How to Prep Your Plumbing for Vacation

Leaving for vacation? Don’t forget your plumbing! If you haven’t taken a summer trip just yet, don’t forget to prepare your home for your absence. Whether you’ll be gone for a few days or an entire week, here are some necessarily steps to remember before packing your bags and heading out the door:

Step 1: General plumbing
The last thing you want is to come home after a relaxing vacation and find that your plumbing is leaking. To prevent issues while you’re away, turn off the main shut-off valve, unless specified otherwise. While some household items, such as the ice maker and the auto sprinkler system, don’t require the valve to stay on, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t also take safety precautions for them as well. Ask your trusted plumber to help you look out for potential problems until you return.

Step 2: Water heater
Don’t let your electric bill shoot through the roof while you’re out of town! What’s the point of keeping your water heater on when you won’t be using it anyway? Instead of letting it run regularly, set the temperature to “vacation” mode. Most new water heaters come with such a setting, which allows it to run occasionally, but not nearly as often as it normally does.

Step 3: Toilets
Between flooding and bacteria, it’s important to prep your toilets before your departure. Besides turning off the main shut-off valve, another precaution you can take is to clean the bowl with a cup of chlorine to prevent bacterial strains. If you plan to be away for a while, ask a friend or close neighbor to occasionally flush the toilets for you.

For more ways on how to prep your plumbing for a vacation in your absence, click here.

Need help getting your house ready? Call the experts at Nassau Plumbing & Sewer Rooter! We understand the importance of keeping your home functioning properly and safely, which is why we’re here for all your emergency needs 24 hours - 7 days a week. Give us a call at 516.874.7937 or visit our website for more information.  

How to Prevent Basement Flooding this Summer

Worried about basement flooding this summer? With all the heavy rainfalls that occur on Long Island, we can’t blame you! The last thing you want is to be one of those houses on the block that gets damaged by a storm. Luckily, there are plenty of things you can do to make sure your house stays dry. Whether you’re home for the summer or away on vacation, keep these tips in mind to help you prevent floods before they happen:

Clean your gutters and downspouts. If your gutters are clogged with flowers and leaves and your downspouts are filled with debris, the water from a rainfall will only make matters worse! Cleaning the gutter and downspout can allow water to drain properly - not run down your house and puddle on the ground.

Get a backup for your sump pump. The sump pump is responsible for collecting accumulations of water outside of your house. However, if the power goes out during a big storm, a backup power source will help keep your sump pump operating to keep rainwater from rising and entering your basement. 

Clear your outdoor drains. Do you have outdoor steps that lead to your basement? If so, make sure the drain at the bottom of the stairs is free of debris to prevent clogging. This is especially important if you have an older home, as these drains are typically on the smaller side and easily clog up.

For more tips on how to prevent your basement from flooding, click here.

If you need help protecting your home from floods, contact Nassau County Plumbing and Sewer Rooter! We offer all of the plumbing, sewer, and drain services you need to keep your safe from stormy weather. Call us today at 877.713.8136 for emergency services or visit our website for more information.

Summer Updates for Your Bathroom on a Budget

Summer is the perfect time to freshen up your bathroom! All it takes are a few decorative updates to transform it for the season, but don’t let a large price tag get in your way. A beautiful bathroom doesn’t always require a ton of money. As a matter of fact, many of the best rooms are built on creativity! Here are 3 easy ways you can brighten up your bathroom on a budget:

Coastal accents. Bring the scent of ocean breeze and the glow of warm sand into your bathroom with a few coastal-inspired decor items! Placing candles in glass holders filled with sand is a great, inexpensive way to achieve this look. Also, adding coastal bath towels and beachy wall art can tie the whole room together.

Geometric shapes. Implementing geometric patterns is a popular way to spruce up your bathroom this season. Budget-friendly decorations like towels, pictures, and rugs can make your living space look more festive from floor to ceiling. Not sure where to start? Look for circles, stripes, and other funky patterns!

Sunny shades. Another way to upgrade your bathroom on a budget is to look for anything yellow, orange, or white. These three colors can completely transform your bathroom by brightening it up! You don’t have to go overboard with the idea - a yellow and white hand towel or a vase filled with orange flowers are sure to make a big difference.

