05/10/2025
Call us at 231-780-5062 to set up an appointment for your plumbing needs. In the meantime, here’s some fun facts about Plumbing. 
1. Etymology: The word “plumbing” comes from the word plumbum, which is Latin for the element Lead. This is also why Lead is abbreviated as Pb on the periodic table.
2. First uses: The Tremont Hotel in Boston became the country’s first hotel to incorporate indoor plumbing in 1829.
3. Plumbing in America: Since 1963, there has been enough copper piping installed in American homes to wrap around the Earth 200 times – about 5.3 million miles worth.
4. Invention & patents: The first patent for a flushing toilet was issued in 1775 to a man named Alexander Cummings. However, he was not the first man to invent flushing a toilet. A man named John Harrington did this in 1596, which is why we sometimes refer to the bathroom as “the John”.
5. Water waste: Think a leaky faucet is no big deal? Think again. A faucet that drips just once per second can waste more than 3,000 gallons of water per year.
6. Toilet usage: The toilet is flushed more times during the Super Bowl halftime than any other time during the year.
7. Normal people vs. barbarians (just kidding): 75% of people prefer to position the toilet paper with the flap in the front (overhand) as opposed to in the back (underhand). There has been considerable debate over which way is correct.
8. Plumbing as a profession: Albert Einstein said if he could do it all again, he would be a plumber.
9. Sewage systems: Manhole covers are circular so that they can’t fall through the hole when turned sideways.
10. Bonus fun fact: Mario and Luigi are both plumbers.
