It’s no secret that pets improve your life. Owning a dog lowers the chance of heart disease because dog owners tend to walk more. Taking your dog on a walk or going to the dog park is a great way to meet people and connect with your community.
The presence of a dog or cat can lower your blood pressure, reduce your stress, and in some cases even help with depression. It’s hard to be unhappy with a furry friend to snuggle. Raising kids around pets may reduce the likelihood of allergies and asthma.
More than anything else, for many of us, our pets are like members of our families. They’re just hairy family members. As plumbers, we know that dog or cat hair can cause some problems in your home.
Pet Plumbing Problems
Pet hair can wreak real havoc on your drains and pipes, but it doesn’t have to. When you bathe a dog or cat (we wish you luck with kitty!) in the bathtub, you might notice that the oil from the hair has combined with soap scum, clumps of hair build up up behind it, and your drain no longer does the one very simple thing you need it to do. Drain.
Pet Air Conditioning Problems
What about your air-conditioning system? Having a pet often increases the amount of dust and hair in your home. This doesn’t just mean you have to vacuum more, but it can also mean your HVAC system is less effective. This is because our furry friends, through no fault of their own, shed hair and dander that clogs AC filters. A clogged filter can lead to unnecessary AC repairs.
Preventative Plumbing Tips for Animal Lovers
Fortunately, both of these situations are easy to avoid.
We suggest that everyone change their air filters every three months, but if you have a fuzzy family member, we recommend once a month. Don’t worry changing your HVAC filters at is easy and inexpensive.
Pro Tip: Whenever you vacuum, take an extra minute to vacuum your filter if it’s easy to get to. This will help you breathe easier and decrease allergens in your home.
As for your drains, buy a bathtub “drain catch” or “hair snare” for every drain you plan to use to bathe pets. Even if you don’t have a pet, one of these is still a great idea. This little investment could end up saving you the cost of a repair. In the warmer months, you can always give baths outside in a kiddie pool or on the grass.
If it’s too late for preventative tips…
If it’s already too late for any of these preventative tips—for instance, if your drain is already clogged beyond anything you know how to deal with—call a professional plumber to clear your drain line and help you with drain maintenance to prevent further problems.
If you’re experiencing problems with your heating or cooling system due to pet hair and dust call an HVAC professional. A professional will help you find the best filters for your home and provide guidance for proper maintenance.
Schedule an appointment online today or give us a call at (505) 761-9644. We’d love to meet your furry friends!