For more affordable ways to update your bathroom this summer, click here. And if you need help fixing a leaky pipe or clogged drain in your bathroom, don’t worry - Nassau County Plumbing & Sewer Rooter can assist you! Give us a call at 516.874.7937 or visit our website for more information.

How to Prevent Sand From Clogging Your Drain

Summer is finally here, which means you’ll probably be spending more time on the south shore beaches of Long Island! After a fun day of laying in the sun and swimming in the ocean, it’s almost impossible to keep those tiny particles of sand from clinging to your skin. And if you’re not careful about keeping those grains away from your house and out of your shower, you’re looking at a potential plumbing problem. Although the sand itself won’t damage your pipes, the blockage it creates certainly will!

As your trusted Long Island plumbing company, we’ve put together the following list of ways you can prevent sand from ruining your pipes:

Newer is better.
Before hopping in the shower with your feet covered in sand, ask yourself this question: how old are your pipes? In newer homes, pipes are typically made of plastic ABS and PVC, which have smooth interiors that are more forgiving of grains you rinse down the drain. However, if your home is older, your pipes are probably made of cast-iron or steel, which can become rough over time and attract all the bad things you wash away. This is especially true for sand, which attaches to the pipe and causes a backup. If your pipes are old, it may be time for an upgrade.

Rinse at the beach.
How many times have you jumped into the car without shaking off the sand? If you don’t clean off most of the dirt you pick up at the beach, you’ll inevitably carry it into your car and into your home. With that being said, take advantage of shower stalls and shake off your legs and feet with a dry towel. This will get rid of those larger patches of sand before you get in the car.

Keep it at the door.
To avoid a shower drain clog at all costs, the best solution is to keep sand out of the house. Before walking in the door, use a broom to brush off the grains that cling to your legs and feet. You can also try rubbing baby powder on your skin to prevent sand from sticking, and if that’s not enough, use the garden hose to wash off the rest. By the time you jump into the shower, your body should be sand-free and so should your drain!

If you find that your shower drain is already backed up, you’ll want to clear out your pipes entirely! Call your local plumber and ask them to help fix the problem with services like sewer jetting.

Nassau County Plumbing & Sewer Rooter offers sewer jetting services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Give us a call at 516.874.7937 or visit our website for more information. And don’t forget to connect with us on Facebook for more tips on how to prevent clogged drains this summer!

Celebrate Father’s Day on Long Island

Father’s Day is around the corner! Take some time to show Dad how much you appreciate him. From great restaurants to exciting outdoor activities, there’s plenty for you and your father to do together on Long Island. Below are some ideas to inspire your plans for this weekend:

Food lovers. Treat your father to brunch or dinner on Sunday! What dad doesn’t love a stack of delicious pancakes and Eggs Benedict? Check out Library Cafe in Farmingdale for an earlier meal or City Cellar in Westbury for a steak and live jazz music.

Arts and Crafts. If your dad appreciates the arts, take him to a museum. The Heckscher Museum of Art is celebrating Father’s Day by giving him a free pass! Visit an exhibit with over 2,100 art collections and a number of educational programs. You’ll both enjoy a memorable experience, and he’ll love the discount!

Outdoor Exploration. Dads love the great outdoors. If the anticipated rain holds up this weekend, explore some nature together at Sunday Seatuck Family Nature Club in Islip. Learn about seasonal birds, trees, and signs of the season - something you can talk about even after your day trip is over.

What are your Father’s Day plans this year? Share them with us on our Facebook page. And don’t worry if you run into any plumbing issues over the weekend. We’re here to help! Nassau Plumbing & Sewer Rooter is here for your emergency needs 24 hours - 7 days a week. Give us a call at 516.874.7937 or visit our website for more information. 

Common Lawn Drainage Problems

Ever notice how water sits on your grass for hours or even days after a rainfall? Nobody wants poor lawn drainage in the yard. The good news? We can fix it!  However, it is still important to understand the problems associated with this drainage issue and learn why is it  necessary to call for help as soon as it is noticed. Here are three reasons:

 

It’s damaging to your plants. One of the biggest landscaping issues caused by poor lawn drainage is that your plants can suffer. Because grass and flowers aren’t used to saturated soil, they can’t breathe well. For this reason, it's essential that water from a rainfall be drained before your greenery is pressed down and smothered by flooding.

