For your little one who’s beginning to crawl and explore, there’s nothing more exciting than the walls and floors. They will find it fascinating to touch everything they see, which is adorable, but it can also be scary for parents. Keep your child safe amidst the danger of innocuous household elements by baby-proofing your home, including the HVAC system. Have your HVAC contractor assess the situation, and follow these safety tips.

5 Ways to Keep Your Baby Safe Around the HVAC System

1. Secure Registers

It’s not uncommon for curious toddlers and kids to lift floor registers when you’re not looking. Instead of covering them and blocking the airflow, screw them into the floor to keep them securely in place. Another alternative is to put double-sided tape or Velcro under them, which can work if your little one is not yet strong enough to move the vents.  

2. Put Extra Screens in Place

Babies and toddlers alike enjoy dropping things into the registers, and retrieving these items means taking off the vents. Rather than unscrewing and lifting the registers every time this happens, add a layer of fiberglass or vinyl screen under the covers to catch any dropped objects. Ask your HVAC contractor about air filters designed to fit the vents, which you can use along with the screening.  

3. Switch to Plastic

Metal vents usually have sharp edges that can cut your child’s skin, especially if they love sticking their fingers between the ridges. Avoid painful injuries by making the switch to plastic registers, which are available in home improvement and online stores.

4. Put Away Remotes

Keep remote controls for the thermostat and unit out of sight all the time. They contain batteries that can be harmful to your baby or toddler when swallowed accidentally. Spare yourself a trip to the hospital by putting battery-powered controls away and out of reach.

5. Keep the Outdoor Unit Off-Limits

It’s only a matter of time before your little one starts exploring the yard and interacting with everything in it—including your outdoor HVAC unit. It won’t be spared from curious fingers and dropped toys, so ask your HVAC contractor about how to protect it. If enclosures are not possible, consider fencing around the area to enforce an off-limits zone.  

If you need help baby-proofing your heating and cooling system, the reliable HVAC contractors at Arc Electric & Air Conditioning & Heating can help. Located in Wilder, KY, they provide outstanding HVAC repair and maintenance and electrician services to clients in the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky areas. Call (859) 441-7161 or check out their offers online.