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Dogs are truly man’s best friend. Over 63.4 million U.S. households own a dog. What most homeowners don’t realize is that they need to take special plumbing precautions if they have a dog; otherwise, their dog may accidentally end up ruining their plumbing system. If you own a dog, you need to be a bit more alert; otherwise, your furry little friend may end up damaging your plumbing without your knowledge. While some of the damages may be small and minuscule in nature, other damages may be rather significant and costly. It’s best to avoid damaging the plumbing whenever possible.
Here are 3 fun plumbing tips that will help you maintain the condition of your plumbing:
#1. Watch How Deep Your Dog Digs Into the Ground
Many dog owners let their dogs roam in the yard without a second thought. They think it’s cute that their dogs are digging in their yard and enjoying some fresh air. However, this may actually be a mistake.
Oftentimes, sewer and water lines can be found as shallow as 18 inches underneath the soil. That means that it’s very easy for your dogs to accidentally dig up one of these lines. If they do, they may end up damaging them by cracking them or tearing them apart. If this happens, you may end up needing professional plumbing service, like a water line repair. This can be rather costly. On top of that, if the water line is damaged, the water rushing out of the water line may end up damaging the structural integrity of your home’s foundation.
Before you let your dog into your yard, make sure that you check to see where all of the water and sewer lines are located. If you don’t know, it doesn’t hurt to ask a professional the next that they are over. They should be able to point out all of the places that your dog needs to avoid.
#2. Avoid Flushing Dog Waste Into the Toilet
Anything other than toilet paper and human waste should not be flushed down the toilet. In short, don’t bag up your dog’s poop and flush it down the toilet. It definitely should not go into the toilet, as it can end up clogging the plumbing and even damaging it. In fact, it could lead to a burst in the pipes, which may end up leaking water into the internal structure and foundation of your home.
Here’s a tip for cat owners as well — kitty litter should not be flushed down the toilet as well. Many cat owners often don’t realize that they shouldn’t and can’t flush kitty litter down the toilet. This often leads to clogged plumbing that will need to be cleaned via professional drain cleaning services. If your pipes are completely clogged, they may start to erode or burst. In some worst case scenarios, you may need more complicated plumbing service, like replacing a section of the plumbing.
#3. Use a Drain Stopper When Washing Your Dog
Many dog owners wash their dogs in their shower or bath without a care in the world. They don’t realize that their dog fur can actually become a huge problem for their plumbing. Dog fur can easily clump together and become a huge blockage that clogs the plumbing. It can also be difficult to remove. You may not be able to rely on drain cleaners to fix the problem. Instead, if you are constantly washing dog fur down the drain, you’ll likely have to rely on professional plumbing service to clean your drain. This can become quite costly overtime.
The easiest solution is to use a drain stopper when washing your dog. Make sure that the drain stopper is able to collect all of the fur, and make sure that you dump the fur afterwards. Here’s another important tip that will relate to tip 2. Do NOT dump your dog fur into the toilet. It can end up clogging the toilet. Instead, make sure that you toss the dog fur that the drain stopper collected into the trash. It’ll save you from a lot of headaches in the future. Best of all, you won’t need professional plumbing service to clean up the mess.
Ran Into a Problem? Give Us a Call Today to Learn More About the Plumbing Services We offer!
Although dog owners should take extra precautions, it’s important to note that issues will come up sometimes. It’s not something that can be prevented entirely. If you ever run into a plumbing problem, do not hesitate to call Paul Bunyan Plumbing and Drains at 952-209-9329. If calling us on the phone is not convenient, you can even leave us a message online or directly schedule a plumbing service online as well. Just let us know when you’re free and would like us to send one of our licensed technicians out.
Paul Bunyan Plumbing & Drains services the Minneapolis, MN and St Paul, MN areas. We offer a wide range of services, from trenchless sewer repair to professional drain cleaning services. Depending on the type of problems that you have run into, our licensed technicians will recommend different types of plumbing services for you.
We have affordable plumbing services and are able to offer many different coupons and discount codes as well. We also offer many different types of financing options for those who would like to set up some type of payment plan with us. Don’t let finances get in the way of getting the plumbing services that you need.
