How to Hang Outdoor Christmas Lights!

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NEW YORK

631-447-5252

Decorating your house with lights is one of the oldest traditions of the upcoming holiday season.  With the cold weather, snow and ice this could be a dangerous task.  Lowe’s offers some helpful tips on how to safely hang your outdoor lights, safely and properly to create the perfect holiday atmosphere.  

The first thing you’re going to want to do is to plan your project before you buy anything.  Measure your target areas that you would like to decorate with lights, but also keep in mind the distance to the nearest power outlet.  After calculating your measurements its time to decide which type of bulbs you would like to use.  An inexpensive option can be incandescent mini lights, which are sold in various lengths that hold from 50 to over 300 lights.  A newer option for outdoor decorating is LED (light-emitting diode) lights.  They give off a bright white light and remain cool even after hours of use.  LEDs are more expensive but ultimately save you money in the long run because they are 90% more energy-efficient and last thousands of hours longer.  

Whatever your choice all light strands should be UL-listed and rated for outdoor use, and choosing the same brand for all your lights will ensure consistent results.  After purchasing your lights, you’ll need some other supplies to help you hang them.  For example you’ll need hardware such as specialty hooks and clamps that make it easy to attach lights to gutters, window trip and door frames.  Basic hand tools are usually necessary to install most of this hard ware.  

Outdoor extension cords will bring power to lights in hard to reach places.  A ladder is essential if you plan on getting lights on your roof.  Finally some people like to use a timer to automatically turn on the lights when it becomes dark out.  Remember to take the proper safety precautions before hanging your lights.  If possible try to work during the daylight and work with a helper.  Unwrap all lights and untangle cords before you start and avoid driving nails into cords or attaching cords with staples.  Follow all these tips and your holiday season will be accompanied by a beautifully decorated house that embraces the Christmas season.

Health Concerns with Sewage in Sandy Aftermath

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NEW YORK

631-447-5252

Two weeks after super storm Sandy hit, the damage still remains.  When the storm first hit the treatment pumps at the Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant stopped working when it got flooded,

The solution was to divert raw sewage into the Rockaway channel to avoid excess backups into homes.   The sewage has only been partially treated as it continues to pump into the channel.  The raw sewage that is going into the plant is being treated and chlorinated, but the secondary systems are still down.  It was estimated that over nine feet of water rushed ashore during Sandy and caused massive destruction.  Raw sewage gushed up from the streets and drains like fountains and it rose up into residents’ basements. 

The damaged caused by this partially treated sewage could have lasting effects on the environment. The Bay Park plant that is only partially operational normally treats over 550,000 home in Nassau County.  Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano says “the county has the Department of Environmental Conservation and the Army Corps of Engineers at the plant, actively creating temporary cleansing station while they rebuild the plant.”  Part of the restoration plan will include developing new ways to make the plant flood-proof.

The plant isn't back to its normal operating efficiency, and most likely won’t be for 6 month up to a full year.

Nassau Diverting Sewage

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NEW YORK

631-447-5252

Sewage systems all over Long Island have been experiencing catastrophic failures caused by the recent super storm Sandy.  Particularly Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant, which recently experienced massive failures causing sewage to be backed up into nearby homes.  This plant has increased its workload from the average 70 million gallons of influent it normally treats to 85 million gallons, in an attempt to relieve the faulty system.  Nassau County Executive Ed Mangano assures that workers have been successful in diverting this mess away from local residents.  But the plant is still experiencing significant problems, including two breached piping systems that are allowing sewage to spew out.  In addition a county vehicle collapsed into a sinkhole and is sinking onto one of the pipes in East Rockaway.  

The county issued a Public Health Emergency on Wednesday in response to the plant failure caused by the storm.  There is also an order to conserve drinking water that will remain in effect for at least the next few days.  Residents south of the Long Island Expressway, from the Queens Border to the Meadowbrook State Parkway, are included in the water conservation order with the exception of Cedarhurst and Lawrence.  The water in the area has been tested and determined safe to drink, the only areas impacted by the restrictions of contamination are in Long Beach and Mill Neck.  The massive failures at the Bay Park plant encouraged the county to initiate a three-part migration plan that includes up to 30 days of triage repairs and six to twelve months of comprehensive repair of the entire facility.  

All resources are being exhausted in the attempt to make these communities safe and return them to their normal states.  This process will take a lot of time and effort but it will be completed.  

Have you experience trouble with your sewage system since Hurricane Sandy? Let us know on our Facebook page, linked HERE! 

Sewer Systems Affected From Hurricane Sandy

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NEW YORK

631-447-5252

In the aftermath of any hurricane, it is very common to experience difficulties with your sewage systems not functioning properly.  Some septic systems operate using a dosing pump, which will not work without electricity.  

The loss of electricity is one of the most common effects from a hurricane, so this could be a common problem.  You should avoid using water in your home as much as possible until the electric turns back on.  Without electricity and a properly working pump, the tanks may fill and cause backups of sewage into your home.  When this occurs your entire home can become saturated and become unsafe to occupy.  Heavy rainfall from hurricanes may result in flood waters that are contaminated with sewage.  

These overflows can take a significant amount of time to clean and can be dangerous to encounter.  Minor spills require immediate attention; regular garden lime from a garden shop can be a quick and easy remedy.  Major floods need to be handled by professionals and rescue crews.  In the event of major floods one should evacuate immediately until the area is cleared.