Ken's Plumbing | Blog

No matter what animal is your favorite, we can all agree there’s a certain level of happiness only a pet can give us when we can cuddle up to our Burmese cat or our Boykin Spaniel. While pets are those perfect companions that find their way into our hearts...they usually find their way into our plumbing, too. If you are a pet owner, we want to walk you through four precautions you might want to take in order to keep your plumbing up to par and your furry friend out of trouble!

• Always Use a Drain Strainer: It’s likely you have a pet that sheds, right? If that’s the case, we suggest installing a strainer on top of your drain next time you bathe your pets so the strainer catches the hair and the water continues down effortlessly. Just like human hair, pet hair will clog up your drain, leaving you to deal with a smelly and slow drain.
• Hide Away Your Exposed Pipes and Wiring: The last thing you want to have happen is an unexpected visit to the vet, and a pricy one at that. Animals love to chew anything they can get their hands on. While buying chew toys is one way to ward off their interest to household items, it’s not a sure-fire escape. If you have any electrical wiring or pipes exposed to the open, be sure to close off access to them. That means hiding them or covering them with a container where your pets cannot reach.
• Flush With Caution: Plenty of cat products say they can be flushed. We advise you not to listen to that! Sure, litter can be flushed, but the chances of it getting clogged in your drains and sewer line are high, especially if you have a septic tank. It’s best to throw everything in your trashcan and remind yourself to empty your trash out every few days.
• Give Your Pets Clean Water: If you could never figure out why your pet drinks out of the toilet, it’s because they’re thirsty and more than likely have nothing in their water bowl. As a rule of thumb, try to check your pet’s water bowl twice a day. If you aren’t home all day, keep your toilet lids shut and leave sufficient water in your pet's water bowl. You also want to keep the bowl clean. For their own health, you might want to wash your pet’s bowl out at least once a day for sanitary conditions.

By following these tips, you can rest assured knowing your furry friend didn’t fall into a toilet, clog up a drain with hairballs, or eat into any pipes or wiring.  These tips help keep your house and your plumbing healthy and efficient. If you’ve been noticing odd noises in your pipes, a clogged drain, or put the wrong item in the disposal, give Ken’s a call at (864) 242-5511 or schedule an appointment by clicking the banner below!