How to save Money on Your Energy Costs

We're talking about ways to save again. Between everything you have to pay for in your home, it is normal to find that the price is becoming overwhelming. That's why NY Plumbing and Sewer wants to share with you a 3-step plan by Oprah, from basic to advanced, that helps you curb your energy costs:

1. Do a home energy audit: If you know your home, you are better equipped to manage the energy it is using. Certified energy raters can identify the extent of air leakage with a blower door test. For this test, they put a powerful fan in your doorway which sends air through your home and all the tiny holes that may be letting in cold or heat. A home energy audit would require no personal labor and costs up to $500.

2. Identify leaky spots: Air infiltration is one of the easiest problems to correct and may be part of wasted energy in your home, especially if your home was built before 1970. Sealing leaky spots in your home can save you as much as 9 percent on your energy bill and all it takes is a trip to the hardware store for a caulking gun and some caulk. Moderate labor is required, however, the cost is low (under $50).

3. Reinsulate your home: Even with the heat or A/C turned all the way up, it is impossible to keep a good temperature in your home if your walls are not insulated properly. Places to check for poor insulation are your attic, basement, and crawl spaces. Different kinds of insulation are valued at different prices and it may take a few years to cover the investment. However, as many investments go, reinsulating home saves you money in the long run, especially if you have already done a home energy audit and identified leaky spots in your home. Both the labor and costs associated with reinsulating your home are high in the short run. 

For all heating services and installations, call us at 718-514-7145. Let us know what you think of this 3-step plan on our Facebook page. 

Add Some Green to Your Cleaning Routine

Looking for eco-friendly cleaning product alternatives? Keeping your house clean while protecting the environment can be a challenge. Below are a list of green cleaners that really work and what makes them green, as listed on Oprah.com:

Method Smarty Dish Dishwasher Detergent Tabs
"The Claim: Biodegradable and free of phosphates, chlorine, ammonia, and petroleum distillates. The lightweight packaging uses 87 percent less plastic than traditional rigid plastic containers."

Bon Ami Liquid Cleanser
"The Claim: Biodegradable and free of phosphates and chlorine. The packaging is made from 100 percent postconsumer recycled plastic."

Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Glass Cleaner
"The Claim: Skips ammonia (a potentially toxic irritant) in favor of plant-based cleaning agents sourced from sustainable coconut-palm-oil farms. Free of phosphates, chlorine, and petroleum distillates."

Method Floor + Surface Cleaner
"The Claim: Biodegradable and free of phosphates, chlorine, and petroleum distillates. The packaging is made from 100 percent postconsumer recycled material."

Caldrea Dish Soap Liquid
"The Claim: Biodegradable and free of phosphates, chlorine, and petroleum distillates. Plant-based cleaning agents are sourced from certified sustainable palm-oil farms."

Bill by Eco-Me All-Purpose Cleaner
"The Claim: Uses only ingredients that are food-grade and plant-sourced, such as vinegar and sugar-based cleaning agents. Free of phosphates, chlorine, and petroleum distillates."

Green Works Oxi Stain Remover
"The Claim: An oxygen-based bleaching agent helps make this cleaner versatile, biodegradable, and nonallergenic."

Some chemical products can damage your drain. Let us know how these green cleaners work for you on our Facebook page and call us for all your plumbing needs. 

Memorial Day Weekend - Long Island Events

Memorial Day Weekend is the perfect time to begin celebrating the summer. If your tradition is having a BBQ in the backyard, NY Plumbing and Sewer Rooter is on call for your emergency services! However, if your looking to get out the house with family and friends, check out some of these great kid-friendly events listed below (organized by Mommy Poppins):

Saturday, May 24

Marine and Navy Helicopter Landing
Eisenhower Park, Kite Field
10am-2pm
Free

North Hempstead's Memorial Day Fireworks
North Hempstead Beach, Park West Shore Road, Port Washington
6-10pm
Free admission; $5 to park.


Saturday, May 24 and Sunday, May 25

Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach State Park
Jones Beach State Park, Wantagh
10am-3pm
Free admission; $10 per vehicle

BUG Lighthouse Tours
East End Seaport Museum, Greenport
4pm
$25-$35 based on age.


