If you have a four-legged friend at home, it’s best to make sure you’ve pet-proofed the plumbing. Although they don’t mean it, they can cause a few issues! Here are some things you can do to help your home plumbing and your pet stay safe.
Cover Exposed Pipes
Pet-proofing your home is a lot like child-proofing it. The aim of the game is to keep dangerous stuff away from curious and bored minds (and mouths). So be sure to cover any exposed pipes around your home. Pets, especially young ones, commonly have chewing tendencies. But if they get a hold of an exposed pipe, not only will you be paying for a plumbing repair, but also a trip to the veterinary ER.
Avoid these dangers altogether by getting covers to hide pipes, keeping cabinets underneath sinks closed, and spraying anti-chew bitter spray on the surrounding area to really keep them away.
Discourage Digging
Some dogs love to dig. And even though sewer and water lines are normally buried deep in the ground, sometimes they could be only a foot or so below the surface. If your dog is a digger, they could accidentally expose a pipe. Exposed pipes can be ripped, torn, or pierced and cause damage to your yard, sewer line and endanger your pup. If you have a dog with a passion for digging, don’t let them go in your yard unsupervised, and do what you can do nip it in the bud.
Improve Bath Time
Washing your pet can be a hassle. But did you know it can be difficult on your home plumbing as well? Bathing your furry friend in your bathtub or shower is convenient but can clog up your drain with dirt and pet hair. And if you’re having trouble with the water temperature staying balanced while you shower, your pet likely isn’t enjoying it either.
To handle the pet hair, we recommend using drain stoppers so they can collect the hair before they clog your pipes. And for temperature, you can install pressure-balancing valves on your shower and sinks to improve bath time for everyone.
Don’t Flush Kitty Litter
Even if your kitty litter claims to be flushable, flushing it down can cause a lot of damage to your home plumbing. Designed to absorb moisture, cat litter increases up to 10x its original volume. If you flush your cat litter down your pipes, it can cause a block in your plumbing.
Not only should you not flush it to save your own plumbing, but you should also avoid flushing for the sake of the water supply. Cat waste contained in litter can have parasites, like Toxoplasma Gondii, and this can infiltrate and contaminate the water supply. We recommend you keep pet waste out of your pipes and in the trash for the good of plumbing and your own health!
Keep Toilet Lids Closed
Your pet drinking out of the toilet won’t necessarily cause damage to your home plumbing, but we want to keep your pets safe, so we’re going to add this in! Some may regard this behavior as funny or endearing, but your pet can become seriously ill from ingesting water from the toilet. Chemicals from the products you use to clean your toilet can remain in the bowl for weeks and ingesting any can cause your furry friend a lot of harm. If your pet is drawn to toilet water, do the responsible thing and keep the toilet lid closed.
Let Wyman Plumbing & Mechanical Do the Rest
With these pet-proofing tips for your home plumbing, you’re one step closer towards making your home safer. If you’re looking for some help for your next plumbing project (dog washing station, perhaps?), Wyman Plumbing & Mechanical is ready to lend a hand! Our plumbers are licensed, insured, and dedicated to giving you the highest level of service. While headquartered in North Phoenix, we proudly service the entire North Valley area and are ready to help you with your plumbing needs!
