is your attic well-ventilated?

Owning pets means you have to take extra care with your plumbing system. Everything can affect your plumbing systems, including the following:

• Cleaning your pets
• Letting them play indoors
• Flushing certain pet-related items

There are many ways for pet ownership to mess with your plumbing. Here are a few tips to help you enjoy your pets without sacrificing your plumbing system in the process.

Protect Your Drains

Every drain in your home needs a strainer or stopper. This can keep pet hair from forming clogs in your pipes. If you have floor drains, keeping them covered can also help keep smaller pets from trying to climb down into them.

You should also consider washing your pet outside whenever possible. Doing so will prevent the possibility of hair and oil getting into the drains altogether.                                                                            

Keep Plenty of Water Out

If your pet becomes thirsty, it will seek out water from whatever source it can find. One common place that many pets end up as is the edge of a toilet. When dogs or cats start drinking from the toilet, they run the risk of making a mess, falling in, and otherwise filling the plumbing with hair.

If your pets drink from the toilet consistently, the buildup of pet hair can cause a clog. This possibility increases if you have a habit of flushing the hair rather than fishing it out. It's best to just keep the toilet lid closed and make sure you leave plenty of water for your pet to get to.

Watch What You Flush

It's best to avoid flushing most things down your toilet, even if it's something labeled as "flushable." Many people will flush kitty litter or pet wastes. The issue is, some things aren't fully digested by pets, and you can end up flushing something that will cause clogs or damage to your pipes.

Cover Up Exposed Pipes

Pets will certainly attempt to chew on an exposed pipe. You should cover or wrap any exposed piping you have in the home. You should also make sure you have toys for your pet to chew on so a pipe won't seem so tempting to them.

Watch Where Your Pet Digs

When outside, you should watch where your pet digs. They can come across or expose a sewer pipe. Pets can scratch a pipe, chew it, or damage it over time. Pay attention to areas your pet may visit more frequently than others. There's a chance it found a pipe and has been working at it every time it's outside.

Keep Your Plumbing System in Good Health

Good plumbing habits and maintenance also serve to protect both your plumbing system and your pets. If you run into any issues, then you will need professional plumbing services to help you rectify the problem. You can also seek a professional plumbing service to ask about what more you can do to protect a plumbing system in a home that also contains pets.