7 Things You Didn’t Know About Plumbing

Plumbing is a mystery to many homeowners. It’s something we mostly take for granted when it’s working properly, but then we panic when anything goes wrong.

To help reduce the mysterious nature of home plumbing and to help you gain a better understanding of what’s going on in your home’s pipes, here’s a look at seven things you most likely didn’t know about plumbing:

History: Some may think of plumbing as a relatively modern convenience, but signs of plumbing date back more than 5,000 years. Back then, the people of the Indus River Valley used pipes made of earth to move wastewater away from living areas.
Chicago’s Struggles: The earlier years of indoor plumbing in Chicago were rife with challenges. Small lake fish drew near to the shore of Lake Michigan and entered into intake pipes. Minnows were cooked into the city’s hot water reservoir and then they poured out of faucets — which led Chicagoans to call their drinking water “chowder.”
Manhole Covers: City plumbing systems are typically accessed through manhole covers seen on streets. Have you ever wondered why these manhole covers are round rather than square or rectangle? It’s because a round manhole cover cannot fit through the opening and fall down on top of a person — whereas it would be possible for a square or rectangular cover to do so.
Johns: Flushing toilets first appeared in the late 1500s, invented by a man named John Harrington. That’s why toilets are often called “Johns.”
The Southern Hemisphere: There’s a myth that toilets swirl one way in the Northern Hemisphere and another in the Southern Hemisphere. Sadly, this is a myth. Toilets can flow either way in either hemisphere, depending on their construction.
Drips to Gallons: Unconcerned about a leaky faucet in your home? Well, consider that a faucet that’s dripping just once a minute will become a gallon of wasted water over the course of two weeks.
The Power of Insulation: Are you looking for one easy way to save money through plumbing? If you insulate your home’s pipes, less heat is lost during transfer and you’ll use less water by waiting a shorter period of time for your hot water to arrive.

If you’re still dealing with plumbing mysteries and you need help from a professional, call on Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Oneida. We offer plumbing installation, maintenance and repair services. We’re always here to answer questions or provide expert guidance as you make decisions about your home’s plumbing system or when you’re experiencing issues.