How to Spend 4th of July on Long Island

There is no better place to spend America’s birthday than on Long Island. We have beautiful beaches, fun parades, dazzling firework displays and best of all, great people. Whether you are looking for a firework show, parade or concert, you are sure to have an amazing weekend in one of the greatest places America has to offer.

Fireworks Show at Jones Beach

The fireworks show at Jones Beach has become an Independence Day tradition. Each and every year it seems to get bigger and better. This is one you don’t want to miss!

Ocean Parkway, Wantagh, NY 11793

516-785-1600

Monday, July 4th at 9:30 PM

Free Admission ($10 Parking Fee)

Stars Over Montauk
For those of you a little further east, this is the spot you want to be. Umbrella Beach’s annual firework display is one of the most impressive shows in all of New York.

Old Montauk Highway, Montauk, NY 11954

631-668-2428

Monday, July 4th at 9 PM

Free Event

Port Jefferson’s 4th of July Parade

This parade is perfect for people of all ages. The streets of Port Jeff will be alive with patriotism and don’t forget about the awesome food!

Main Street, Port Jefferson, NY 11777

631-473-8910

Monday, July 4th from 10 AM - 12 PM

Free Event

City of Long Beach’s 2016 Summer Concert Series

American Idol’s Pia Toscano will be kicking off the summer series with an amazing set! She will be joined by Current Affair and other awesome performers for your listening pleasure. It doesn’t get better than the beach and some great tunes on the 4th of July!

National Boulevard Beach, Long Beach, NY 11561

516-431-1000

Monday, July 4th at 8 PM

Free Event

Whether you choose to attend one of these great events or just chill in the yard, we hope you have a happy and safe 4th of July!

Be sure to share your weekend with us on Facebook or Twitter!

And if you have any last second plumbing needs before your weekend kicks off, call Nassau Plumbing and Sewer Rooter at 516-874-7937 or visit us on the web.

Tips for Hiring a Plumber

Looking for a plumber or any type of contractor can be nerve wracking. Unfortunately, there are a fair amount of liars and false advertisers out there, so it is important to know what questions you need to be asking.

Are you a licensed professional?

Plumbers are not required to have a license in the state of New York, so don’t just assume they have one. Even if the unlicensed plumber does great work, it might not pass inspection and that will leave you in a bigger hole than before the work started. Be sure to check the website and look for their license information to insure you are getting quality work.

Do you offer flat or hourly rates?

Some plumbers will give you an estimate that is unrealistic just to get your business. Be wary of prices that seem too good to be true, because they probably are. A good question to ask would be if they offer flat or hourly rates. This is important because problems usually arise in the plumbing world, and you don’t want to have to pay for the extra time.

What is your payment structure?

You should always know when payment is expected so that you can budget for it. But this varies from plumber to plumber, so make sure it is specified in the contract. Most plumbers use a milestone structure where payment is made upon completion of previously outlined tasks. This is the best way to do it because you can see what you are getting prior to making a payment.

Nassau Plumbing and Sewer Rooter is a fully licensed and insured plumbing company. If you are having problems with your plumbing, call Nassau Plumbing and Sewer Rooter today at 516-874-7937 or visit us on the web.

The History of Plumbing

Plumbing is one of the most important technological discoveries in the history of mankind. We rely on plumbing for hydration, waste management, cleaning and much more. Without it, the world as we know it would not exist. It took thousands of years and hundreds of innovations to get plumbing to where it is today. From the primitive plumbing systems of the Indus River to the complexity we see today, let's take a deeper look into the wonderful history of plumbing:

1700 B.C
The Indus River civilizations created the first sewage system on record. They used underground tunnels, wooden spouts and a grid system that was far ahead of their time.

312 B.C 
The Romans invented the aqueduct system to carry fresh water into the capital city. At their peak, the aqueducts were carrying over 1 billion liters of water a day!

1596 
John Harrington, the godson of Queen Elizabeth, invents the first flushing toilet in England. The original toilet was called “The John,” and that nickname still stands today.

1854 
A cholera outbreak in England forces governments around the world to take sewage seriously. A year later, Chicago became the first American city to build a comprehensive sewer system.

1890
The world's first drinking water treatment systems are built in Massachusetts to reduce microbial contamination. The techniques they invented there are still in existence today!

1920
Tank toilets emerged on the market and reduced previous water consumption by 40%. The tank was made possible when William E. Sloan invented the flush-o-meter 10 years prior. The flush-o-meter used the pressure from the water supply system to help flush waste down the drain. Both of these inventions helped conserve as much as 200 million gallons of water a day.

1966
Due to a copper shortage, plastic piping was invented as an alternative. Today, we refer to this plastic piping as PVC pipe.

