You might be surprised to learn that nearly 85 million families, or 67% of households, own a pet, according to the 2019-2020 National Pet Owners Survey. This year, with COVID-19, many people decided to adopt a pet to ease the effects of social isolation or to take advantage of being home more often to care for their pet. As a result, many households need to know the potential plumbing issues that come with having pets.

Here are three action steps you can take to pet-proof your home’s plumbing:

COVER UP EXPOSED PIPES
Pets are curious creatures, and love to chew. Pipes that stick out are very tempting to an animal. Biting through a pipe can harm the pet, and the repairs are expensive and annoying. Protect your home, your plumbing, and your beloved pet all at once by covering up the pipes. Consider plastic or rubber casings.

KEEP PET WATER BOWLS FULL
When the water bowl is empty, pets are known to drink out of the toilet to quench their thirst. Check water bowls several times a day and refill at least twice, and they should avoid the toilet water and surrounding plumbing. If they just won’t leave the toilet alone, keep the toilet lids closed.

AVOID CLOGS – RINSE DIRTY PETS OUTDOORS
Rolling around in the mud is a dog’s delight, but it can wreak havoc on your plumbing. Muddy, matted fur clumps together easily, so at the very least, rinse or wipe your dog before heading into the bathtub. It’s helpful to use a drain stopper or strainer to catch some of the debris.

If your furry family member has caused a major plumbing problem, don’t worry. Just contact the pros at Plumb Pro.