3 AM Prices: Are You Paying for the Fix or the Panic?
Calling a plumber at 3 AM costs more, and that’s fair. Tripling the bill isn’t. What’s reasonable for after-hours plumbing, and what to do so you don’t panic-pay.
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Your Plumber Brought a Sidekick. Is the Sidekick Licensed?
Had a helper show up instead of the plumber? What to ask on the phone and at the door, and how to check a plumber’s license in Nassau and Suffolk.
Your Toilet Is Not a Toy Box
The only things that belong in the toilet are pee, poop, and toilet paper. What not to flush, why tank tablets wreck your flapper, and a toilet safety tip for parents.
“Flushable” Wipes Are Lying to You
Researchers tested 101 wipes, including 23 labeled flushable. Not one broke down. Here’s why they belong in the trash, plus the TikTok toilet hack that wrecks your flapper.
The Nice-House Tax: Did Your Plumber’s Price Go Up When He Heard Your Address?
Same clog, same 30 minutes, different price because of your zip code. How to spot the nice-house tax, what’s fair to charge more for, and New York’s credit card surcharge rules.
The Poopy Boots Test: One Thing That Tells You Everything About a Plumber
A plumber who walks onto your rug in the same boots he wore to unclog someone else’s toilet is telling you something. Here’s the Clean Boots Checklist.
Your Pipes Don’t Know You’re on Vacation
Going away this winter? Leave the heat on. How to keep pipes from freezing on Long Island, where to shut off the water if one bursts, and cheap gadgets that buy you time.