Keep Baby Safe: Babyproofing Tips for Home HVAC, Electrical and Plumbing

As a devoted parent, nothing is more essential than keeping your baby’s well-being.

Once your babies start crawling, the entire house can seem like one big safety hazard!The HVAC, plumbing and electrical systems are particularly stressful for parents to think about.

With this comprehensive guide, you can ensure your home’s critical systems are adequately babyproofed for your peace of mind.

Keep Fingers and Toes Out of HVAC Vents and Registers

HVAC registers that shield the air vents throughout your home are often attractions for tiny fingers and toes. Here’s how to ensure your child’s safety:

• Fasten down your registers: If your ground or vertical registers easily detach, screw them in place to ensure they’re not going anywhere.
• Cover registers with childproof vent covers: These use a protective screen to block little things from dropping in without blocking airflow.

Make the Thermostat Inaccessible

Kids are captivated by buttons and screens, so the thermostat is a tempting plaything. Follow these tips to prevent unauthorized temperature fluctuations in your home:

• Move the thermostat out of reach: Your thermostat should be mounted at adult eye level. Refrain from placing furniture near it that could encourage kids to climb up to try to access it.
• Use child-lock functions in the controls: Some thermostats come with child-lock functions to stop anyone from changing the settings. If yours doesn’t have this feature, think about installing a thermostat cover that stops curious kids from changing the temperature.

Lock Down Your Utility Room

If your HVAC system units are situated in the basement or utility closet, this is a key place to target for babyproofing. Little ones shouldn’t be in these rooms, so implement these tips to keep them safe:

• Put on doorknob covers: If the utility area is in a closed-off area or separate room, you have it easy. All you have to do is put a childproof cover on the doorknob to stop your kids from opening the furnace room door.
• Install a safety gate: If your HVAC equipment is in an open area, use a safety gate to keep curious crawlers from getting next to your furnace or water heater.
• Inspect the carbon monoxide detectors: Every home should have at least one carbon monoxide detector on each level, notably if you have gas appliances. Unfortunately, plug-in versions are easy for kids to reach. Consider installing combination CO/smoke detectors or alarms on the ceiling for additional safety.

Prevent Hot Surface Burns

In many homes, heating components aren’t restricted to the utility room. Here’s how to safeguard your child from hot surfaces:

• Set up heat guards: Arrange a basic baby gate or specially designed heat guard around heating units to establish a barrier between your child and hot surfaces.
• Avoid using space heaters: A correctly adjusted heating system should ensure coziness in every room and there should be no necessity to add a space heater to draw curious kids.

Prioritize Electrical Babyproofing

Electricity is essential for modern homes but poses safety hazards for kids. Here are ways to babyproof your home’s electrical setup:

• Use outlet covers: Building code stipulates new receptacles to be tamper resistant. If you have older outlets, you can retrofit them with outlet covers. It’s a good idea to go for sliding covers rather than plug-in style, which toddlers can sometimes detach.
• Conceal or tape down cords: Exposed cords are a grabbing and chewing hazard. Employ cord concealers or tape them down along the baseboards. Power strip covers are also beneficial for keeping little fingers from reaching the sockets.
• Lock up your home’s electrical panel: If your electrical panel is within reach, make sure it’s firmly sealed and locked to stop inquisitive kids from playing with it.

Follow These Plumbing Safety Tips

Babies really enjoy water play. Make sure they remain protected around your sinks, tubs and toilets with these safety tips for plumbing systems:

• Modify the water temperature: Dial down your water heater to 120 degrees F to avoid scalding at the tap. Just avoid going any cooler than this, or you might get microbial growth in the tank.
• Add a faucet cover: Has your child ever bumped their head on the bathtub faucet? Soft, rubberized covers are an simple way to stop this type of injury.
• Implement toilet locks: Small children are often fascinated with the toilet. A special lock prevents little ones from reaching unsanitary water or tossing toys inside, which can lead to pipe clogs.

Schedule White Plains HVAC, Plumbing or Electrical Services with Olympic Aire

With these babyproofing tips, you can be sure to create a protected environment for the whole family. At Olympic Aire, we’re honored to help parents safeguard their little ones with prompt, dependable HVAC, plumbing and electrical service in White Plains. We strive to make a big difference in the lives of every customer we serve.

Call 301-327-0838 today to connect with our team. We’ll make certain your home remains comfortable and secure for everyone.