Join us in celebrating National Pet Month! Our pets are truly part of the family, aren’t they? If you have a pet, you know they need quite a bit of care. Even the low-maintenance ones need some attention around the house. And something we don’t always think about is how our furry friends can affect our plumbing systems. So, let’s dive into pet and plumbing safety with your go-to Lancaster Plumbing & Drain experts!
Let’s Talk About Pet Grooming
Making sure your pets are well-groomed is key to keeping your home clean and free from pests like ticks and fleas. However, grooming your furry friends can be tough on your plumbing. Here are a few tips to make it easier on your pipes.
Bath Time: Washing your pet at home is great for keeping them smelling fresh and their coat healthy. Just be careful though, doing it yourself might lead to some plumbing adventures with all that fur possibly clogging up the tub.
- Getting a hand-held showerhead installed can really smooth out the whole pet-bathing process. If you don’t have one yet, you might want to think about putting one in.
- Pop a drain screen over your bathtub or shower drain to catch loose fur and stop it from causing blockages in your shower or tub.
Brushing Fur: Brushing your pet regularly is key to cutting down on shedding and keeping hair from piling up all over your house, especially in your plumbing system.
- Picking the right brush for your pet’s hair type makes grooming a breeze.
- For the best outcome and to keep hair from taking over your home, try to groom them outside whenever you can.
- If you’ve got a long-haired pet, try adding a brushing session at least once a week. It’s great for your pet’s coat and helps alleviate the strain placed on your plumbing system during bath time.
Let’s Talk About Pet Food & Pet Waste Disposal
Pet Food: Washing dry pet food (kibble) down your kitchen sink and hoping the garbage disposal handles it is a big no-no. Here’s why: when dry pet food gets wet, it swells up, which can really clog up your system. And if that’s not bad enough, once that wet food dries out, it hardens and makes the blockage even worse. The easiest way to avoid this headache? Just toss any unwanted pet food in the trash. It’s way simpler and you’ll save yourself from plumbing disasters.
Cat Litter: Dealing with pet waste comes with the territory of having a pet, but how you get rid of it can really impact your home’s plumbing. You might not believe it, but a common myth is that flushing kitty litter down the toilet is fine. Guess what? It’s not! Most cat litter won’t break down in water and can end up causing some pretty harsh clogs in your plumbing.
Even though some kitty litter is labeled “flushable,” it’s best to just not flush cat litter to keep your plumbing happy and healthy. Sure, “flushable cat litter” is supposed to break down over time, but it actually breaks down super slowly. This means it can gradually cause clogs, with those undissolved clumps of used litter piling up in your pipes. The risk of messing up your plumbing and facing some expensive repairs just isn’t worth the convenience. Trust us, it’s not worth the hassle.
Let’s Talk About Other Pet Safety Tips
Digging: Watch out for pets that love to dig. We get it—dogs will be dogs, and we totally love that about them! But it’s still smart to keep an eye on your adventurous fur baby. They might end up digging too close to your home’s foundation or near underground pipes. We’re all about helping you keep your plumbing safe, but this advice is a win-win because it also keeps your pet out of trouble and out of harm’s way.
Toilet Water: If your pet is super thirsty all the time, you’ve probably caught them drinking from your toilet bowl more than once. While we all know this is rather gross, it’s also risky! All the products we use to keep our toilets clean – like toilet tabs, bowl stamps, rim hangers, and chemical cleaners are full of harsh chemicals that aren’t good for your furry friend. Always keep the toilet lid down when you’re not using it, and maybe think about getting a child-proof lock if your pet is extra determined.
Making sure our furry family members and our plumbing are both doing great is so important. With some smart tips, a bit of preventative maintenance, and the right care, you can nail both. Check out our blog posts for more handy advice on keeping your home and plumbing in top shape!
Got more questions or need a hand with a specific plumbing issue? Our friendly team is all set to help you out. Call Lancaster Plumbing & Drain today (740) 796-8998, or schedule an appointment online now by clicking here!