Outdoor Plumbing & Irrigation: Winterize It

Colder weather is coming! It is time to winterize your home - from the outside in.

Today, let's take a look at a few quick ways you can winterize your outdoor plumbing and irrigation system, as a way to avoid problems throughout the season and at the start of spring.

Replace Styrofoam insulated covers. All above ground plumbing fixtures are susceptible to freezing and should be properly insulated. Buy new covers if needed and ensure they fit just right for proper protection.

Ensure sprinkler settings are safe. For efficiency purposes, you want to avoid watering driveways and sidewalks all year round. In the winter, this is also important because you want to avoid coating pedestrian walkways with a layer of ice.

Adjust sprinkler timing. Plants still need to be watered in the winter, but less frequently. Reset your sprinkler's timer to something more appropriate.

At New York Plumbing and Sewer Rooter, we're available for all of your plumbing emergencies and needs. Call us at 516-874-7937 today! LIKE us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and connect with us on Google+ for more updates and plumbing information.

July is Smart Irrigation Month: Use Water Wisely

Water use peaks in July. That is why the Irrigation Association is looking to get 100 supporters by July 7th in celebration of Smart Irrigation Month. Smart Irrigation Month is all about educating each other about efficient water use and encouraging smart irrigation practices and technologies in order to save water.

Find some tips about using water wisely below:

1. Schedule each individual zone in your irrigation system. Some spots get more sun than other. Instead of watering your entire lawn to compensate for this, just schedule that one section differently.

2. Make sure water is being used only where it's necessary. Be aware of where you are setting your sprinkler. If it's watering your driveway more than your plants, try adjusting it.

3. Water when the sun is low or down. Watering during the hottest parts of the day wastes water because of evaporation.

4. Water frequently, and in short intervals. A system of 3, 5-minute intervals makes for better water absorption than 15 minutes of watering at one time.

5. Adjust the watering schedule based on season. If you are not familiar with the settings on your irrigation system, consider installing a smart controller which makes these adjustments automatically.

At NY Plumbing & Sewer Rooter we understand the value of using water wisely. There are plenty of ways you can save water inside and outside of your home, including the installation of water-efficient plumbing fixtures. Call us today for assistance.

Read more at irrigation.org.