Here’s another way to ask that question: Do you have young children running around the house?

A number of the neighborhoods we service – including Ravenswood, Edgewater, Andersonville, North Center, Lincoln Square, and Lakeview – are home to quite a few growing families. And with kids comes a host of new considerations for your plumbing.

Above all else, it’s important to make sure your bathroom, basement, and kitchen are safe places for even the smallest members of your family. With some help from the experts at BabyCenter, here are a few ways to make sure your plumbing system is ready for young children:

1.) Childproof Your Toilet Seat

A wandering little one can easily tip over and fall into your toilet bowl headfirst, and all it takes is a tiny amount of water (as little as an inch) for a baby to drown. Don’t let that happen – make sure you keep your toilet seat down at all times, and consider installing a toilet lock to prevent your child from lifting the lid.

2.) Don’t Keep Anything Plugged in Near Water

Electric hairdryers, razors, and curling irons – all of these things could electrocute you and your baby if they were to fall into the tub or sink during bathtime. Unplug and put away all of the electrical appliances in your bathroom and kitchen when they’re not in use. For extra security, be sure that all of the outlets near your sinks and tub are protected by a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI), a standard device that is able to sense changes in current and stop the flow of electricity in an emergency.

3.) Adjust Your Hot Water Heater

Make sure your water heater is set no higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit. The lower your water temperature, the lower the chance of accidentally scalding your child. You can also help avoid burns by installing anti-scalding devices on your faucets.

4.) Make Your Tub and Shower Slip-proof Zones

To help prevent falls, put a nonslip rubber mat in the bathtub and make sure there’s a mat on the floor next to the tub. And to keep your child’s head safe from accidental bumps and bruises, slip a rubber guard or other type of soft cover over the metal spout.

5.) Maintain Your Plumbing

Nothing could be more dangerous – or more stressful – than being without working plumbing for a significant period of time. Take precautions to make sure that your system is running as smoothly as possible at all times – prepare your plumbing for spring and winter, regularly service your water heater, and use our guides to help tackle quick DIY problems as they come up

Have any more questions about maintaining your system? Looking to get your plumbing inspected before bringing your child home? The best thing you can do for your family is to give ours a call! Day or night, you can drop Combat Plumbing a line for all of your plumbing , water leak, sewer and gas line needs.