Avoid a CATastrophe!

6/14/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of St. Augustine, St. Augustine Beach, S. Nocatee and World Golf Village is here to make pet accidents, "Like it never even happened."

We have seen it all here at SERVPRO of St. Augustine, St. Augustine Beach, S. Nocatee and World Golf Village, from homes being flooded due to storms and excess rain, to bathrooms flooded by baby goats. Yes, baby goats. We got a call from a homeowner last week who had been keeping two baby goats in their bathroom and covered the drains, leading water to back up and pour over and causing water damage to the floors, walls, and baseboards.

We love all our furry friends, we spoil them and treat them like a member of the family, but sometimes they leave a mess behind. Pets are curious and often when they are exploring, they are also digging, sniffing, and chewing on anything that catches their attention. Cats turn on faucets, baby goats can plug drains, dogs chew water lines or dig into drainage systems, accidents happen. But unfortunately, those accidents can lead to thousands of dollars worth of damage and repairs. 

Keeping an eye on your pet's behavior and being aware of some of the risks to your home, your plumbing, and your overall pet's safety could save you majorly on potential damage and repairs down the road. Here are a few things to keep an eye out for to avoid problems when it comes to our pets and plumbing. 

Cover Exposed Piping 

Dogs are naturally curious, so any exposed piping could act as a temptation to your dog to chew on. It is important to monitor your pet's behaviors and ensure that piping is covered. Not only can PVC piping be easily damaged by chewing, causing leaks and damage to the system, but it could potentially be toxic to your dog and cause digestive issues. Go to your local hardware store or talk to your plumber about what might be available to cover those areas in a decorative or discrete way. 

Watch Where They Are Digging

Dogs love to busy themselves digging in the yard, but if they come across submerged water or sewage piping, they can cause breakages, tears, or leakages in the system. Look through your plans or have a professional map out where your piping is so you can better keep an eye on the areas your dog is playing, and discourage them from certain areas if need be.

Careful What You Flush 

While it may seem convenient to flush away your pet’s waste material it is important to note that substances such as kitty litter could easily cause blockages in the system even if some of the packagings may describe it as flushable. Some cat litter brands claim to be flushable, but it’s always safest not to. After all, kitty litter is specifically designed to form hard clumps by soaking up all the surrounding liquid, which can easily lead to a disastrous clog in your pipes!

If you are one of the millions of homeowners that own a pet, you need to take extra plumbing precautions, both for the health of your furry friend and the structural integrity of your home. Even if you follow all the recommended plumbing tips, you may still find yourself facing a pet-related issue—which is why SERVPRO of St. Augustine, St. Augustine Beach, S. Nocatee and World Golf Village is always here to help. As local water damage and restoration experts, we have been serving St. Augustine and surrounding St. Johns County areas since 2015. Our team is ready to respond to emergency situations 24/7/365, call our office today at 904-429-4457 to get a team dispatched, or schedule a free estimate!