Saturday, May 24 - Monday, May 26

Brookhaven Fair
Bald Hill, Farmingville
12pm-10pm
$20-$25

Memorial Day Events
Old Bethpage Village Restoration
10am-5pm
$0-$10 based on age

Huntington YMCA Memorial Day Carnival
60 Main Street, Huntington NY 11743

12pm-6pm
Free admission; price varies for rides.


Sunday, May 25

Naval Helicopter Demonstration and Expo
Randall Park, Freeport

12pm-2pm
Free

18th Annual Community Mosaic Street Painting Festival
Main Street, Riverhead.
12pm-5pm
Free

Let us know if you plan on attending any of these great events on our Facebook page. 

15 Things You Can Do to Reduce Energy and Maintenance Costs

For homeowners saving costs is always a battle. Often, we forget the little changes we can make to our home to see a difference in money spent. Emily Franke reminds us of some ways we can tackle this issue. We've quoted a few of the greatest:

"Turn down the hot water heater to 120°F. It's a waste of energy to heat water hotter than most people can stand."

"Get a water heater blanket. Many older water heaters and even fairly new ones aren't well insulated. A water heater blanket saves money by keeping the heat in."

"Check for running toilets, leaky faucets and under sink plumbing. They cost you money and lead to mold."

"Put in a programmable thermostat. This automatically adjusts temperature, so you only pay for heating or cooling the house when you're actively using it."

"Choose reliable, energy efficient appliances. Paying a little extra for quality and reliability will save you lots over the long haul."

For all plumbing and heating services, or for more tips on how to save around the house, call us at NY Plumbing and Sewer Rooter.

Historical Events that Shaped Modern Plumbing

We love to talk about modern plumbing. Yet, we rarely think about how it came to exist. Thanks to Ivey Engineering, we can share a few fun facts about the history of plumbing:

• Archaeologists discovered copper water pipes in the palace ruins of the Indus River Valley in India. (4,000 to 3,000 B.C.) 
• Egyptians developed copper pipes that were used to build elaborate bathrooms inside the pyramids and intricate irrigation and sewages systems. (2500 B.C.) 
• Rainwater cisterns were developed on the island of Crete which allowed for storage of rainwater until it was needed for drinking, washing, bathing and cooking uses. (1500 B.C.) 
• The Romans were some of the most advanced in ancient plumbing systems. Out of the Roman Empire aqueducts were developed as well as underground sewer systems, public and private baths, lead and bronze water piping systems, and marble fixtures with gold and silver fittings. The Romans utilized lead pipes, which at the time made vast improvements in sanitary conditions. (500 B.C. to A.D. 455)
• Sir John Harington, godson to Queen Elizabeth, invented the first flushing water closet. (1596)
• The first underground sewer was installed in 1728. This came about after health officials in New York responded to complaints about the smell of open sewers. 
• The first public water main was installed under New York streets in 1830. Numerous fires had demonstrated the need for an adequate and available supply of water for fire fighting. 
• The first water heaters were developed in private homes and small buildings in the 1870s. Circulation pipes were installed between water-heating units and hot water storage tanks so as to make pressurized hot water available in volume. 
• The water closet was invented from 1900 to 1932. The U.S. Patent Office received applications for 350 new water closet designs, including the designs of Charles Neff and Robert Frame. These men were the first to produce a siphoning water closet that would become standard in the United States. 

NY Plumbing and Sewer Rooter is thankful for modern day plumbing systems. Are you? Call us at 718-514-7145 for plumbing services. 

Get more facts at iveyengineering.com. 

