Many of us have pets, according to the American Pet Product Association approximately 68%, which is 100 million households, have at least one pet. As much as we love them and treat them as an integral part of our families, pets can cause problems in our home. One area where you may not believe there could be a potential problem is with your
plumbing system. Here are four ways that you can protect your plumbing from your pet and keep your pet safe at the same time.
- Exposed Pipes Need to be Covered
Approach pet proofing your plumbing in the same methodical manner that you would childproof your home. We all know that some pets love to chew on all manner of materials and this should be a cause for concern. If you make the effort to cover up exposed wires and pipes, you can keep your plumbing safe and avoid a trip to the vet. A pet bite from a larger animal could pierce a pipe and result in a leak. Over time, even a small leak can cause a lot of water damage, and some of it could be hidden for a long time. This may result in expensive repair bills, and it makes sense to get any exposed pipes covered and protected.
- Make Drinking Water Readily Available
When a pet makes an attempt to drink out of the toilet, it’s because they are thirsty and need a drink. This can be messy, and it could even cause damage to the plumbing fixtures. A pet will not go out of its way to get a drink if there is one readily available. Always have plenty of water for your pet to drink, this will keep them hydrated and stop them from using the toilet as their drinking bowl.
- Dirty Pets are Rinsed Outside
It can be very entertaining to watch a dog really enjoy themselves rolling around in dirt and mud on a walk. Unfortunately, when you return to your home, this can quickly become a nightmare if you want to wash your dog off in your bath. There will be a lot of muddy fur; this can be stubborn to remove and even form clogs. If these clogs make their way into the drain, it may result in blockages that could cause flooding. The best way to address this problem is to think about washing your dog in clear stages. First pre-rinse your dog outside to get rid of thick clumps of mud and debris to remove a lot of the clogging risk. Then bring your dog indoors to finish the job and get them really clean. Always have a drain cover fitted in the bath to catch the dog hairs before they can get into the drain.
- Cleaning Chemicals Can be Dangerous
Just like a small child, some pets like to get into bathroom cabinets and examine your cleaning supplies. Licking, chewing and swallowing chemical bathroom or kitchen cleaning products can make your pet very sick. Always keep these types of products behind a locked door to ensure that the bottles cannot be encountered by a curious pet. It’s also worth mentioning that you should avoid chemical drain cleaning products entirely because they can damage your pipes.
By Giovanni Longo President Flood Brothers Plumbing
Giovanni Longo is a 3rd generation master plumber who has been practicing his craft and trade in the greater Los Angeles area for well over a decade and a half. A plumbing and hydraulics-engineering innovator, Giovanni’s particular world-class expertise focuses on dealing with challenging sewer system designs as well as resolving complex commercial and residential draining issues. As a certified Flood Mitigation expert, he is also well versed in a wide variety of water damage and remediation solution.
