We all love our pets, but we also know that they can be a handful from time to time! From chewing on our furniture to tracking mud through the house, owning a pet is no walk in the park. One thing that you might not think of when it comes to keeping a dog or cat in the house is the impact they can have on your plumbing. These tips from experienced providers of plumbing services in Raleigh, NC will teach you what you need to know about pet-proofing your plumbing to ensure clean and healthy pipes:
- Fill water bowls: If you have a habit of not closing the toilet lid, there’s a good chance that you’ve walked in on your dog drinking toilet water. Obviously, that’s not a sanitary habit, but Fido doesn’t know that! To keep him from drinking nasty toilet water, keep his dog bowl full at all times—that way he won’t be tempted to go searching for water in other places in the house.
- Cover exposed pipes: Gnawing on your shoes and furniture legs is frustrating, but it’s really not that big of a deal in the long run. What is a problem, however, is when your pet starts chewing on your pipes! Chewing on an exposed pipe leads to expensive repairs and can even be harmful to your pet. Talk to your plumber about the best materials to use to cover any exposed pipes without creating an eyesore in the process.
- Clean pets outside: Your dog rolling around in the mud is inevitable—for whatever reason, they just love getting dirty. Instead of cleaning off your muddy animal in the shower or sink, where that mud will get trapped in the drain, rinse him off with a hose outside. This will keep your home clean and prevent needing to make a call to a plumber to clean your pipes!
- Use a drain stopper: If you absolutely have to clean your dog off inside, be sure to cover the drain with a drain stopper. These mesh or plastic guards will prevent mud and strands of hair from slipping down the drain and causing a clog.
- Keep chemicals out of reach: Families with kids know to store cleaning chemicals in a locked cabinet or up out of the children’s reach. The same goes for anyone with an animal in the house. Pets can easily chew through a plastic bottle of cleaning product, which will undoubtedly require a trip to the vet to treat them for poisoning.
- Mind what you flush: It’s easy to dump used kitty litter down the toilet. However, despite what the packaging says, kitty litter is not flushable! The litter will quickly clog up your toilet, and necessitate a call to a plumber to remedy the situation. As a general rule, don’t flush anything down your toilet besides toilet paper and human waste.
If you’ve tried your best to pet-proof your plumbing, but still find that you’re having trouble, don’t hesitate to call Affordable Plumbing Call Us 1st, Inc. for plumbing services in Raleigh, NC. From inspections to repairs, we can do it all to keep your whole plumbing system in good working order!