So many pet owners love having their four-legged family members in their homes these days that this trend is even influencing interior design, with special pet baths located near the door to the backyard, and window-level gazing stations for Sylvester to contemplate the world outside. The rule seems to that anything goes to make life better for our pets.
There is a downside to having pets in the home, however, and nowhere is that more acute than when it comes to our pets and our plumbing. Here are a few things to consider about pets and plumbing:
Pets and Plumbing: The Down Side
1. Keep pet hair out of the drain.Just as it can really clog up your HVAC air filter, pet hair can also clog your drain. You certainly do want to bathe your pet as often as the vet recommends, but always use a strainer in the drain to catch pet hair and prevent clogs.
2. Keep toilet bowls closed.Neither the cat nor the dog sees your toilet bowl as anything other than a large bowl of water, and given the opportunity, they will drink from it. Residue from cleaners can be harmful to pets so keep the lid down and provide them plenty of bowls of water around the home.
3. Keep cat litter out of the toilet.Although some cat litter packaging bears the claim that it's safe to flush, don't believe it. Cat litter, no matter what type it is, may seem to flush just fine, but it can form cement-like clumps down the line.
4. Protect sprinkler heads from chewing puppies. Some younger dogs just love to chew, and the heads of your expensive sprinkler system might well fall victim to your puppy's inclinations to chew. You can spray the heads with any one of the various bitter compounds designed to deter puppy chewing.
To learn more about what pet owners can do to keep pets and plumbing safe from one another, contact Valley Heating, Cooling, Electrical. We serve the South Bay Peninsula and Santa Cruz.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in the South Bay Peninsula and Santa Cruz areas of California about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).