Reduce Humidity in Your Home

Although we love the summer heat, we don’t necessarily love the discomfort of humidity that comes along with it; and as New Yorkers, we know this all too well. While we can’t necessarily avoid the humidity outside, we can work to reduce it inside. Below are some tips to get you started.

 1. Ventilate. If you have a vent fan, use it. Make sure to turn them on when you take a shower or cook a meal and leave them on a little longer. “It only takes between four and six pints of water to raise the humidity level inside of 1,000 square feet from a mere 15% to 60%.” So whether you’re boiling water or bathing, be sure to pay close attention to the amount of humidity you feel.

2. Take quick showers. If you can lower the water temperature, that will help too. Using a low flow shower head will help to reduce hot water, ultimately lowering levels of humidity in the bathroom.

3. Cover pots and pans. Stove top cooking can produce excess moisture, so try to cover your food with lids while cooking to keep the air drier. Slow cookers also contribute to less indoor humidity, so take advantage of that!

4. Turn on the AC. When it’s not dry enough outside to crack open a window, run the AC to ensure you’re getting a proper level of dry air coming into the house. Although it may be a pricey solution, it will cost you your health in the long run.

5. Use a dehumidifier. It’s exactly what it sounds like! Dehumidifiers are great for maintaining your humidity if it’s become a big issue or if you live in an older home. Bathrooms without windows can especially benefit from them. To make sure the air is circulating properly, place away from walls and furniture.

Keep humidity out! Not only is it bad for your health, but it can also cause plumbing issues. When humidity in warmer air collects on cold surfaces like your pipes, you get condensation - not a good condition for your home. But don’t worry! If you run across any plumbing troubles, we’re here to help.

Nassau County Plumbing and Sewer Rooter offers all of the plumbing, sewer and drain services you need to keep your home up and running perfectly. Call us today at 877.713.8136 for emergency services or visit our website for more information.

5 Summer Plumbing Tips!

It's easy to want to jump right in to enjoying your summer. However, to keep yourself sane in the long run, take the time to address some plumbing concerns around your house at the start of the summer. These 5 tips below will allow you to rest easy all summer long, or even save you some money!

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1. Think of your washing machine - The kids are home and clothes just get dirtier. Your bound to be doing more laundry than you're used to doing all year long. Check the hoses behind your washer for damage and fix anything that looks like it may need fixing. Having to deal with a leak or burst half way through the summer is never fun. Also, no matter how tempting, avoid overloading your washer. Doing so could lead to problems that will put your washing machine out of commission when you need it most.

2. Keep your water heater temperature low - Turn it down, especially when you go on vacation. In the summer, you don't need your water heater higher than 120 degrees, even when your home!

3. Swimming pool maintenance - Check for leaks in the equipment and tears in the liner when you first open your pool. If found, call a professional at the beginning of the summer to avoid surprises during family barbecues or your favorite summer holidays. Plus, ensuring your pool works properly saves water.

4. Replace shower heads - Just like we do more laundry in the summer, we tend to take more showers too! Consider replacing old shower heads to save water. Water-efficient shower heads can easily be installed, which will also save you money. Also, since so much more water is used in the summertime, check for leaks in general around your home.

5. Be nice to your garbage disposal -  Are there a lot of left over celery sticks on that veggie platter you put out back for your guests? Keep them out of the garbage disposal! Either pack it in the fridge or toss it in the garbage. While big backyard parties lead to hectic cleanups, save yourself a headache and continue to dispose of things the right way.

For emergency plumbing problems all summer long, call us at 877-713-8136.

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!