Pets are great, but they can cause problems with our plumbing. This may seem a little unlikely, but it’s actually not that uncommon. Approximately 1/3 of people in the United States that own a home have a cat or a dog. Because of this, plumbing problems caused by pets are not unusual. But, you can do some things to keep this from happening.
Use Drain Covers
Clogged shower or sink drains are a common problem. This is often due to hair going down the drain and clogging it. Most people would think of human hair causing this problem, but that isn’t always the case. People that have pets sometimes wash their pets in the shower or sink. This can cause a lot of hair to go down the drain and, in time, clog the shower or sink. But you can prevent this problem by using a drain cover.
Cover any Exposed Pipes
If you’ve ever had to childproof a home, you’ll likely find that pet-proofing is pretty similar. You need to consider what dangers in your home your pet might be exposed to and try to hide these. In the case of plumbing, this means covering any exposed pipes. You want to make sure to use a covering that your pet won’t easily chew through. This will help protect your pipes and your pets.
Close Your Toilet Lid
Chemical drain cleaners are not really good for your toilets, and they are dangerous for your pets. One way to avoid problems if you do use a chemical drain cleaner is to keep the toilet lid closed while you are using it. It would also be a good idea to keep your toilet lid closed even after you’re done using it and flush your toilet. This is because you really wouldn’t want your pet drinking from the toilet and ingesting any leftover chemical residue.
Just to be safe, keep your toilet lid closed whether or not you use chemical drain cleaners. This way, your dog won’t get used to drinking out of the toilet. Also, check a couple of times a day to see if your pet has water. If you make sure your pet has enough water all the time, they probably won’t look for water elsewhere.
Be Careful About Allowing Your Dog To Dig In Your Yard
Some dogs just love to dig, and for many of these dogs, your backyard is going to be their main opportunity to do so. This may seem pretty harmless other than the work you have to do to fill in the holes. However, if your dog digs too deep, it could dig down to your sewer lines and even damage them. So, always keep an eye on your dog when they’re in the backyard and make sure they don’t dig too deep into your yard.
Install Pressure-Balancing Valves
If you find that when someone uses the sink while you are showering, your water suddenly becomes very hot, your home probably does not have pressure-balancing valves. This is not a good thing, especially when you have pets. If your home does not have pressure-balancing valves, you might find hot water coming out of your faucets at any time. This could burn anyone that happens to be using water at that time. This may not seem like a major issue, but it could be dangerous for any pets you may have. However, if you install pressure-balancing valves, you won’t have to worry about this. Also, fortunately, pressure-balancing valves don’t cost very much.
Final Thoughts
Everyone loves their pets, but it’s important to keep your plumbing in good shape as well. Also, pet-proofing your plumbing will help keep your pets safer in addition to preserving your plumbing. So, try following these tips, and you’ll help keep both your pets and your plumbing safe.
Contact Us
For more information on keeping your plumbing safe or for scheduling an appointment to repair any damages, call J Griffin Heating and Plumbing at 781-520-1212 or connect with us on Facebook.