Steps You Can Take to Save the Oceans

Earth Day may have passed but Earth Month isn't over yet. At NY Plumber and Sewer Rooting we understand the importance of water conservation and want to leave our community with tips on how to do the same.

Do you care about preserving the oceans for future generations? Here are some things you can do, courtesy of Oceana, to make a difference:

Reduce energy use by:

• riding a bike, walking or using public transportation
• using high efficiency appliances in your home
• turning off appliances when they are not in use
• turning up the thermostat a few degrees in the summer and down a few degrees in the winter
• using compact fluorescent light bulbs in your home

Use reusable plastic products such as:

• cloth grocery bags
• reusable water bottles

Properly dispose of hazardous materials:

• look into environmentally safe ways to dispose of various products
• think before you flush things down your drain

Need help installing energy efficient appliances in your home? Call NY Plumbing and Sewer Rooter at 718-514-7145! We can help you make a difference. 

Celebrate Earth Day 2014 with Events on Long Island

Earth Day is underway and NY Plumbing and Sewer Rooter wants Long Islanders celebrating! With all of our great parks there is so much to do. Thanks to Long Island Press you can find what's best for you below. There are options for both today and into the weekend: 

Organic Appetizing Cook-off
Wit and Whim
6 Carlton Ave., Port Washington.
Free.
April 22, 2014
6-8pm
wit-and-whim.com

Earth Day New York
Union Square Park
201 Park Ave. S., New York.
Free.
April 22, 2-14
11am-7pm
earthdayny.org

Earth Day Celebration
Quogue Library
90 Main St., Quogue.
Registration required.
April 22, 2014
3:30pm
quoguelibrary.org

Earth Day Craft
Huntington Library
338 Main St., Huntington.
Registration required.
April 22, 2014
4:30-5:15pm.
thehuntingtonlibrary.org

Annual Town of Islip Earth Day Celebration
Gillette Ave., Sayville.
Free.
April 26, 2014
11am-4pm
 townofislip-ny.gov

Don't forget to post your #NatureSelfie to your social pages. In fact, call NY Plumbing and Sewer Rooter to get water and energy efficient plumbing fixtures installed and send in a #NaturSelfie with your new eco-friendly home!

Thanks Long Island Press!

Common Causes of Faucet Corrosion and How To Loosen Them

Do you have corroded faucets at home? The most common causes of faucet corrosion include:

1. Hard water
2. The use of strong cleansers such as muriatic acid
3. Mineral buildup
4. Galvanic corrosion
5. The connection of dissimilar pipes in the system

When these 5 factors get the best of your faucet, removing retaining nuts, water-line connections or even turning the faucet handle can become hard. Home Guides has the 5 steps you should take to loosen a corroded faucet:

"1. Turn off the water supply to the sink. If you can turn the faucet on, do so, and let the water in the pipes drain out.

2. Scrape off as much of the corrosion in the faucet joints as you can with a wire brush. Sometimes just removing some of the buildup can free the joints. Try to turn the stuck part with a wrench.

3. Heat the corroded part of the faucet with a hairdryer if it won't turn. The metal swells as it heats up, and this can loosen or break the bond caused by the corrosion. Again, try to turn the part with the wrench.

4. Let the metal cool off if the part is still stuck. When it is cool to the touch, squirt a penetrating oil into the corroded joint. Let the oil work for as long as necessary. Apply more oil every few hours if the part doesn't loosen quickly. Scrape off bits of corrosion with the wire brush as they come loose.

5. Tap the stuck part gently with a hammer if necessary to help the oil work. If the part is small or delicate, position a center punch against it and tap the center punch with the hammer instead of the faucet itself. The force of the hammer together with the oil should be enough to break the bond of the corrosion and loosen the faucet."

For questions on faucet corrosion or new faucet installations call NY Plumbing & Sewer Rooter at 212-235-1436.

April Showers Bring...Reasons to Protect Your Sump Pump!

Don't let April showers ruin your sump pump or your home. With all the rain comes huge potential for flooding, and since sump pumps are a mechanical device that can eventually break down, it is important that you ensure your sump pump is ready to work! 

Angie's List provides us with 3 main things you should do this season to avoid unnecessary flooding in your home:

1. Get a battery-powered backup: If there is a power outage or your regular pump malfunctions, the backup sump pump would kick into action, assuming you have kept its batteries charged.
2. Have your pump checked: Plumbers, like us, recommend that sump pumps be inspected and serviced twice a year.
3. Check your insurance: Talk to your agent about your existing coverage for basement flood damage. Many policies will cover losses if the sump pump fails mechanically but not in the event of a power outage. If you're willing to pay a slightly higher premium, you can usually increase your coverage.

Call NY Plumbing and Sewer Rooter to inspect your sump pump today at 212-235-1436. We service all your plumbing needs in 30 minutes or less, that's our guarantee!

Save Money on Kitchen Plumbing: 3 Tips

On your plumbing fixtures is never where homeowners want to throw their spare cash. However, without making the right decisions or taking the write steps, you can easily get tied up in extra spending on plumbing fixtures, specifically in the kitchen.

