15 Interesting & Worldly Plumbing Facts

Reading Time: 4 minutes

The world of plumbing is so much more than just unclogging drains and fixing unwanted leaks. World Plumbing Day is celebrated internationally each year on March 11th. This day was initiated by the World Plumbing Council to recognize the significant role plumbing plays in society. These complex systems aren’t only important to keeping our homes safe, they greatly contribute to our overall health too.

At Art Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Electric, we take the plumber’s role in society seriously. Our plumbing professionals understand how important safe plumbing is for your health. To celebrate World Plumbing Day, we’ve put together 15 interesting and worldly plumbing facts.

1. A Leaking Faucet Wastes Over a Gallon of Water A Week

As plumbing professionals, we know a lot about unwanted leaks. Unwanted leaks can be a pain for a number of reasons, but most importantly, they can cause your water bill to skyrocket if left unattended. For example, if you have a leaking faucet that drips only two times per minute, this can use over a gallon of water in one week.

2. The Flushing Toilet Was Invented by John Harrington In 1596

Have you ever wondered why we refer to the toilet as “The John”? This nickname came about because of the inventor of the flushing toilet – John Harrington. John invented the flushing toilet in 1596, which is over 500 years ago!

3. Don’t Set Your Hot Water Heater to Higher Than 125 °F.

Hot water can be extremely dangerous if not handled correctly. You should never set your hot water heater to more than 125 °F because water that is 140 °F can burn your skin in seconds. Moreover, water that is 160 °F can burn your skin in less than half a second.

4. The Average Person Spends 3 Years of Their Life On The Toilet

Every person in the world has to use the toilet every day. But how long exactly do we spend on the toilet in our lifetime? The average person is estimated to spend three years of their life sitting on the toilet.

5. Installing A Low Flush Toilet Saves Water

We should all be more water conscious. Try installing a low-flush toilet and you can save as much as 18,000 gallons of water each year!

6. Boston Was the First U.S. City To Have Indoor Plumbing

In 1829, the Tremont Hotel in Boston was the first hotel in the United States to have indoor plumbing. Although archeologists have found evidence that the Egyptians had indoor plumbing that dates back to 2500 B.C.

7. There Are Two Different Types of Plungers

In the world of plumbing, there are two different types of plungers. A toilet plunger and a shower/sink plunger. The toilet plunger has a narrow bottom that fits in the toilet bowl to unblock the toilet. Whereas the shower/sink plunger is flat. To get the best results, it’s key to use the right type of plunger for the issue.

8. Albert Einstein Wanted to Be A Plumber In Another Life

It is reported that Albert Einstein wanted to be a plumber if he had the chance to do it all over again. Because of this, the Plumbers and Steamfitters Union have made him an honorary member.

9. The Ballcock Is the Floating Mechanism In Your Toilet Water Tank

Did you ever wonder what the floating mechanism in your toilet’s water tank is called? It’s called a ballcock and it controls the flow of water in your toilet.

10. Al Moen Invented the Single-Handle Faucet

The single-handle faucet that can control hot and cold water in one turn is revolutionary! And this was invented by a man named Al Moen in 1939. Today Moen continues to be one of the most widely recognized names in the bathroom and kitchen faucet industry.

11. The French Term for Bathroom Means “Smelly House”

The “bathroom” has many different names across a number of different cultures. The most interesting name is “la chamber sent” used by the French. Which directly translated means “smelly house”.

12. Insulating Your Pipes Saves Water

By insulating your pipes, you’re saving water by using less time waiting for your water to heat up. This reduces the amount of heat lost as the water travels from your heater to your faucet.

13. Manhole Covers Are Round So the Lid Never Falls Through

Manhole covers were strategically made to be round so that when they are turned sideways, they can’t fall through the hole. No one wants to go digging through the sewers to retrieve the cover!

14. The Primary Material Used in Plumbing Is Copper

Copper piping is used as the primary material for indoor plumbing. This is what most of our home’s pipes are made of.

15. Mario and Luigi from Super Mario Are Plumbers

It’s officially cool to be a plumber! A little-known fact is that Mario and Luigi from the video game Super Mario Brothers were plumbers by profession.

Get The Best Professional Plumbing Help with Art Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Electric

Making sure your home plumbing is working as it should be is of the utmost importance for the health and safety of your family. If you’re looking for the best professional plumbing help, look no further than Art Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Electric. We even offer emergency plumbing services to support you in your time of need. Schedule an appointment with a plumber today – call us at 1-800-475-1504!