Are you a plumbing enthusiast? Did you know that in ancient Rome, the plumbing system was considered one of the most impressive feats of engineering? Or that Benjamin Franklin invented the water closet?
Did you know that the average person uses more than 100 barrels of water per day in their home? That's a lot of water!
And while many people are aware of the basics when it comes to conserving water - like turning off the leaky faucet while brushing their teeth - there are plenty of other interesting plumbing truths that homeowners should be knowledgeable about.
So, without further ado, here are 16 interesting plumbing facts that everyone should know!
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The invention of plumbing dates back to 4,000 years ago. The Minoan Palace on Crete is the oldest known building with sewage and water systems.
All of the copper piping was concealed from view in the walls, just as it is today. They even had a flushing latrine and taps with both hot and cold running water.
The Romans continued the practice of plumbing, constructing huge viaducts to provide water to their cities.
They had large sewage systems under their towns that rivaled many modern city infrastructures until the 19th Century in terms of size and complexity.
Unfortunately, much of this technology was lost in the centuries following the fall of the Roman Empire, and it wasn't until approximately the 16th Century that Europe rediscovered the principle of municipal water and sewerage.
If you think plumbing is all about fixing clogged toilets and leaky pipes, think again! It is a complex system that involves a variety of skilled tradespeople, from plumbers to pipefitters.
Here are 16 interesting fun facts about plumbing and tips about it:
Before he was a world-renowned physicist, Albert Einstein live his life as a plumbing apprentice in Italy.
While he didn't finish his training, he did develop an early interest in physics while working with home fixtures.
There are about 480,600 plumbers in the United States, each one playing an important role in keeping our homes and businesses running smoothly.
Mario and Luigi are two video game characters who work as plumbers.
With a $107 billion market value in 2021, the industry is ranked 5th among all construction industries and 98th in the United States according to market size.
The plumbers' employment prospects look promising. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that plumbers and related occupations will have a 14 percent average job growth over the next 10 years, while other industries will only experience 5 percent growth.
There are about 35,300 plumbers in Texas, which is the third most of any state.
Charlie Mullins, the creator and former CEO of Pimlico Company, has earned a significant amount of money and praise since skipping school at the age of 9 to assist a local plumber in West London.
While the average salary for a plumber is $55,000 per year in the United States, certain jobs can over $100,000 per year.
Around 820 million people in India's population of 1.3 billion do not have access to clean water in their homes.
In 1900, not all new residences had home plumbing. In a 40-year period, it appeared incredible that the amount of home plumbing has risen from 20% to 55%. It was found in only 1% of the houses in 1900.
Leaks in the average home can waste 10,000 each year and 10% of households have leaks that waste 90 or more gallons every day.
In 1829, the Tremont Hotel in Boston became the United States' first hotel to have it.
We should all strive to be more water conscious. Installing a low-flush toilet might help you save up to 18,000 gallons of it each year!
Flushing latrines to sewer lines were not as popular when they began to be used earnestly. Before the flushing toilet was created, there were outhouses that were separate from the main house.
Rich people and locations that rich people visited started installing an early variant of the modern pooty in the early 1900s. In the 1700s, before toilet paper was a thing, corncobs were used as an alternative.
The "Cloaca Maxima" was the first sewer system built in Rome in 800 B.C.
According to a poll of water use and cost in 30 locations throughout the US, the residential plumbing industry has significant disparities between cities and states.
We, as plumbers, understand a great deal about leaking pipes. Unwanted leaks can be inconvenient for a variety of reasons, but their most significant drawback is that if left unchecked, they may dramatically raise your water costs.
Have you ever wondered as to why we call the toilet "The John"? John Harrington, the inventor of the flushing lavatory, is credited with inventing this name. In 1596, John invented the flushing latrine, which is more than 500 years old!
The other nickname for the toilet came from Thomas Crapper, who was responsible for helping the flushing toilet to become popular.
The industry is fascinating and there is a lot that everyone should know about it.
From its history to the different aspects of the industry, plumbing is an interesting topic that is worth learning more about.
We hope you enjoyed reading these plumbing truths and that you now have a better understanding of this important industry!
