Pets add so much love and happiness to a home, but they can also wreak havoc on your plumbing. Many pet owners may not even realize how much their furry friends can contribute to a clogged drain, toilet, or pipe issue. Let’s learn more about the link between pets and plumbing.
How Pets Can Impact Your Home’s Plumbing
Clogged Drains
When you bathe your pet, there’s a good chance that some of their hair will go down your drain and clog over time. This can also impact your washing machine if you use it to clean your pet’s bedding or accessories.
To prevent problems, use a hair strainer in your tub and clean it out regularly. Before putting items into the wash, remove hair with a lint roller. If you already have a clogged drain, call a plumber to clear it out, so you don’t damage your pipes with chemicals.
Backed Up Toilets
Pets tend to be very curious and may sometimes pick up items from around your home and put them elsewhere. This can lead to large items going into your toilet. If they get flushed, they can lead to backups or damage your plumbing.
Additionally, cat owners may be tempted to flush litter. However, even versions that claim to be flushable can create clogs. Prevent problems by keeping toilet lids closed whenever they’re not in use and avoid flushing any litter or pet items.
Damaged Pipes
Another habit of curious pets is chewing. In this case, pets and plumbing sure don’t mix well. If you have any exposed pipes around your home, they might be tempted to bite or paw at them, which can create leaks. Additionally, the pipes and sewer lines running to and from your home are usually buried underground, so dogs that love to dig can easily come across them. Keep an eye on your pets when they’re outside to keep them from digging and keep pipes inside your home covered or blocked off.
Pet Safety and Home Plumbing
It seems harmless for Fido and Kitty to drink a bit of clean toilet bowl water occasionally. However, if your toilet bowl retains just a small amount of liquid blue cleaner, it could make your pet very sick.
You don’t hear about it often, but pets (and toddlers) actually drown in toilet bowls, depending on the water level. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) receives reports of accidental toilet drownings every year.
The water that flushes your toilet bowl is the same tap water you put in your pet’s water dish, but there’s a contamination threat. If you let your pets drink from the toilet, you put them at risk of picking up infections from bacteria passed through human fecal matter. Your pets can also get sick from ingesting chemicals used to keep your toilet clean. Toilet water can cause gastrointestinal distress.
If you suspect your pet drank toilet bowl water with chemical residue from discs or other cleaners, feed the pet milk and water. Contact your veterinarian or an Animal Poison Control Center as soon as possible to ensure your pet’s safety.
Keep your toilet seat down and the lid closed to help keep your pets out of the toilet. Make sure you’re putting out plenty of fresh water elsewhere for your pets. If your pets can’t seem to stay away from the toilet, make sure the bathroom door always stays closed.
Follow the above tips to avoid pet-related plumbing mishaps. If the worst has already happened, contact our Total Mechanical Systems‘ plumbing professionals right away for prompt service.
If you need a plumber to help you with a clogged drain or other pet-related plumbing, indoor air quality, and/or HVAC issue, contact Connecticut’s premier home comfort team at Total Mechanical Systems. We offer a wide array of services for residents and businesses throughout the area. From installing new kitchen faucets to performing heating repairs, you can count on our team of professional technicians to respond quickly and get the job done. Visit our website to see a full list of our services. To request an estimate or service appointment, call us at (860) 314-1518.
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Sources: https://connect2local.com/l/131218/c/823951/how-pets-can-impact-your-plumbing, https://www.forrestanderson.net/post/what-you-should-kno-about-plumbing-and-pet-safety, https://www.rotorootermeridian.com/4-pet-related-plumbing-habits-to-avoid
