7 Tips for Pet-Proofing Your Plumbing

To prevent unwanted repairs, taking care of your plumbing system is a must. For homeowners who have those lovely pets, it involves extra precautions to ensure that they do not undermine the diligent upkeep. However, installing wall access panels flangeless can help secure the main control valve of the plumbing system away from pets.

Check out some valuable tips that will help to pet-proof your plumbing systems. Incorporating these practices can help keep both pets and pipes safe in the long term so you can enjoy your pets without worrying about your plumbing system. These tips could also be beneficial for pet safety as well.

Tip #1: Keep Toilet Lids Closed

Although this practice might not be a natural habit in every household, it is worth adopting for your pet's safety. And it is a well-known fact for cat and dog owners: pets can be notorious for sneaking sips from the toilet bowl. While other owners might regard this behavior as a funny and endearing quirk, it can lead to serious illness from ingesting water from the toilet. 

It is not only for obvious sanitary reasons, but the chemicals from the toilet cleaning products can remain in your toilet bowl for weeks. Therefore closing the toilet's lid will keep your pets safe.

Tip #2: Avoid Flushing Cat Litter

Although various cat litter brands claim to be flushable, deciding to flush kitty litter through the pipes can cause many problems and damage the plumbing system. The design of cat litter is to absorb more moisture and increase up to 10 times more into its original shape and volume. When flushing cat litter in the toilet bowl, it will naturally expand and lead to clogging and blockage in the plumbing system. 

Additionally, the waste litter might contain parasites like Toxoplasma Gondii that can infiltrate the water supply. Therefore it is highly recommended that pet waste is placed in designated trash bins and not flushed down into the plumbing pipes.

Tip #3: Cover The Floor Drains 

It is essential for pet owners who usually bathe their cats and dogs at home, to cover floor drains or use drain guards. Especially if the pet is prone to shedding, it is essential to catch the pet's fur in drain stoppers to prevent it from clogging the pipes. 

Tip #4: Install Water Temperature Balancing Valves

While we are grooming and bathing pets at home, ensuring the water temperature stays balanced can make bath time more manageable. It can be jarring to touch or be hit by freezing or scalding hot water while in the middle of a bath; it can also traumatize your pet so that they are afraid the next time you attempt to bathe them. 

Tip #5: Cover Exposed Piping

Pets sometimes are curious, and they won't hesitate to dig or find out what that piping under the sink is in the cabinet. They might bite or scratch these pipes to satisfy their curiosity, resulting in injury and irreparable damage to your plumbing. Either way, it's wise to cover exposed piping to avoid vet or plumbing expenses down the road.

Tip #6: Don't Allow Digging

As a general rule, it is necessary to discourage your pets from digging around pipes. If your pet has a passion for digging, it's best to nip it in the bud. Digging will not only ruin a yard but can lead to sewer or water line damage. 

Tip #7: Bathe Pets Outside

It is best to bathe your pet outside. If the pet's fur is soiled and you try to wash it in the sink or bathtub, clumps of matted hair can lead to clogged up drain pipes leading to unavoidable repairs. 

Be sure to pet-proof your plumbing system! It will keep your plumbing system clean, protect those lovely pets from injury and illness, and allow you to continue enjoying the services of your well-maintained plumbing system. 

Guest Contributor: Chris Jackson