6 Tips to Keep Your Kitchen Clean While You Cook

The kids are home from school in the summer and there are more family parties to go around! If you want to cook a great meal and avoid an agonizing clean up, check out these great tips from Reader's Digest below:

1. For cleaner counters, place all ingredients on an empty baking sheet prior to prepping them. The baking sheet will catch spills, plus you won't waste searching for every item as you cook. 
2. To avoid a greasy olive oil bottle, wrap a folded paper towel around its neck and secure with a rubber band to absorb any drips. 
3. If you break a glass while cooking, use a piece of white bread to pick up the pieces. Even tiny slivers will cling to it. Clever, huh?
4. To protect a a special recipe from getting ruined by splatters and stains, place it under a clean glass pot lid.You can still read it while shielding it!
5. While you cook, toss scraps into a large bowl, keeping the mess in one place. Line the bowl with a plastic bag to make cleanup even easier.
6. Keep your thumbs squeaky-clean by using a wine cork to make an indent in thumbprint cookies instead of your thumb!

Your kitchen is perfectly clean but one of your appliances stopped working or the sink is clogged? Call NY Plumbing and Sewer Rooter for all of your plumbing needs this season. 

How To Maintain Your Air Conditioner

With the warmer weather right around the corner, taking the time to run through some air conditioner maintenance steps is probably a good idea! Regular maintenance keeps your air conditioner running efficiently and saves you money by extending your units life.

Before you get yours running this summer, energy.gov suggests you follow these steps below:

Replace or clean your filters
"Clogged, dirty filters block normal airflow and reduce a system's efficiency significantly. With normal airflow obstructed, air that bypasses the filter may carry dirt directly into the evaporator coil and impair the coil's heat-absorbing capacity. Replacing a dirty, clogged filter with a clean one can lower your air conditioner's energy consumption by 5% to 15%."

Clean your coil
"A dirty coil reduces airflow and insulates the coil, reducing its ability to absorb heat. To avoid this problem, check your evaporator coil every year and clean it as necessary."

Fix coil fins
"The aluminum fins on evaporator and condenser coils are easily bent and can block airflow through the coil. Air conditioning wholesalers sell a tool called a "fin comb" that will comb these fins back into nearly original condition."

Condensate drains
"Occasionally pass a stiff wire through the unit's drain channels. Clogged drain channels prevent a unit from reducing humidity, and the resulting excess moisture may discolor walls or carpet."

Inspect the seal
"At the start of each cooling season, inspect the seal between the air conditioner and the window frame to ensure it makes contact with the unit's metal case. Moisture can damage this seal, allowing cool air to escape from your house."

Let us know how these tips work for you on our Facebook page!

Simple Tips For Saving Water Outdoors

Summer time is just around the corner and every homeowner wants their lawn looking greener than ever. However, the amount of water homeowners use in the summer is two to four times as much water than they use the rest of the year.

It is important to know that there are ways to save water outdoors and still have a beautiful landscape. Get the tips from WaterSense here:

• Timing is everything: Know how much water your landscape actually needs before you set your sprinkler. Your local utility can offer recommendations for how much water certain plants need in your region and best times to water. Generally, it's best to water lawns and landscapes in the early morning and evening, after the sun goes down, because significant amounts of water can be lost due to evaporation during the heat of the day.
• Look for the label: If your system uses a clock timer, consider upgrading to a WaterSense labeled controller which acts like a thermostat for your lawn, using local weather data to determine when and how much to water, reducing waste and improving plant health. Replacing a standard clock timer with a WaterSense labeled irrigation controller can save an average home nearly 8,800 gallons of water annually.
• Go with a pro: Contractors certified through a WaterSense labeled program can audit, install, or maintain home irrigation systems to ensure water isn't wasted. Make sure you ask for credentials.
• Tune up your system: Inspect irrigation systems and check for leaks and broken or clogged sprinkler heads. Fix sprinkler heads that are broken or spraying on the sidewalk, street, or driveway.
• Play zone defense: When planting, assign areas of your landscape different hydrozones depending on sun/shade exposure, soil and plant types, and type of sprinklers, then adjust your irrigation system or watering schedule based on those zones' specific needs. This helps you avoid overwatering some areas or underwatering others.

For over 50 years New York Plumbing & Sewer Rooter has provided excellent plumbing, sewer and drain cleaning, as well as heating service, repairs and installation. For all of your outdoor and indoor plumbing needs this summer call us at 718-514-7145.