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.

5 Common Lawn Problems

Now that we’ve kicked off the start to summer, we want to ask: how healthy is your lawn? Even the greenest lawn can develop problems. The trick is to keep an eye on your yard for signs of trouble. Here are 5 of the most common problems homeowners encounter:

Problem 1: Lawn is patchy
You might be frustrated by the fact that your lawn has some bare patches. To make these areas green, try reseeding these spots and keep the area moist. Water daily if necessary and mark it off to observe how well it’s growing.

Problem 2: Lawn has gray spots
Your grass might be covered in a web-like growth, which often appears during morning due. To prevent such a growth, apply fungicide and fertilize.

Problem 3: Lawn is covered in mushroom
Mushrooms don’t necessarily scream “healthy backyard.” They’re often tricky to get rid of, and pulling them in only a temporary fix. But by digging up correcting drainage problems and replacing old mulch, you have a better shot at fixing the issue.

Problem 4: Lawn is overrun with weeds
Growing weeds never looks pretty. But by applying herbicide during both spring and fall, you can kill all types of weeds.

Problem 5: Lawn is soggy
If your lawn is soggy, you might have a drainage issue. Aside from the fact that walking on wet soil is unpleasant, your plants can become overly saturated. Call your local plumber to address the drainage problem at hand.

If a soggy lawn is ruining your curb appeal, contact the yard drain experts at Nassau County Plumbing & Sewer Rooter. Give us a call at 516.874.7937 or visit our website for more information and to learn more about our 24/7 emergency service.  

Memorial Day 2016: Long Island Events

Memorial Day weekend means friendly gatherings and outdoor barbeques. It’s also a time to show appreciation for those who put their lives on the line to serve our country, and Long Island offers many festive events including these:

Bethpage Air Show
Jones Beach State Park
Visit Jones Beach as the Breitling Jet Team returns for another exciting air show performance! Happening May 28th through May 29th from 10am to 3pm. Click here to learn more about this event.

Decoration Day
Old Bethpage Village Restoration
In memory of those who risked their lives for our nation, Ed Mangano presents Decoration Day, a ceremony and parade to celebrate this holiday. The event will be held on Saturday, May 28th and Sunday, May 29th from 10am to 4pm. The event includes storytelling, brass band concerts, and historic craft decorations. Click here to learn more.

Memorial Day Carnival
Eisenhower Park
Thousands of Long Island families will be at Eisenhower park on May 27th for the park’s second annual carnival. Join in the fun for amusement and carnival rides, balloon artists, and live music.  Kids and adults of all ages are welcome! Learn more here.

No matter how you decide to spend your holiday weekend, we guarantee that Long Island will keep you feeling festive! And don’t forget, if you run into any plumbing issues this weekend, don’t worry! Nassau Plumbing & Sewer Rooter is here for your emergency needs 24 hours - 7 days a week. Give us a call at 516.874.7937 or visit our website for more information.  

Vegetables You Can Grow Fast

Growing your own vegetables nowadays is popular. Not only do they taste better and cost less money, but they’re also healthier for you! Some vegetables take time to grow - these, on the other hand, don’t take much time at all:

Beets - Beets can take some of the summer heat, but they do grow best in spring. Get started now by giving them plenty of sun and allowing them to grow in well-drained soil.  

Cucumbers - No garden would be complete without cucumbers! This vegetable thrives well in hot summer weather and will grow out of the ground in a matter of days when the soil is moist and warm enough.

Kale - Kale salad anyone? These greens will vary in size and grow within 60 days. Try “Vates” collards, “Red Russian” kale, or “Seven Top” turnips.

Summer Squash - Grilled yellow squash is the perfect, healthy addition to a summer barbeque. Give this vegetable about 40 to 60 days, as they grow about an inch per day. A mature squash will measure approximately 4 to 7 inches in length.

Looking for more fast growing vegetables for your garden? Click here.

Once you decide what you want in your vegetable garden, make sure you water your plants just the right amount! And if you run into any outdoor plumbing issues, contact Nassau Plumbing and Sewer Rooter. We offer all of the plumbing, sewer, and drain services you need to help tend to your garden. Call us today at 877.713.8136 for emergency services or visit our website for more information.