Plumbing Facts Too Wacky To Be True!
In the wake of Independence Day, it'd be fun to explore some of the strange facts about plumbing and its part in American and world history. Believe it or not; plumbing isn't a new invention; it's been around for a very long time.
Let's get into some Wacky facts about the plumbing industry:
- The word plumbing comes from the Latin word Plumbum, which is the reason lead is abbreviated P.B.
- People can trace plumbing back to 3000 B.C; the people of the Indus River Valley dug trenches from the river to their towns to provide easy access to running water.
- The most famous plumbers in the world are video game characters. They are the face of Nintendo, Mario, and Luigi and have appeared in hundreds of Nintendo games over a few decades.
- The Romans lined their plumbing system with lead, even the pipes that carried water.
- Albert Einstein was a big fan of plumbers and was made an honorary member of the plumbers and steamfitters union.
Plumbing and Its Role in American History
While some form of plumbing services have been around for an incredibly long time, indoor plumbing is a new phenomenon and has only been in America since the early 1800s.Here are a couple of cool historical facts about the plumbing industry in America:
- Tremont Hotel opened its doors in Boston on October 16th, 1829. It's what most considered the very first modern hotel and was the hotel to have indoor plumbing.
- Joseph Gayetty is the American inventor who came up with the first commercial rolls of toilet paper and was the only manufacturer from 1857 to 1890.
- While indoor plumbing had been in the white house since 1820, it wasn't until Millard Fillmore took office that it got its first flushable toilet and took its first real steps into the modern plumbing era.
Fast Toilet Trivia
Toilets are a modern convenience that almost everyone in the world has the luxury of enjoying, but how much do people know about it? Here are a few facts that many homeowners might not know.
- The world's first flushable toilet was patented by Alexander cumming in 1775, which means the toilet is older than the United States.
- King George II died after falling off his toilet.
- There are many different pet names for toilets, including John, privy, lavatory, khazi, and bog. The list is quite extensive; these aren't even a quarter of the nicknames out there.
- While most of the world has the luxury of modern toilets, it's estimated that 2.6 billion people worldwide lack access to running water, let alone modern toilets.
All the Other Plumbing Facts You Should Know
There is a lot to talk about when it comes to plumbing, and while covering everything won't be possible, let's get into some fun facts about everything plumbing.
- Stainless steel is the best material to use for sinks; they are long-lasting, durable, and won't cost an arm and a leg.
- Homeowners don't have to wait for hot water to heat up. A recirculating valve can be installed and instantly deliver hot water to the faucet.
- The circular design of manhole covers is so that they can't fall through their hole.
- Insulating pipes can reduce heat lost in water traveling through to the faucet.
About Ira Hansen and Sons Plumbing
Ira Hansen and Sons Plumbing is a family-run business that's served Reno, NV for over 30 years, offering 24-hour service, seven days a week, and a no-hassle process to keep things simple, fast, and efficient. Contact them today for plumbing services across Reno.
