Read on for Some Odd, but True, Plumbing Fun Facts
We may think of indoor plumbing as a modern invention, but it dates back over 5,000 years. Ancient civilizations used running water in many ways to improve their quality of life. While those pipes in the home may seem like humble, simple systems, they are an integral part of history and vital to our modern way of life. In this article, plumbing experts share some interesting facts that date back to the beginning of our nation.
Toilet Milestones Through American History
Tremont Hotel was the first hotel in America to have indoor plumbing. In 1829, the hotel installed eight water closets on the first floor in addition to readily available cold water in the kitchen and bathing rooms. The hotel had indoor plumbing before almost any wealthy private residence, causing nearby elites to make weekly trips to the hotel with the whole family to bathe.Joseph Gayetty is credited for inventing toilet paper in 1850. The company logo was proudly printed on each sheet, and the paper was delivered to consumers in flat packages. His “medical paper” also claimed to treat hemorrhoids. Before Gayetty’s product was available, Americans used newspapers, moss, stones, and government flyers to clean after doing the deed.
In 1851 Millard Filmore was the first president to have flush toilets installed in The White House, two years after the product became widely available. The toilet hadn’t just been invented, however. The concept goes back to Egyptian times, and the design slowly improved throughout the years amid public scorn of having the outhouse installed indoors.
8 Fun Facts About Toilets
- On average, humans use the restroom 2,500 times in one year.
- Flushing the toilet can release germs into the air for up to 6 feet.
- Sitting on the toilet too long can cause hemorrhoids in later years.
- The most expensive toilet is currently orbiting Earth in the International Space Station. It cost $19 million to develop.
- The first-recorded air freshener for the toilet was a pomegranate stuffed with cloves.
- The average person will spend a total of three years on the toilet throughout their lives.
- 3 out of 4 Americans install the toilet roll with the flap facing them
- Statistics show there are currently more cell phones in homes than toilets
Toilets Aren’t the Only Plumbing Wonders of the World
Copper pipes have been found in Egyptian plumbing and are still used in bathrooms today. If one connected all the copper pipes installed since the 1960s in one long tube, it would wind about the Earth 200 times.
The modern outdoor sprinkler system was first invented in 1871 by Joe Lessler of Buffalo, New York. The original garden hoses were derived from fire suppression hoses which date back to the Romans, who made them with ox intestines.
At the start of WWII, cast iron sinks were in high demand for their corrosion resistance. As the government started to claim all iron and steel for the war effort, sink fabricators were forced to consider alternative materials, leading to stainless steel and porcelain products.
About Henco Plumbing Services
Henco Plumbing Services is a family-owned plumbing company in Vancouver, WA. They value long-term relationships with their customers and strive to solve plumbing issues the first trip by keeping their trucks well-stocked. Henco Plumbing Services promises honest consulting, fair prices, and 100% satisfaction guaranteed. Call today and talk to an experienced technician about any plumbing needs in Vancouver.
