According to the Canadian census, 57% of Canadian households own at least one pet, which equates to approximately 7.5 million households. That’s 7.5 million homes that must account for potential plumbing problems their pets can potentially cause. To avoid unnecessary plumbing fixtures and damages to your plumbing system, follow these tips from Royal Flush Plumbing:

Cover naked pipes

Pets love biting and chewing on almost anything, including your exposed pipes. If your pet manages to bite through any piping then it can result in a pipe burst, which can damage your homes flooring, walls, furnishings, and any additional home finishes that can be timely and costly to fix. Furthermore, chewing on pipes can also injure your pet and cost you a trip to the vet. To avoid damage to your home, and to keep your pet safe, it’s best to cover all naked pipes on and around your property. Consider plastic or rubber casings.

Use drain stoppers

We need to keep our pets clean and odor-free, which means a bath needs to be part of their routine. To keep the pipes and drains protected from shedding pet hair, it’s important to employ a drain stopper or drain strainer to capture it. This is especially important for dog owners since dog hair tends to be thicker than most other household pets.

Keep lots of water out. Close the toilet lid.

If you’re a pet owner then you know when a pet becomes thirsty they will often drink whatever they find access to, including the toilet water. This is dangerous and unhealthy for the pet since often times the toilets contain residues of toilet cleaners that can harm your pet. The pet’s hairs can also shed into the toilet and cause a clog. The best thing to do is to keep the toilet lid closed and place water bowls for your pets in easy to access locations throughout your home and property.

Avoid flushing cat litter

Whether it claims to be flushable or not, you should never flush the cat litter down the toilet. Cat litter won’t likely clog your toilet on the first or second time its flushed, instead it builds up over time and eventually clogs or gums up your entire plumbing system, which can be very costly to repair.

Rinse your pets outdoors

When your pet gets dirty from playing in the dirt and mud its best to wash and rinse them outside. If you wash a dirty pet in the bath then it will shed muddy, matted fur, which is thick enough to instantly clamp or clog your drains. If you insist on washing your pet in the bath, it is still highly recommended to rinse them outdoors first to remove the big clumps of dirt and mud from their body before bringing them into the family bath.

If you’re in the Hamilton area and your beloved family pet has already caused a plumbing problem, don’t worry. Just call your local professionals at Royal Flush Plumbing. No matter how stubborn the clog or bad the burst, we have just what you need to fix it.