Any homeowner wants nothing but a well-installed and safe plumbing system not only as a way to take care of the home but also as a way to ensure
every household member’s safety. Little children, in particular, are ever
curious creatures, one reason they are prone to accidents such as slipping,
burning/scalding, and drowning. These mishaps can occur as a result of poor
plumbing. Hence, parents should be extra vigilant when it comes to making the
home plumbing harmless especially to babies and toddlers. The solution:
child-proof your plumbing.
Bathrooms and kitchens, for instance, may pose some hazards to young
kids because these are the places where most of your plumbing appliances used
for electricity and water supply are situated. To avoid putting your children
in danger due to plumbing issues, you must observe the following guidelines:
1.
Use
Drain Covers.
Holes and openings never fail to attract the attention of
curious little children. Regardless of what these excavations are for, a
child’s natural inclination is to put or insert objects inside them. Drains are
usually the targets of a child’s curious nature. In fact, one of the main
causes of a clogged drain is that foreign items like toys and other household
objects are stuffed into it, and we know all too well who the likely suspects
are. To prevent clogs and other major plumbing
issues that could arise with them, the
wisest thing you can do is to install drain covers.
2.
Make
Sure Your Toilet Lids Have Locks.
Most
little kids get so fascinated
by toilets that they are unaware of how unsanitary and dangerous it is to play
with—worse, drink—the water in the toilet bowl. This tendency of little kids
causes them to be involved in drowning accidents. Moreover, children love the
idea of “wasting water”, that is, flushing anything down the toilet over and
over again. That is why adults in the house are advised to set up toilet lid
locks, as well as a flush lock.
3.
Place
A Latch on Your Bathroom Door and Set Up The Latch on A Spot That’s Beyond The
Reach of Children.
To prevent children from getting access to the bathroom
anytime they want to, you have to ensure your bathroom door has a latch that’s
high enough so children could not reach it. It is also best to make it a habit
to always lock the bathroom when no one is using it. This will guarantee the inaccessibility of your plumbing for those young innocent members of the
family.
4.
Set-Up
Your Water Heater’s Temperature To Below 120 Degrees Fahrenheit and Have Your
Faucets in The Bathroom and Kitchen Covered With Anti-Scald Devices.
Scalding or burning is one of the worst things that could
happen to your children. Babies and toddlers love touching stuff without
knowing the threat it brings. Turning on and off things like faucets and
showers with the water heater on is one cause of scalding among little kids.
Protect your babies and toddlers from such hazards by having your hot water heater’s temperature fixed to
under 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Also child-proof your faucets by installing
burn-prevention apparatus on them.
5.
Cover Your
Bathroom Floors, Especially The Ones Near Your Showers and Tubs, With Anti-Slip
Mats To Avoid Slipping Accidents.
Children are typically careless that they would just run
around without checking where they are stepping on. Your bathroom floors are
susceptible to getting wet which makes the bathroom a dangerous place for
little kids. Hence, it makes sense if you set up anti-slip mats inside your
bathroom.
6.
Remove
Any Mess or Spills on Your Kitchen Floor Immediately.
Slipping hazards take place because some liquid or greasy
food debris is left on the floor. As soon as possible, you must clean up or
wipe away whatever spills on your floor and not wait for someone to
accidentally step on them. Always keep your kitchen floors clean and dry.
7.
Have
Low-Flow Fixtures Installed.
Aside from water conservation, one advantage of using
low-flow fixtures is that it helps protect your bathroom from getting flooded
whenever the water in your sink is left running. Remember, little kids, tend to
neglect things such as turning off the faucets. To do away with the
consequences of such incidence, installing low-fixtures would be your best
alternative. A low fixture allows for a lower water flow rate; therefore, your
drain will not get overwhelmed by the volume of water it is accumulating and
flooding will be avoided.
8.
Cover
Exposed Water Pipes With Foam Sleeves or Other Wrapping Materials Like
Newspapers or Insulating Tapes.
This is a sure way to avoid bumps and burning. Exposed pipes
are common in older houses and if you live in one, then make sure your pipe system is properly sheltered so your adventurous children do not have access to
it.
Always Have Someone To Watch Them
Despite doing all the protective measures enumerated above,
things might still fail if the situation
doesn’t call our attention. If you are busy, hire someone trustworthy to
look after your kids all the time, especially the toddlers. By being good role models to little kids, you can rest
assured that you keep your family protected from the dangers and
expensive plumbing mistakes or disasters.
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