3 Clog-Preventing Plumbing Tips For Pet Owners

Posted on: 9 November 2022

According to the American Pet Products Association, 70% of U.S. households have at least one pet. If you share your home with a furry friend, you probably haven't given much thought to how your animals can affect the function of your plumbing system.

Unfortunately, animals can contribute to clogged drains. Here are three simple clog-preventing tips that you can use to help prevent clogs in the future.

1. Use Drain Strainers

It is helpful to install drain strainers in all of the drains throughout your home when you have animals.

Most animals shed, which means that their hair can end up on the inside of sinks, tubs, or showers. If you simply wash this hair down the drain, it can combine with food or grease particles to form a clog in your pipes.

A drain strainer allows water to pass through but catches any debris before it has a chance to wash down your drain. Using drain strainers is a simple and affordable way to avoid clogs caused by animal hair.

2. Curb Digging Behavior

Anyone who has a dog knows how much these animals love to dig. If your dog is a proficient digger, it's important that you try to curb this behavior if you want to protect your plumbing.

A dog that digs too deep in your yard could potentially hit the main sewer line that is buried below your landscape. Should this sewer line become cracked or damaged in any way, soil or roots could infiltrate the pipe.

Over time, these intruding objects can create a significant blockage that clogs the drains in your home. If you aren't able to stop your dog from digging, don't provide him or her with access to the area where your main sewer line is buried.

3. Keep the Toilet Lid Closed

It is critical that you keep the lid of your toilet closed at all times when you have a pet in the home.

Animals can easily knock objects off the bathroom counter or drop toys into an open toilet. These items can settle just out of view at the rear of the toilet drain. Family members unknowingly can flush these objects down the drain, creating the potential for a serious clog.

If you keep your toilet lid closed at all times, your pets won't be able to accidentally drop any items that could clog your drain into an open toilet bowl.

Speak to a contractor to learn more about clogged drains.

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