That's why we have included 3 quick tips, provided by Bath & Kitchen Showplace, to help you save money on kitchen plumbing fixtures when remodeling your home:

1. Go for Deals, Discounts and Coupons: Shop around for contractors and plumbing fixture stores that are offering special discounts and deals on their services and products. Discounts, deals and coupons are a great way to stretch your dollars not only when you are buying kitchen fixtures and services but also when you are doing your other general shopping.
2. Regular Maintenance: If you have your kitchen plumbing fixed and you take the care to regularly maintain it, it should go for an extended period without the need for new fixtures. You should schedule regular checks on your kitchen’s plumbing every month. This will help you notice and take care of the small problems like cracks and leaks. Fixing these minor problems early enough will save you from having to diagnose the problems when they are fully blown and costly.
3. Hire Plumbing Contractors Who are Experienced: Have you ever heard the saying, “Cheap is expensive?” If you hire a cheap plumber who offers substandard services, there is a very high probability that you will be needing the plumber a second and third time to fix problems on your kitchen plumbing. Some simple mathematics will tell you that in the long run, this is more expensive than hiring a costly but qualified plumber.

For a qualified plumber call NY Plumbing and Sewer Rooter at 212-235-1436. Like us on Facebook to stay up to date with plumbing tips and services.

Easter Plumbing Tips: Keep Egg Shells Out of the Garbage Disposal

With Easter Sunday around the corner we know that many families are getting ready to gather around the table and color and decorate easter eggs. While this is a fun and exciting way to spend time together, remember that it is important to consider where the egg shells end up. 

According to Angie's List, "Contrary to popular belief, egg shells have no place in the garbage disposal. Some people claim that egg shells sharpen the blades of the unit, but this is not true. The shell's stringy membrane layer can wrap around the shredder ring, and the shell itself will be ground to a sand-like consistency capable of clogging pipes." Therefore, after peeling the shell and enjoying your hard boiled egg, make sure to throw the shell scraps out with the trash!

On the other hand, easter does have some plumbing benefits. Use the left over food coloring dye to check for a leaky toilet. Fill the tank with enough dye to make the water visibly that color. Wait and see if the toilet water fills up with this color. If this is the case, clean it immediately. You have a leak in your toilet that you want to get fixed!

For assistance with leaks or garbage disposals, call NY Plumber and Sewer at 212-235-1436. We offer 24-7 30-minute emergency service, so don't hesitate to call even if you've already sat down to celebrate.

Outdoor Plumbing Help: How to Replace an Outdoor Faucet

It's not too early to start prepping your home for warmer weather. Replacing faucets with newer models is a smart idea. Here's how in 4 basic steps as provided on Angie's List:

1. Shut off the water that feeds the spigot. You may need to shut off the house's main water supply valve, or there may be another valve closer to the outdoor line. Either way, test to make sure it's off by opening the outdoor spigot. As with a garden hose, it'll spill out some water before running dry.
2. Remove the old faucet by tightly grabbing the pipe below the faucet with a pair of adjustable pliers. Tighten the pipe wrench around the faucet and twist until it comes off.
3. Use a stiff brush to clean the pipe threads (this step is important!), then wrap the threading with plumber's tape to ensure a good seal. Install the new faucet, tightening by hand.
4. After the faucet has been tightened as much as possible by hand, wrap the new faucet with a towel to protect the finish and tighten fully using adjustable pliers.

Consider a freeze-proof spigot in colder climates! This has an extra long stem, keeping the water deep inside the house when closed.

For more advice on outdoor plumbing, or any other plumbing services call NY Plumbing and Sewer Rooter at 212-235-1436.

How to Prevent Plumbing Problems While on Vacation

Deciding to go on a last minute vacation to get away from the cold this winter? We don't blame you! However, there are some things you might want to add to the to-do list to ensure you come back to a problem-free home. Red Beacon suggests considering these 8 things before flying off to paradise:

1. Turn Off Main Valve: With this valve turned off, water shouldn't be coming into your home. This means that any leaks or bursts shouldn't pour uncountable gallons of water into your home while you’re gone.
2. Check water lines: Look at all the water lines connecting appliances, sinks and toilets to make sure you don’t find leaks and cracks. If you find signs of problems, try to replace water lines before you leave.
3. Sump Pump: Use a bucket to pour water down the sump pit to make the water level higher. Watch to see what happens as the sump pump deals with the extra water. It should pump it out of the basement. If your sump pump doesn't get rid of the water, you have a potential problem on your hands. 
4. Exterior Faucets: Turn off the water supply to all outdoor faucets. Open the faucets after you turn off the water to make sure there’s no water remaining in the pipes that could expand and cause a crack.
5. Water Heater: Check the floor around your water heater to make sure you don’t see any evidence of leaks. Also, it’s a good idea to set the thermostat to a “vacation” setting so it won’t use energy to heat water while you’re gone.
6. Drains: Add a little water and a special drain maintenance product to every sink, shower and bathtub drain in your house. This will maintain a moist environment in the drains and stop undesired odors from starting.
7. Final Check: Check every appliance with a water supply  (washing machine, refrigerator, dishwasher and hot water heater) to make sure these appliances are dry and there’s no corrosion on the water lines or connections.
8. Checking In: Ask a trusted neighbor or friend to keep an eye on your house while you’re gone. Just walking around the house and looking carefully at the foundation will probably be enough to detect problems going on inside your house.

Now go on vacation with a piece of mind! For problems you find that need to be fixed fast, call NY Plumbing and Sewer Rooter at 212-235-1436.

Thanks Red Beacon!