Having a pet is one of the most fun aspects of home ownership. However, an arch nemesis of a tidy home is pet hair. Pet hair is a leading cause of plumbing and HVAC issues throughout the home. If you are not careful, you may run into expensive plumbing repair and HVAC maintance projects.
Are you having problems with your home plumbing system? Stephens Plumbing provides HVAC and plumbing maintenance services in areas such as Chicago, Downers Grove, Naperville, and other areas throughout Illinois. Contact a plumbing specialist to receive assistance with your pet related home plumbing issue.
Follow these simple rules so pet problems don’t get “out of hound.”
Need some advice on pet-proofing your home? Contact Stephens Plumbing
Bathe and groom your pets regularly
Pet hair can be a “shed-ache,” as it somehow finds its way into every nook and cranny of your home. It can also get stuck in your air filter. Clogging your filter causes decreased efficiency if not properly maintained.
Other than having a lint roller on hand at all times, homeowners should plan regular bath times and pet cleanings to help wash away some of the stray hair. Cleaning your pet will help eliminate emergency plumbing and HVAC maintenance projects. In addition, vacuuming as often as possible is also key to preventing excessive hair buildup on your home plumbing and HVAC systems.
Dusting and sweeping are important, too, but with people constantly going in and out of your home, it may just shift hair around rather than vanquishing it completely. We recommend calling an HVAC contractor or plumbing repair specialist to remove excess pet hair from hard to reach locations in your home.
Use drain stoppers in your tub/sink during bath time
When you do clean your furry friends, use a drain stopper in the tub or sink to block hair from entering your home plumbing system. If you have a clogged drain, contact a plumbing repair specialist. Stephens Plumbing offers home plumbing services in areas such as Chicago, Downers Grove, Naperville, and other locations throughout Illinois.
Exposed wires
Freestanding wires might as well be handing your pets their favorite chew toy on a silver platter. It’s not the size of the teeth in the fight, but the size of the fight in the teeth; even the tiniest animals can pounce and damage wiring. Encase exposed wiring in a conduit and tape any slack to the wall to prevent an electrical or choking hazard. If you wouldn’t let your kids touch it, your pets shouldn’t either.
Cat litter should not be flushed
Despite what a label may tell you, kitty litter is not flushable. Litter is made to clump and cling together so disposal is easy. If flushed, the water will have the same effect and your pipes will be filled with bunched up litter. Think inside the {litter} box on this one and throw away litter in the garbage. This will help prevent an emergency plumbing issue and expensive plumbing repair project.
Outside condenser units are off limits
Dogs and cats like to dig and claw at hard surfaces for fun. As the saying goes, “Curiosity killed the cat.” Your air conditioner may become their next target. Other than damaging their feet on the coils or vents, your unit may get roughed up with every play session. Male dogs also mark their territory by urinating. If your dog or neighborhood dogs sniff out your unit, the urine may leak into the fins and cause them to erode over time. This can cause refrigerant leaks that can be costly to repair. To prevent issues with your air conditioner and expensive HVAC maintence projects, we recommend putting up a fence or some kind of bountry.
We offer reliable and affordable HVAC maintenance and plumbing repair services throuhghout Downers Grove, Chicago, Naperville, and other areas in Illinois. Contact a specialist at Stephens Plumbing to receive assistance.