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How much do you know about your plumbing? Test your knowledge by reading about these shocking facts!
Famous Plumbers
The famous video game brothers, Mario and Luigi, were both plumbers in all of their games. He was given the plumber profession since a majority of the original game scenes occurred underground and in sewers. Additionally, Albert Einstein has stated that if he were not a physicist, he would have chosen to be a plumber. He would have chosen this career path for the “modest degree of independence” he could have found. Albert Einstein was eventually named an honorary member of the Plumbers and Steamfitters Union, A.F.L., in Washington D.C.
Leaky Faucets
If you have a faucet, toilet, water heater, or virtually any other plumbing appliance that is leaking, you could be wasting more than 3,000 gallons of water every year.
The moral of this story is that if you ever notice a dripping sound or you visibly see a leak, you should call a plumber right away. They will be able to determine where the leak originated and provide a solution to make sure you’re not wasting thousands of gallons of water.
Super Bowl Flush
This phenomenon occurs during the Super Bowl when football fans flock to the bathroom at the same time during halftime and immediately after the game has ended. Whether toilets are actually flushed the most during this time is still up for debate, but some sewer systems have noticed dramatic drops in water levels during halftime and after the game as water is pulled from reservoirs to refill toilet bowls everywhere.
Copper Piping
In 1994, during the excavation of a 4,500-year-old pyramid, archeologists uncovered the remains of a sophisticated copper plumbing system. They believe that the copper pipes were used to drain water out of the tomb that had been used to clean statues. While the overall condition of the pyramid was poor, the copper pipes remained in good condition, which is a testament to the longevity of copper piping.
Due to its longevity, copper piping has become the primary material for modern day plumbing. In fact, more than 5.3 million miles of copper piping has been laid in buildings since 1963. That is enough copper piping to circle the earth 200 times!
DANGER!
Hot water can be one of the most dangerous elements in your home. According to xxx 3,800 injuries occur every year due to scalding from hot tap water. At 120 degrees Fahrenheit (the temperature that is recommended by most water heater manufacturers) it takes 5 minutes to burn your skin; at 140 degrees Fahrenheit (the default temperature for water heaters) it takes 6 seconds to burn your skin; and it takes only 2 seconds to burn your skin at 150 degrees Fahrenheit.
How Much Water Do We Use?
Bathtub - 36 gallons of water
Shower - 2-5 gallons of water per minute
Sink - 1-2 gallons of water per minute
Dishwasher - 6-16 gallons of water
Clothes Washer - 25-40 gallons per load
Toilet - 1-4 gallons of water per flush
Outdoor Watering - 2 gallons of water per minute.
Which Direction Does the Toilet Flush
There is a myth that in the southern hemisphere when you flush a toilet, the water swirls down the pipes in the opposite direction. People attribute this belief to gravity, but there is no truth to it. In reality, the direction that the water swirls is dictated by the direction of the bowl’s rim jets. So you can make the water swirl in either direction no matter which hemisphere you’re in.
If you ever need real life Mythbusters to solve your plumbing problems, give the experts at Coast Plumbing, Heating & Air a call. We offer services for your HVAC unit, your air quality, and your plumbing, so we will be able to solve all of your home's problems. Give us a call or visit our website for more information!