A New Meaning For 'Snaking A Drain'

From time to time, a homeowner may have an unwelcome guest inside their homes..

However, the issue may not always be as easy as using a sheet of paper to send a spider back out into the world. In fact, you may find a few animals roaming around in your plumbing. This is because they have a number of access points, including a home's vent stack and main drain. Some craftier creatures can make a route even if one isn't easily available.

Certain animals seek a warm place to nest, while others hunt for food. Most plumbing and the associated vents have barriers like mesh to keep intruders out without restricting water flow. Yet with enough initiative or older plumbing, it's not hard for a number of creatures to get inside the pipes.

Here's a look at a few of the critters that may try to call your plumbing home:

Snakes

Occurrences of snakes in pipes - particularly the toilet - often fall to the realm of myth. Despite the many who see this happening as nothing more than an urban legend, many plumbing professionals have at least one story of a snake taking a dip in a toilet bowl.

Rats

These rodents are possibly the most common culprit of home invasion by sea. Rats are drawn to the smells of food, which often travel outside via pipes leading from the kitchen sink. While rats are crafty, they can get lost in the plumbing and end up at any number of exits.

It's easy for rats to ascend via a toilet. These critters are good swimmers and have a ton of flexibility, which means they slip through toilet plumbing with ease.

Frogs

While not as frightening as a rat or a snake, few would like the idea of seeing a frog in the toilet during a late-night bathroom trip.

Squirrels

Similar to rats, squirrels often enter plumbing through roof vents. They also have flexible bodies, so they can make their way into a home via a toilet.

If these or any other critters go for a swim in your plumbing, it may be time to call animal control and plumbing services to prevent future intrusions.

If you are suffering from critter damage such as a cracked pipe or clog, contact your local Roto-Rooter professional for help.