What Can PVC Do For Me?

Polyvinyl chloride, better known as PVC, is a type of piping that has become extremely popular over the years. Today, it is available at nearly any home improvement or hardware store, it is easy to install and it offers a cost-effective alternative to other more expensive types of plumbing. 

PVC Doesn’t Rust, Rot or Corrode

PVC became popular because of it’s ability to prevent frequent plumbing disasters. Up until the late 1970’s, galvanized steel and copper were the industry standard and they weren’t cutting it. These materials tend to rot and corrode over time and lead to unexpected leaks and flooding. Experts suggest replacing galvanized systems with PVC systems, if they are more than 20 years old.

PVC is Flexible

While copper tubing might be physically stronger, PVC’s flexibility makes it last longer. It is more resistant to vibrations, water hammering and everyday abuse.

PVC Lasts the Longest 

Even though PVC is the youngest of all the plumbing materials, it will outlast its competition by a substantial amount of time. The average lifespan of PVC is estimated to be around a century or more! Compared to copper (50 years), galvanized steel (40 years), and brass piping (60 years), PVC is off the charts. If you want long lasting reliability, PVC is the clear cut choice.  

If you are tired of coming home to constant plumbing problems, we think you know what has to be done. At Nassau Plumbing and Sewer, we can provide you with the pipe repair or installation services you need. Call us today at 516-874-7937!

Things That Should Never Go Down the Drain

When it comes to the drain, most people stick to the out of sight, out of mind concept. Doing this might provide some temporary convenience, but it will lead to long term drain problems that you simply can’t afford. The truth is, there are a bunch of things we can put down the drain that cause problems beneath the surface. Do your plumbing a favor and avoid placing these types of items down the drain.

Grease
This includes gravy and melted fats from things like bacon, sausage and poultry skin. Grease, fat and oil buildups cause about 47 percent of the 36,000 sewer overflows that happen annually in the United States. You can limit the amount of grease and fat that goes into your plumbing by reminding your family to scrape their plates before putting them in the sink/dishwasher.

Eggshells 
Even a garbage disposal is not strong enough to protect your drain from the negative effects of eggshells. The shells will cling to other items stuck on drain walls and serve as another obstacle for future waste to try and avoid.

Coffee Grounds
Plumbers label coffee grounds as one of the leading causes for drain blockages in the United States. When they dissolve in water, they become grainy and difficult to pass through your pipes.

Produce Stickers 
This is a more obvious one that people constantly let slip their minds. Stickers will not dissolve in water, which means they do not belong in the drain! If they do happen to make it through your plumbing, they can cause clogs and backups in wastewater treatment plants, and that is a major problem.

Keeping these things out of the drain should ensure your pipes a long and happy life. If you run into any problems or need some more in depth fixes, call Nassau Plumbing and Sewer Rooter today at 516-874-7937 or visit us on the web.

Cleaning Out Your Bathroom Cabinets

Do you find yourself hanging onto things just because they cost too much to throw away? Does it take far too long to find the toothpaste and toothbrush in the morning? If you answered yes to either of those questions, it might be time for some cabinet cleaning. Getting rid of those seldom used products will simplify the morning routine and make your life much easier.

Follow these steps to achieve a perfectly clean and organized bathroom cabinet:

1. Empty it out
You can’t clean what you can’t see. Emptying out your bathroom storage will allow you to see what you need and don’t need. Separate like items into groups so that when you put them back in, you will know where they are.
2. Be honest with yourself
Sometimes foolish pride makes us hold on to items that we haven’t used in months. If that $50 lotion wasn’t all it was cracked up to be, there is no sense in hanging onto it to convince yourself it was a good investment. The truth is, emergency items are the only things that should remain in your cabinet without frequent use.
3. Check the date on medication
When you are in the process of cleaning, be sure to check the dates on all over-the-counter and prescription drugs. The last thing you want is to need some pain relief and find out that your Advil is long past due.
4. Organize to make it last
This is where grouping the like items will come in handy. Designate one shelf for hair care items, another shelf for toothpaste and toothbrushes and build from there. Once your cabinet is all neat and organized, it might be a good idea to decorate the cabinet and add some flare. It might sound stupid, but decorating your cabinet will leave you more inclined to keep it clean.

Organization can only do so much, sometimes you might just need more space. If your bathroom makeover requires new plumbing fixtures, contact Nassau Plumbing and Sewer Rooter. We offer everything from repairs to installations. Call us today at 877.713.8136 for emergency services or visit our website for more information.

Preventing Mold in Your Bathroom

The room in your home that is most closely associated with moisture is the bathroom. Unfortunately, this also leaves your bathroom as the room most closely associated with mold growth. Moisture is to mold, what wood is to fire -- a source of life that keeps it growing bigger and stronger. By eliminating the moisture in your bathroom, you are lowering the risk of mold growth and creating a safer environment for your family. Let’s take a look at some tips for keeping your bathroom mold free.

Squeegee Your Shower

The moisture that is left on your shower walls has to go somewhere eventually. Usually, it evaporates into the air and causes a more humid environment inside your bathroom. Removing this excess moisture after you shower can help remove 75% of the moisture that supports mold and mildew growth. A squeegee’s rubber edge is usually used to clean windows, but it can be equally effective in the shower.  

