When it comes to your plumbing, one of the last things anybody thinks about is animal infiltration through your plumbing. However, it is a thing and it does happen more often than we would like. There is nothing more alarming than going to use the facilities and having the likes of a possum staring and hissing at you! As part of your plumbing maintenance, it is a good idea to make sure your plumbing is properly sealed to keep unwanted pests out of your plumbing.
How Pests Gain Access Through Your Plumbing
There are several ways pests can gain access to your home through your plumbing. Some of the most common points of entry include:
- Vent Stacks – Vent stack sit on your roof and help ventilate sewer gas. Sewer gas can enter your plumbing directly through the sewer, without proper ventilation, this gas is entering back into your home through the drains. Vent stacks help alleviate sewer gas, making your home more comfortable. However, they can provide the perfect entry point for unwanted pests. To keep unwanted pests out of your plumbing, have a screen installed on your vent stack. This will also help prevent any clogs in your vent stack. A clogged vent stack presents a whole slew of other plumbing problems that you will want to avoid.
- Gaps Around Pipes and Utility Lines – A well-sealed home is not only more efficient, but it helps keep unwanted pests out of your plumbing. Remember many pests don’t need a huge opening to gain access to your home. For example, mice can squeeze in through an opening the size of a nickel. To keep unwanted pests out of your plumbing, make sure any opening around your pipes and utility lines is properly sealed.
- Directly From the Sewer – Some pests will gain access to your home directly from the sewer. Rats have been known to be quite the avid swimmers, and have no qualms with crawling up your drain pipes. To keep critters from crawling out of your toilet, you can install a multi-flap in your toilet to prevent them from gaining access to your home.
- Cracked Pipes – For small critters like frogs, salamanders, or bugs, they can gain access to your plumbing through cracks in your pipes. A cracked drain pipe can pose a huge problem, aside from allowing pests entry into your home. You may notice issues with drainage, or saturated ground that cannot be explained. You should contact your plumber right away to make repairs.
Signs You Have Pests in Your Plumbing
You may be wondering, do I have pests in my plumbing? There are some signs you have some unwanted guests living in your plumbing. These include:
- Scratching sounds in your pipes
- Vermin droppings
- Clogs
- An animal sighting
Many animals are drawn to either food or water, so it is important to make sure your home isn’t appealing to them by keeping food in airtight containers and fixing all water leaks. Having your drains cleaned on a regular basis can also help by removing bacteria buildup that attracts drain flies.
When it comes to keeping pests out of your plumbing there are several reasons why. For starters, they can be scary. Nobody wants to open the toilet seat and come face to face with a slithering impostor. Also, many pests pose health threats. Rats and cockroaches are known to spread diseases and can be particularly difficult to get rid of. Lastly, the crawling and scratching inside your pipes can lead to damage and corrosion.
If you suspect you have unwanted house guests living in your plumbing, you should contact a professional right away to help identify the threat, make repairs, and seal off entry points. To learn more contact Courtesy Plumbing today!
