Garbage Disposal Tips for the Holidays

By now, you’ve probably heard that your garbage disposal needs a bit of TLC, especially around the holiday season. Between your Christmas dinners and New Years gatherings, your garbage disposal can get clogged up if you don’t take necessary precautions. Below are a few tips to keep in mind when caring for your garbage disposal this holiday:

Tip 1: Turn off the power switch if something seems to be going wrong.
Tip 2: Avoid using hot water to unclog your disposal, as this can make unmelted fats clog even worse! Instead, use cold water or ice cubes and a cup of rock salt and let it run for a few seconds.
Tip 3: Clean the area of silverware to prevent damage of your utensils or your disposal.
Tip 4: Do not turn the unit on unless water is running.
Tip 5: Always use tongs or other types of long-handled tools to remove food and other items from your garbage disposal, as placing your hands close to the blades can be dangerous.
Tip 6: Inform your guests about garbage disposal safety so they don’t make the mistake of throwing certain foods down the unit or injuring themselves.
Tip 7: Ask a professional plumber more about how to care for your garbage disposal, as each type is manufactured differently.

At Nassau Plumbing and Sewer Rooter, we know that plumbing and drain accidents can happen - the reason we offer emergency service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! To learn more about how you can prevent plumbing and drain accidents in the kitchen this holiday season, call us at 877.713.8136 or visit our website.

Holiday Plumbing Emergency Tips

Plumbing emergencies can occur when you least expect it. And when something goes wrong during the holidays, it may seem like a reason to panic, but don’t worry - there are a few tips you can use to take matters into your own hands and ease the stress:

Turn off the water source. When a plumbing emergency happens, the first thing you’ll want to do is turn off the main shut-off valve. If you’ve ever turned off the valve before going on a long vacation, you probably know where to find it. If not, find where the water meter is. The main shut-off valve should be located near it.

Unclog the toilet. This is one of the most common plumbing issues and also one of the easiest to fix. If you find a problem with your toilet when your guests arrive, try unclogging in with a plunger. If the problem persists, give your local a 24 hour plumbing service.

Repairing a leak. Sometimes a leak is a difficult fix, and other times it’s simple. Before calling a pro, try replacing the O-ring on your leaky faucet. That should fix the problem, but if it doesn’t you’ll want the help of a licensed plumber. 

Unclog a drain. When your shower or sink drain clogs up, try using a few DIY methods or temporary treatments until you can call a professional.

At Nassau Plumbing and Sewer Rooter, we are here 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for all of your plumbing emergencies. While we hope these tips help to ease your stress during the holiday season, know that we are here for any and all repairs you may need. Call us today at 877.713.8136 for emergency services or visit our website for more information on our services.

Keeping Your Plumber Off the Holiday Party Guest List

Especially if you come from a big family, that holiday guest list is probably piling right up. Avoid having to squeeze the plumber in there too with these few plumbing tips:

1. Keep a strainer in your sink when clearing off dishes. The strainer will catch little bits of food before they head down the drain and cause a clog. 

2. Don't overload the garbage disposal. It works well for small bits of food at separated times, but it will not be able to sustain the leftovers from your entire family's meal. 

3. Freshen the disposal with a ground cup of lemon or orange peels. Harsh drain cleaners and bleach could damage pipes and blades. 

4. Request that overnight guests leave a 10 minute space between showers. Overload of water down the drains may cause your pipes to act up. 

5. Avoid hair build up with a hair stopper device. Placing one of these over your shower drain could save you from the trouble all of your guest's hair flowing down the drain could cause. 

New York Plumbing and Sewer Rooter is available 24/7 for your emergency needs. If the holidays have you in a frenzy anyway, give us a call at 877-713-8136.

Have a stress-free and happy holiday! 

Plumbing Tips for the Holidays!

The holidays are the perfect time for family, friends and the occasional plumbing issue! If your hosting a holiday party or Christmas dinners at your home, those extra guest put a serious strain on a home's plumbing system.

Big holiday meals for plenty of people usually require a busy kitchen. Too much grease can find its way into kitchen drains, eventually leading to the pipes being clogged. If you have several guests staying over the holidays, your shower drains might have an issue. With an overload of hair and soap, showers are quickly clogged.

Here's some tips to avoid plumbing issues over the Holiday Season.

In the Kitchen:

• Don't pour fats, oils or grease down the drains because these will eventually solidify and create clogs.
• If you have a garbage disposer, avoid putting hard-to-grind objects in for disposal.
• Run cold water down the disposer drain to clear the waste down.
• Run the dishwasher at night or at off times to conserve hot water for shower.

In the bathroom:

• Plan to spread out showers throughout the day. This will help conserve hot water and give the drains a chance to clear out.
• Turn up the water heater slightly to retain hot water.
• If shower pressure is weak,  pour a cup of vinegar into a plastic bag, place it over the shower head, and let it soak for 2-5 minutes. After, use a toothbrush or towel to scrub off mineral deposits to help restore water flow.

Avoid holiday congestion during the Holiday week, call us at (516) 874-7937 for more information or visit our website  http://www.nyplumbingandsewerrooter.com/.

Happy Holidays from everyone at New York Plumbing & Sewer Rooter!

Why You Should Buy a Tankless Water Heater Before the Holidays!

The holidays are approaching quickly, and there is no doubt you will be spending money on gifts, preparing meals for guests and planning parties.  For more info on new on why you should get a new tankless water heater, visit http://goo.gl/QHUr1h.  For now here are some reasons you should spend some of that money on a tankless water heater before the holidays.

1. Your current hot water tank uses a large amount of energy.  It is considered the second biggest consumer of energy in your home.  Switching to tankless can reduce your energy bill and save you lots of money.
2. A standards tank water heater takes up about 9 square feet of space, while the tankless water heater takes up no space on your floor, because it is attached to the wall.
3. A tank water heater is constantly running all day long heating water, while a tankless only runs when you need it to.  Saving you even more money on your gas bill.  
4. A tankless water heater will eventually pay for itself, in about 4 years, with all the money it saves you each month.
5. It also lasts much longer than a traditional tank heater by 5-10 years.
6. Running out of hot water is never an issue.

 So now that you know all the benefits of a tankless water heater, it is now time to call NY Plumbing & Sewer Rooter for yours today!!!
516-874-7937