May is National Pet Month! At Pickerington Plumbing & Drain, we understand that pets are an important part of the family – that includes your furry family members! As pet owners, we know you want to keep your pets safe, happy, and healthy. And as homeowners, you also want to maintain the upkeep of your plumbing system. It might be surprising, but even low-maintenance pets can affect your home’s plumbing if not managed correctly. Let’s explore how to protect both your pets and your plumbing system effectively!
Pets & Grooming
Keeping your pets well-groomed is essential to maintaining both your pet’s and home’s upkeep. However, grooming your pets can challenge your plumbing system as well. Here are some tips to reduce the strain on your plumbing.
Bathing: Bathing your pet at home keeps them smelling fresh and their coat healthy. However, washing them yourself might lead to plumbing issues, like fur clogs in the tub.
- Try to wash your pet outside if that is possible for you. If you require a tub for bathing your pet, there are outdoor pet tubs you can get to make the process easier on you.
- Installing a hand-held showerhead can simplify bathing your pet. Consider getting one if you don’t have it already.
- Use a drain screen over your bathtub or shower to catch shed fur and stop it from clogging the drain. (These are great to utilize on the regular, too.)
Brushing: Brushing your pet regularly is key to reducing shedding and preventing hair buildup, especially during bathtime.
- For the best outcome and to reduce hair spreading indoors, try to groom your pet outside if you can.
- Choosing the right brush for your pet’s hair type will help make grooming easier.
- If you have long-haired pets, it’s a good idea to brush them at the very least once a week. This helps keep their fur healthy and reduces the strain on your plumbing when you give them baths.
Pet Food & Pet Waste Disposal
Dry Pet Food: Washing dry pet food (kibble) down your kitchen sink and grinding it up with the garbage disposal is a bad idea. This is because dry pet food expands when wet, which can consequently lead to serious plumbing clogs. Plus, when it dries, it hardens even more, making the blockage worse. The best way to avoid these problems is to throw away unused pet food in the trash instead.
Cat Litter: Managing pet waste is a part of owning a pet, but how you dispose of it can really impact your home’s plumbing. Despite popular belief, flushing kitty litter down the toilet is not a good idea. Most kitty litter doesn’t dissolve in water, leading to serious blockages in your plumbing.
While some kitty litter is labeled as “flushable”, it’s best to avoid flushing any type of cat litter down the toilet. Even though “flushable cat litter” is supposed to break down, it does so very slowly and can cause clogs over time as undissolved clumps build up in your system. The risk of damaging your plumbing and facing expensive repairs just isn’t worth the convenience.
Additional Pet Safety Tips
Diggers: Be careful if your pet likes to dig. It’s natural for dogs to do this, and we understand we love them for it. However, as a homeowner, it’s still important to watch your dog if they start digging near your home’s foundation or around buried pipelines. We aim to help you keep your plumbing system safe, but this advice can also ensure your pet’s safety.
Toilet Bowl Drinkers: If your pet often drinks from the toilet, it’s time to address this issue. While it might not seem like a big deal (though a bit gross), it’s actually a health risk for your pet. Why? Because toilet cleaners like tabs, bowl stamps, rim hangers, and chemical cleaners are engineered to keep your toilet fresh but are dangerous for your pet due to their harsh chemicals. To protect your pet, always keep the toilet lid closed and consider a child-proof lock for pets that won’t stay away.
Preventative care coupled with some planning ahead is key to extending the life of your plumbing system and keeping both your pets and plumbing safe. For more tips on taking care of your home and plumbing, check out our wide range of blog posts!
If you encounter any issues or have questions, we’re here to help. Pickerington Plumbing & Drain is open 24/7, 365 days a year. So, what are you waiting for? Contact us today at (614) 350-1955, or schedule an appointment online now by clicking here!