You can’t enjoy the yard. There’s nothing worse than soggy soil that you need to tread through, especially when you want to spend more time outdoors in the warm weather. Even if you don’t mind walking on wet soil, you can damage your plants. Stepping on wet grass can cause soil compaction, which means you reduce pore space between soil particles. In other words, you can prevent plant growth.

It may cause household problems. What’s worse than soggy soil? Leaks. It’s true - if water sits for too long, it can leak into the foundation of your home, causing possible mold growth and cracks. Make sure your yard drain is working properly so you don’t run into any trouble in the home!

With that being said, keep your eye out for possible damage after it rains. You want to avoid damage to your yard and your house at all costs. Nevertheless, if you do notice a lawn drainage problem, contact the experts at Nassau County Plumbing & Sewer Rooter. We are here 24/7 for all your emergency needs. Give us a call at 516.874.7937 or visit our website for more information.

Plumbing Safety Tips

Many of us want to fix things ourselves without the help of a professional plumber. But the problem with this is you could unknowingly put yourself in danger. From repairing a leaky pipe to unclogging a toilet - if you're not properly prepared, you could be putting your health at risk.

While we recommend you call a pro for challenging projects, we’d also like to provide you with some simple precautions. In honor of National Safety Month, here are plumbing safety tips to keep you out of harms way:

Keep electricity away. We’ve all heard this one before - electricity and water is a recipe for disaster. If you plan to fix a plumbing issue near an electrical outlet, always turn the power off first. If you don’t keep electricity away from water, you can set yourself up for a troubling situation.

Protect yourself. Your eyes, ears, and hands can be very sensitive when you’re fixing a plumbing problem. Be sure you have safety glasses, earplugs, and gloves nearby depending on the project. Using a power saw can be incredibly damaging to your ears, so wear a pair of plugs. Harsh chemicals can cause bacteria from getting under your skin, so throw on a set of gloves. When in doubt, call your local plumber to help you prepare or ask them to come take a look themselves.

Hold onto emergency numbers. We strongly recommend that you keep emergency phone numbers on hand - the fire and police department, medical emergency contacts, as well as professional plumbing services.

While we encourage you to go ahead and fix those small leaks in your home, we also know that some projects can be hazardous and can sometimes make problems worse, so if you’re having troubles with your sewer and drain, Nassau County Plumbing & Sewer Rooter is here 24/7 for all your emergency needs. Give us a call at 516.874.7937 or visit our website for more information.

What Causes a Leaky Washing Machine?

Summer is upon us, which means your children will be spending more time playing outdoors. From running around on the playground to kicking a soccer ball in the yard, it’s inevitable that their clothes will get dirty, which means more loads of laundry!

The more dirty clothes you wash, the more damage you can cause to your washing machine. If you start to notice a leak, there could be several reasons why. Here are four common causes:

Hoses. Start by looking at the large drain hoses, which connect the tub to the pump, and the pump to the external drain. Over time, these hoses weaken and have the tendency to split open. It could also be that the clamps have loosened. The way to tell if your hoses are the problem is by looking for water puddles beneath the hoses or rust around them.

Pump. It’s also possible that your pump is the culprit. Your machine’s pump drains water out of the tub and carries it to the drain, but seals, too, can weaken with age and cause leaks. With that being said, check the seals inside the pump. The most problematic pump seal is the pulley seal, located where the drive shaft enters the pump. If you see the pulley seal is withering, you’ll likely need a replacement. Call the professionals at Nassau Plumbing & Sewer Rooter for assistance! 

Seals. The round piece around your washing machine also gets damaged over time, which can cause unwanted leaking. The worst part about seals suffering from damage is that the washer will likely drip several times during a cycle. Luckily, your air dome seal on the side of the outer tub helps to regular water levels throughout each cycle. However, if this fails, you’re likely looking at a leak.

Oversudsing. Ever fill the tub with too much detergent? This is called oversudsing, which means you could be looking at a serious overflow. Oversudsing is common during the wash cycle, but also during the draining cycle. To combat the issue, use a water-vinegar mix before you switch up detergents.

Having trouble with your washing machine this season? Nassau County Plumbing & Sewer Rooter can provide leak detection and repair services across Long Island. Give us a call at 516.874.7937 or visit our website for more information.