put up a safety gate to stop 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. But, plug-in versions are simple for kids to reach. Consider mounting 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’s how to keep your child from the dangers of hot surfaces:

• Use heat guards: Put a baby gate or specially designed heat guard around radiators, baseboard heaters or fireplaces to create a barrier between infants and potentially dangerous hot surfaces.
• Don’t use 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.

Tips for Babyproofing Your Home Electric System and Equipment

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

• Install outlet covers: Building code mandates that new receptacles be tamper resistant. If you have older outlets, you can increase safety by adding outlet covers. Choose secured covers instead of plug-in styles, because clever children can sometimes remove the plug-in styles.
• Conceal cords: Exposed cords are a hazardous risk. Use cord concealers or secure them along the baseboards. Power strip covers are also important 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.

Safeguard Your Plumbing

Babies love water. That’s why it’s so crucial to take preventive measures to make sure they stay safe around home plumbing fixtures like basins, tubs and toilets. Try these babyproofing tips for plumbing systems:

• Adjust the water temperature: Turn your water heater to 120 degrees F to prevent scalding at the tap. However, be careful not to turn the temperature down any lower than that, or you risk microbial growth in the tank.
• Add 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 type of injury.
• Use toilet locks: Babies are often fascinated by the toilet. A special lock keeps little ones from getting covered in unsanitary water or tossing toys inside, which can cause pipe clogs.

Call Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing for HVAC, Plumbing or Electrical Services in Canada

With these babyproofing tips, you can easily create a secure environment in your home. At Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing, we’re proud to help parents protect their little ones with efficient HVAC, plumbing and electrical services in Canada. 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 exceptional workmanship and customer service.