Stretch Out Your Curtain

Whether it is your shower or a friend’s (hopefully a friend’s), we have all seen the little spots on the inside of a shower curtain. These spots show early signs of mold growth but they can easily be avoided by stretching out your curtains after every shower. This will help break up moisture build up and stop mold before it starts!

Run Your Exhaust Fan

You have one for a reason, use it! You should run your exhaust fan for about 15 minutes after every shower to remove excess moisture from the air.

Seal Your Grout

The grout that seals your tile floors will not last forever. You should reseal your grout lines every year to ensure they remain waterproof.

Putting these tips to use can help reduce the risk of mold growth in your bathroom. Doing them just once is not enough. You should work them into your normal bathroom cleaning routine and continue to maintain a mold-free bathroom!

Looking for more information about maintaining a clean and healthy bathroom? 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.

How to Spend 4th of July on Long Island

There is no better place to spend America’s birthday than on Long Island. We have beautiful beaches, fun parades, dazzling firework displays and best of all, great people. Whether you are looking for a firework show, parade or concert, you are sure to have an amazing weekend in one of the greatest places America has to offer.

Fireworks Show at Jones Beach

The fireworks show at Jones Beach has become an Independence Day tradition. Each and every year it seems to get bigger and better. This is one you don’t want to miss!

Ocean Parkway, Wantagh, NY 11793

516-785-1600

Monday, July 4th at 9:30 PM

Free Admission ($10 Parking Fee)

Stars Over Montauk
For those of you a little further east, this is the spot you want to be. Umbrella Beach’s annual firework display is one of the most impressive shows in all of New York.

Old Montauk Highway, Montauk, NY 11954

631-668-2428

Monday, July 4th at 9 PM

Free Event

Port Jefferson’s 4th of July Parade

This parade is perfect for people of all ages. The streets of Port Jeff will be alive with patriotism and don’t forget about the awesome food!

Main Street, Port Jefferson, NY 11777

631-473-8910

Monday, July 4th from 10 AM - 12 PM

Free Event

City of Long Beach’s 2016 Summer Concert Series

American Idol’s Pia Toscano will be kicking off the summer series with an amazing set! She will be joined by Current Affair and other awesome performers for your listening pleasure. It doesn’t get better than the beach and some great tunes on the 4th of July!

National Boulevard Beach, Long Beach, NY 11561

516-431-1000

Monday, July 4th at 8 PM

Free Event

Whether you choose to attend one of these great events or just chill in the yard, we hope you have a happy and safe 4th of July!

Be sure to share your weekend with us on Facebook or Twitter!

And if you have any last second plumbing needs before your weekend kicks off, call Nassau Plumbing and Sewer Rooter at 516-874-7937 or visit us on the web.

Tips for Hiring a Plumber

Looking for a plumber or any type of contractor can be nerve wracking. Unfortunately, there are a fair amount of liars and false advertisers out there, so it is important to know what questions you need to be asking.

Are you a licensed professional?

Plumbers are not required to have a license in the state of New York, so don’t just assume they have one. Even if the unlicensed plumber does great work, it might not pass inspection and that will leave you in a bigger hole than before the work started. Be sure to check the website and look for their license information to insure you are getting quality work.

Do you offer flat or hourly rates?

Some plumbers will give you an estimate that is unrealistic just to get your business. Be wary of prices that seem too good to be true, because they probably are. A good question to ask would be if they offer flat or hourly rates. This is important because problems usually arise in the plumbing world, and you don’t want to have to pay for the extra time.

What is your payment structure?

You should always know when payment is expected so that you can budget for it. But this varies from plumber to plumber, so make sure it is specified in the contract. Most plumbers use a milestone structure where payment is made upon completion of previously outlined tasks. This is the best way to do it because you can see what you are getting prior to making a payment.

Nassau Plumbing and Sewer Rooter is a fully licensed and insured plumbing company. 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.

The History of Plumbing

Plumbing is one of the most important technological discoveries in the history of mankind. We rely on plumbing for hydration, waste management, cleaning and much more. Without it, the world as we know it would not exist. It took thousands of years and hundreds of innovations to get plumbing to where it is today. From the primitive plumbing systems of the Indus River to the complexity we see today, let's take a deeper look into the wonderful history of plumbing:

1700 B.C
The Indus River civilizations created the first sewage system on record. They used underground tunnels, wooden spouts and a grid system that was far ahead of their time.

312 B.C 
The Romans invented the aqueduct system to carry fresh water into the capital city. At their peak, the aqueducts were carrying over 1 billion liters of water a day!

1596 
John Harrington, the godson of Queen Elizabeth, invents the first flushing toilet in England. The original toilet was called “The John,” and that nickname still stands today.

1854 
A cholera outbreak in England forces governments around the world to take sewage seriously. A year later, Chicago became the first American city to build a comprehensive sewer system.

1890
The world's first drinking water treatment systems are built in Massachusetts to reduce microbial contamination. The techniques they invented there are still in existence today!

1920
Tank toilets emerged on the market and reduced previous water consumption by 40%. The tank was made possible when William E. Sloan invented the flush-o-meter 10 years prior. The flush-o-meter used the pressure from the water supply system to help flush waste down the drain. Both of these inventions helped conserve as much as 200 million gallons of water a day.

1966
Due to a copper shortage, plastic piping was invented as an alternative. Today, we refer to this plastic piping as PVC pipe.

Present
The plumbing industry employs close to 500,000 people per year and grossed over $100 billion dollars in 2015.

Looking for more information about modern day plumbing? 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.