Present
The plumbing industry employs close to 500,000 people per year and grossed over $100 billion dollars in 2015.

Looking for more information about modern day plumbing? Connect with Nassau Plumbing and Sewer Rooter on Facebook and Twitter! Give us a call at 516.874.7937 or visit us on the web to learn more about our services.

5 Steps for Drain Cleaning

The kids are all home from school and your home has been overrun by children. With so many people around, all sorts of things can find themselves caught in your drain. Don’t ignore the fact that water is slowly filling up in your sink. This is the first sign you might need a declogging. Save yourself from bigger problems with these five steps for keeping your drain clear of blockages.

1. Wet Vacuum
This is the first step in removing large blockages from your drain. Remove the filter from your vacuum and place the nozzle as tight as you can to the drain (a smaller nozzle works best). Place your vacuum on the highest setting and see if you can remove any major food or hair blockages from your drain.
2. Coat Hanger 
Straighten out your wire hanger as best you can and create a hook on the very end. Push the hook into your drain cover and see what you can fish up. It is important to remember that you are trying to pull things up when fishing, not push them down. This should remove any of the leftovers that the wet vac might have missed.
3. Boiling Water 
Simple enough. Boil a pot of water on your stove and slowly pour it down the drain. Do this two or three times to let the water work for a few seconds in between. This should start removing the gunk that is stuck to the walls of your drain.
4. Baking Soda & Vinegar 
Take ⅓ cup of baking soda and ⅓ cup of vinegar and watch it fizz. Immediately pour it down the clogged drain for the best results. This helps with the removal of the stuff you missed earlier in the process.
5. Caustic Soda (sodium hydroxide) 
You can pick some up at your local hardware store for about $20. Be careful though, it causes nasty chemical burns so make sure you cover any part of your skin that might come into contact with the cleaning solution. Stir the solution with some water in a mop bucket to dilute it a bit before pouring it down the drain. This will break up the build up on your drain walls and help prevent future problems. Once you let it sit for 30 minutes, wash it down with boiling water to complete your clean.

If this process did not work for you check out some of these other tips for unclogging your drain!

Going through this whole process should temporarily ensure you a free flowing drain. If you run into any problems or need some more in depth fixes, call Nassau Plumbing and Sewer Rooter today at 516-874-7937 or visit us on the web.

Hand Washing Tricks for Kids

“Wash up for dinner!” We all know this is more of a formality than a reality these days. The kids are either too excited over what they are going to eat or too upset that you just made them stop what they were doing. Experts say that twenty seconds is the minimum time for actual germ removal, but this might seem borderline impossible for your child. Luckily, there are little tricks that can get your kids excited about cleaning their hands:

1. Foam!- The foam soap is more fun for kids and it works just as good as gel soaps. It doesn’t hurt to get Elsa from Frozen’s face on the front of the bottle either.
2 Sing a Song- Pick a song that you know will run them about twenty seconds. Some popular ones include row your boat, the ABC’s and happy birthday.
3. Make it Accessible- Sometimes the sink is too high and intimidating for young kids. Buy them a stool to make them feel like a big kid every time they wash their hands. They will associate washing their hands with that adult feeling.
4. Spook Them- When they get a cold or a sore throat, remind them it could be because they aren’t washing properly. Talk about how germs are bad for people and that washing their hands is the only way to get rid of them.
5. Make it Automatic- You can buy an automatic soap dispenser for around $40 and your kids will love it. It will be a lot less messy and it will seem like hand washing is a cool, tech savvy thing to do.
6. Detecting Soaps- After having the germ conversation with your kids, it might be smart to get a germ detecting soap. After being applied, the soap will change colors once your child’s hands have been washed for the appropriate amount of time. They’ll be hooked after the first time they see the “magic,” happen.

Washing your hands is important for people of all sizes. Washing your hands after every trip to the bathroom can reduce your risk of contracting the stomach bug by over 40%. If these tricks didn't work, you could try one of these other helpful tips.

What are some of your favorite tricks? Feel free to share with us on Facebook.

You can’t wash your hands without water! If you are having problems with your plumbing, call Nassau Plumbing and Sewer Rooter today at 516-874-7937 or visit us on the web.

Making your Bathroom Handicap Accessible

Unfortunately, there are over 48 million disabled people in the United States alone. Whether it is your parent, sibling, child or friend that is handicapped, the bathroom is often a tricky place. Make it easier on yourself and more importantly on them. Check out these helpful tips for remodeling your handicap bathroom: 

Shower Accessibility Tips: 

The seat- The ideal height for a handicap accessible shower seat/bench is between 17” and 19”. There are various options but the presence of a bench or stool will allow for the disabled person or persons to feel more comfortable in the shower. 

