Kids are known to get into all of the things that they shouldn’t. Unfortunately, this can include your HVAC system. When kids start playing with or near your HVAC system’s indoor or outdoor unit, they could get injured or cause damage to the unit—neither of which will be a pleasant experience for your family. At Cates Heating and Cooling, we know that there are dangers that you can avoid with a few little tips.

Block Off the Condenser

The outdoor unit of your air conditioner is called the condenser. The condenser can be dangerous to little ones. First, the fins on the condenser are delicate, and they can be easily bent or broken when your kiddo tries to play on or around the outdoor unit. When the fins are damaged, air flow is restricted inside the AC unit.

Little kids often try to climb on top of the condenser unit. While this can lead to bent fins, it can also lead to debris falling into the unit and hurt children. Small toys and rocks can easily get inside your AC’s outdoor unit and cause a variety of problems, including reduced air flow.

When children climb on top of the condenser unit, they also risk falling off and hurting themselves. Additionally, small children like to put their fingers in small spaces. Unfortunately, your kid could end up with their fingers stuck inside the unit if they aren’t careful.

To prevent damage to your condenser unit or injuries to your children, the best thing you can do is restrict access to the outdoor unit of your air conditioner. One of the easiest ways to do this is to put up a small fence or plant shrubs around the unit. You will want to leave adequate space between the unit and the fence or plants. We recommend leaving between three and five feet between the condenser and any other objects or plants. This allows for adequate air flow into and out of the unit. You can also make sure that there are no trees or other items hanging directly over the unit at this time to prevent potential damage to the unit from nature.

Screw in Vent Covers

Vents make great hiding places for all kinds of little trinkets for your kiddos. To prevent blockages in your air conditioning vents, it is a good idea to make sure that all vent covers are tightly screwed into place. Plus, kids might try to crawl into vents or get a body part stuck in the vents. It is always a good idea to make sure that your children can’t get the vent covers off.

If you start to notice that a room in your home doesn’t seem to be reaching the proper temperature or that air flow seems to be restricted, check to make sure there is nothing hiding in the vents that could be causing the problem. If you see something that you are unable to reach, you should reach out to an HVAC professional to remove the item.

Lock the Thermostat

Everyone knows how much kids like to fiddle with buttons. Your thermostat could be an easy target. You can use a lock feature on your thermostat to keep your children from changing the temperature or other settings on our thermostat without your knowledge. Using a smart thermostat can be a great way to keep your children from messing with the temperature settings because they can be password protected. You can also purchase a cover for your thermostat that comes with a lock.

Locking your thermostat can prevent your home from reaching uncomfortable temperatures. Additionally, your HVAC system can be damaged when the thermostat’s buttons are constantly and randomly being pushed. Once something is determined to be wrong with your HVAC system, you could be looking at costly repairs.

Have Routine Maintenance Performed by Professionals

The best thing that you can do to prevent problems with your HVAC unit is to have routine maintenance performed by an HVAC professional at least once a year. Doing so can keep your home comfortable and safe for your children, while also ensuring that your HVAC unit is in its best working order.

If you are in the Kansas City Metro Area looking for HVAC service, contact Cates Heating and Cooling at 913-888-4470. One of our trained HVAC technicians can come to your home to help you determine the best maintenance plan for your HVAC system.