Best Long Island Picnic Spots

Need a new spot for sharing time with family or friends? Give your backyard and barbecue a break and head over to a local picnic spot instead.

After packing a few sandwiches, snacks and a blanket, consider one of these perfect picnic places on Long Island:

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Old Westbury Gardens
71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury, NY
Check out their 2014 Picnic Pops Summer Concert Series! All you need is a lawn chair and some company to enjoy great music and a wonderful atmosphere under the stars.

Belmont Lake State Park
Southern State Parkway Exit 38, North Babylon, NY
With a 26-acre, spring-fed lake and various game courts and fields, Belmont Lake State Park offers a great rustic feel.

Gerry Pond Park
Main Street and paper Mill Road, Roslyn, NY
Without any designated picnic spots, a beautiful gazebo, working mill and large pond make any area of this park a great place for laying down a blanket.

Indian Island County Park
Cross River Drive (Route 105), Riverhead, NY
Looking for a long drive and quick getaway? Consider this 275 acre parkland, complete with picnic tables, grills, comfortable benches and wonderful views.

North Hempstead Beach Park
175 West Shore Road, Port Washington, NY
Prefer a picnic on the sand? With picnic areas and a full promenade for walking, you can enjoy a full day of these 34 acres.

Share your favorite picnic spot with us on our Facebook page.

Video Camera Inspections

At NY Plumbing and Sewer Rooter, our sewer and drain cleaning services include video camera inspections. Video camera inspections are useful in pinpointing the exact source of sewer line and pipe problems. With a flexible, fiber optic cable and a high-resolution, water-proof video camera, the line can be inserted directly into the pipe line so a correct diagnosis can be made. The great part? The video can even be saved!

This is a cost efficient and less obtrusive way to properly detect issues, such as:

• blockage
• corrosion
• cracks or breaks
• leaks
• root infiltration

Contact NY Plumbing and Sewer Rooter to receive your free estimate today. We also disclose the price of services upfront, so you can rest assured that you’re getting the best prices with peace of mind included.

Service Spotlight: Sewer & Drain Cleaning

At NY Plumbing and Sewer Rooter we can take care of all of your plumbing needs. Problems with your sewer or drain are never fun. That is why we offer the following sewer and drain cleaning services:

• Sewers
• Toilets
• Sinks
• Showers & Bathtubs
• Yard Drains
• Laundry Basins
• High Pressure Water Jetting
• Video Camera Inspections
• Floods Pumped

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Call us today at 516-874-7937 for professional service. We’ll assist you in whatever you’re looking for- from sewer jetting service to drain cleaning for your local business.

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Looming Long Island Rail Road Strike

The possibility of a strike is growing larger and can occur as early as July 20th, just ten days from now. Union leaders and the MTA can not come to an agreement and Congress has no intention of intervening in the negotiations. After the MTA's offering of a 17% wage increase over 7 years, instead of 6, the debate still continues.

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons / Adam E. Moreira

The Long Island Rail Road is one of the busiest commuter trains in the country carrying about 130 thousand riders daily. If a strike were to occur, what would this mean for Long Island commuters? Many still remember the repercussions of the strike in 1994 and MTA has still not announced an official contingency plan. However, in the event of a strike, they do suggest the following travel alternatives on their website:

1. Telecommute (Work from home).
2. Stay with friends and family in or near the City.
3. Discuss using vacation or flex time options with your employer.
4. Carpool with other commuters.
5. Use existing bus services provided by NICE, NYC Transit, and MTA Bus.
6. Plan your trip with the MTA's Trip Planner. 

Are you a Long Island Commuter that would be affected by a strike? Let us know your thoughts or how you plan to deal with it on our Facebook Page.

Tips for Keeping Cool Without Air Conditioning

According to the ACEEE, air conditioning accounts for almost 200 million tons of carbon emission annually. The best way to immediately save money and energy wasted on your cooling equipment is to reduce the need for air conditioning in your home.

Here are a few ways you can cool off your home this summer without air conditioning:

1. Keep sun from beaming through the windows - Whether you have to keep shades down during the day or put house plans in front of extra sunny windows, you want to avoid trapping the sun's heat in your home like a greenhouse.

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2. Keep windows closed during the day and open at night - On hot summer days, it is unlikely opening your windows will add any cool air to your home. Instead, keep them shut during the day and only open them at night if there is a cool evening breeze. However, be sure to close everything back up before the sun hits your home each morning.

3. Insulate - Improving insulation, specifically in the attic, prevents heat from entering your home. If you do need to have your air on from time to time, this will help trap and retain cool air in your home well after shutting it off.

4. Get rid of bad lighting - Incandescent light bulbs and other forms of modern lighting produce as much heat as they do light.  By keeping the lights off or replacing them with more efficient fixtures, you can save your home from a lot of unnecessary heat.

5. Use fans to create ventilation - Use ceiling fans and stand-alone fans to create a in-house breeze. However, fans don't actually lower the temperature of the room, they just create a more comfortable environment, so make sure you shut them off when you leave the room.

6. Keep your body cool - If you avoid allowing your body to heat up, then you won't need as much cooling down. Avoid using the stove during hot summer months and consume cold meals instead. Salad over soup and icy beverages over hot tea are simple choices that will keep your body temperature down. A nice swim in the pool or a cool shower never hurts either!

7. Plant a tree - planting a tree on the side of your house that gets the most sun will help to block heat from getting into your home. Obviously, this is not an option for everyone given the nature of your property, but is an efficient and natural option for those who can.

For other tips and tricks on home maintenance and energy savings, LIKE us on Facebook.

Tips for Safe Grilling this Summer

More grilling fires happen in July than any other month. Summer barbecues are a wonderful way to enjoy time with family and friends. However, given the damage a grilling fire can do to your yard and home, it is important to be aware of any and all grilling best practices.

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Since barbecues will be happening everywhere this Friday, July 4th, we want to leave you with some grilling safety tips from the National Fire Protection Association:

• Propane and charcoal BBQ grills should only be used outdoors.
• The grill should be placed well away from the home, deck railings and out from under eaves and overhanging branches.
• Keep children and pets away from the grill area.
• Keep your grill clean by removing grease or fat buildup from the grills and in trays below the grill.
• Never leave your grill unattended.

Take these precautions in order to have yourself a successful and safe outdoor party. For emergencies, make sure you always keep a fire extinguisher near by as well. Call NY Plumbing and Sewer Rooter for any plumbing emergencies that arise this Independence Day.

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.