Roll-in shower- The curbless shower provides easy access for people using a wheelchair or transfer chair. 36” in width is recommended for transfer chair users. This leaves ample room to maneuver the chair and position the disabled person in the most comfortable fashion. 

Grab Bars- For a shower, grab bars should be tested and installed on all three walls. Do not place a bar at a height until you have ran it by the person who will be using them first. 

Vanity Accessibility Tips: 

No Cabinets- A vanity needs to be mounted on the wall with no cabinets underneath. This will allow for a chair to be rolled into place underneath the sink. The minimum sink height for a standard transfer chair is 27”. 

Single Hand Faucets- If the disabled person has trouble with one arm or both, this tip will save them the hassle. It is easier to reach and adjust a single handed faucet when seated. 

Toilet Accessibility Tips:

Adding Height- The average toilet is around 18” off the ground. This height could be a little low for a disabled person but don’t worry you can leave your toilet as is. Buying a thicker seat could add as much as 6” to your existing toilet and it is more cost effective. 

Grab Bar- The safest grab bar placement is on both sides of the toilet to aid with balance. The toilet should be placed in between the two grab bars at 36” apart.  

Remodeling your bathroom can be a hassle, so make sure the plumbing is done right connect with Nassau Plumbing and Sewer Rooter on Facebook and Twitter! Give us a call at 516.874.7937 or visit us on the web to learn more about our services.

Tips to Drive Down your Water Bill

The sun is shining, the kids are almost out of school and summer has officially arrived! You should enjoy this time and not have to worry about how having the whole gang around is going to cost you. Here are some helpful tips to driving down your water bill this summer:

Invest in a Pool Cover 
A pool cover is a multifaceted money saver that every pool owner should own. It will help save thousands of gallons of water from disappearing from your pool every month! That water costs money and we don’t think you like seeing your money evaporate, do you? It also keeps your pool clean so you spend more time inside of it than you do scraping the perimeter.

Smart Water-ing
A healthy green lawn should not have to cost you green. Watering in the morning or at dusk can help save hundreds of gallons of water per week. If you have an automated sprinkler system, make sure the timer is set for these times of day.

Be efficient with your laundry
Being a kid at summer time is the best feeling in the world. But for mom and dad, playing outside and rolling around in the grass means more laundry. Contrary to popular belief grass stains don’t classify as grease stains so there is no need to wash them with hot water. Using cold or warm water can help drive down your energy costs with each and every load. Look for your washer machines load capacity in weight and then throw a load on a scale to see how much your machine can handle. Underloading is not going to make those clothes any cleaner.

Take cold showers 
Coming out of the hot sun and jumping in a nice cool shower is a refreshing surprise. The summer is a time when water bills go up, but we can compensate by dropping energy costs. A cold shower also tends to be shorter, resulting in less water use and lower costs for you. It also means you have more time for fun in the sun!

Looking for more interesting ways to save on your water and energy bills? Connect with Nassau Plumbing and Sewer Rooter on Facebook and Twitter! Give us a call at 516.874.7937 or visit us on the web to learn more about our services.

7 Quick Toilet Tips

Toilets: can’t live with 'em, can’t live without 'em. From clogs to overflows, there are many problems that can arise with these essential plumbing fixtures when you least expect it. 

At Nassau Plumbing and Sewer Rooter, our professionals are here to help you with any and all of your plumbing problems 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. But if you’re the kind of homeowner who prefers to take matters into their own hands, we’ve got a few tips for you:

1. Toilet flushes can be noisy, but not if you have a tankless toilet. The secret behind these plumbing fixtures is that there’s no tank to refill after every flush.
2. Got a clog? A forced cup plunger has a funnel that can apply extra force down the drain (great for sinks as well).
3. If your toilet keeps running, check the flush lever and rubber flapper connection and replace the chain if necessary.
4. Does your bowl empty slowly? This issue is usually the result of clogged holes underneath the rim of the bowl. To solve the problem, gently poke into each flush hole using a curved piece of wire to clear out debris.
5. Avoid flushing bathroom wipes, cotton balls, paper towel, dental floss, feminine products, and oils down the toilet.
6. Gallons of water are wasted every day from flushing often. Save water by skipping flushes every now and then.
7. The average American uses 57 sheets of toilet paper a day, which equals 36.5 billion rolls of toilet paper per year. That being said, remember that each sheet goes a long way!

Looking for more plumbing tips? Connect with Nassau Plumbing and Sewer Rooter on Facebook and Twitter! Give us a call at 516.874.7937 or visit us on the web to learn more about our services.