Pet Proof Your Plumbing

Many Essex homeowners keep pets the most popular being dogs, second cats

Other popular pets include rabbits birds and guinea pigs; these pets are kept in hutches or cages so won’t apply to most of this article.

If you have a Cat or a Dog however beware.

Your cute and cuddly pet could cause you plumbing problems.

Avoided these issues  by pet-proofing your plumbing.

Fur

First thing to be mindful of if you have a cat or a dog is fur.

Every pet owner knows fur gets everywhere, especially in pet bedding which needs to be washed now and then.

The easiest way to do this is with washing machine. However, when excess hair’s removed from your pet’s bedding during the wash, it may clog your washing machine.

Before you wash your pet’s bedding, remove as much hair as possible before placing in the machine.

If you have a dog, you probably both him/her regularly. Cats hate being bathed, but if yours is the exception take note.

The fur is highly efficient at blocking your bath drain.

Always use a bath strainer, place over the plug hole, and it will catch any excess hair as the bath’s draining preventing any potential blockages.

Ideally, bath your pets outside in a portable bathtub.

Toilets

Cats and Dogs will drink from Toilets, given half the chance (especially if their water bowls empty) and they may ingest some chemicals while they’re at it.

Kittens and small dogs can jump and even drown in toilets.

Dogs can drop items into the toilet bowl, which can cause an immovable blockage that requires attention from a professional plumber.

Always keep the lid of your toilets closed.

Never put cat litter down the toilet even if it’s ‘flushable’ litter

Eventually, your toilet will block so always put cat litter in the bin.

The only thing that should ever go down the toilet is toilet waste.

As a side note keep your toilet chemicals out of reach of pets. Your dog could chew through a bleach bottle and ingest nasty substances.

Drains

Make sure all internal and external drains of your home are covered.

Small pets can fall and get stuck in drains.

Covering your drains is essential even if you don’t have pets in your home.

How guilty will you feel if a neighbour’s cat wandered into your drain and got trapped?

Pipes

Make sure all pipes inside and outside your home are suitably covered or hidden.

Dogs love to chew, and pipes are no exception. Any Dog will love the challenge of getting through a plastic pipe which could turn into an expensive plumbing problem.

Watch your dog if he likes to dig in your garden. He/She might come across a sewer pipe buried in the garden and damage it.