Pet Proof Your Plumbing

Pets are humanity's best friends. As a matter of fact, about two-thirds of American households have a pet.

At Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Greater Syracuse, we understand the importance of taking good care of those pets! But that care shouldn't come at the cost of functional plumbing. Follow these five tips to keep your pets safe from plumbing and vice versa.

1. Close Toilet Lids

If your dog has a bad habit of trying to drink water from the toilet bowl, it's easiest to just close the lid. Pets, but dogs especially, are attracted to any odd smells, no matter the odor. Keeping your toilet lid closed will protect them from any chemicals left behind from your toilet cleaners. In order to get them away from the toilet entirely, try giving them fresh water more frequently.

If you have a smaller pet that's attracted to the toilet, this is the only route. It will save them from falling in and struggling to get out, splashing toilet water about, or worse.

2. Throw Away Cat Litter

Do not flush it! If you do, you put your drains at risk of becoming clogged. Cat litter is meant to absorb moisture and will do precisely that if it gets stuck in your drains. This will cause it to expand and clog your drain. Take the safer route by throwing away kitty litter and flush only toilet paper down the drain.

3. Place Covers Over Floor Drains

In order to keep smaller pets from getting into your plumbing system, put covers over all your floor drains. Pets like hamsters, mice, kittens and even puppies can fall into these drains, causing injury or requiring some of your plumbing to be dismantled to get them out.

4. Clean Drains After Baths

Take the proper precautions before bathing pets, such as brushing off any dirt and excess hair. Certain dog breeds have very thick, long hair and shed more than others. We advise using a strainer or stopper to prevent any of this hair from making its way down the drain. If you don't, you're running the risk of stopping up your pipes.

If you can, it may be better to wash your pets outside with a hose, but we understand this isn't always an option.

5. Cover Piping

Curious animals won't hesitate to find out what that piping is under your sink or in your cabinet. They might scratch or bite at these pipes as they satisfy their curiosity. In turn, they could get injured or bite through a pipe, either of which will cost you down the road.

Cover these pipes up by keeping the surrounding cabinet doors closed or even giving them a spray with a scent your pets don't like.

Contact Mr. Rooter About Pet-Related Plumbing Problems

We at Mr. Rooter Plumbing understand that taking care of pets can be a rewarding relationship. We also know that these relationships can pose a few problems, even for your plumbing, and pet-proofing can only prevent so much.

We have solutions to any pet-related plumbing problems you may encounter, such as unclogging drains, fixing leaky pipes and other plumbing repairs.