Have You Ever Heard These Strange But True American Plumbing Tidbits?
America has long been at the forefront of innovative inventions in many industries. And this July 4th is a great time to celebrate American innovation by looking at American plumbing facts. Anyone who stops to think about all the work that went into making plumbing systems possible - or anyone who has ever worked on plumbing - can appreciate these fun and patriotic plumbing facts!
American Plumbing History
One of the first buildings in American that had plumbing as we know it today was the Tremont Hotel. Also known as the Tremont House, the building was located in one of the most famous American cities: Boston. The ingenious plumbing system included a tank on top of the building that used gravity to pressurize the pipes. It had running water to sinks, toilets, the kitchen, and even to a laundry room! For anyone living in the 1800s, this was the epitome of luxury!
And speaking of the 19th century, in the middle of the 1800s, an American man named Joseph Gayetty was credited with the invention of toilet paper. This wasn’t anything like the toilet paper that people use today. Back then, it was called “medicated paper.” Gayetty’s invention was made out of Manila hemp with some aloe added. It’s hard to imagine living without this American invention!
Toilet Facts
While it wasn’t an American that invented the first toilet, this country is at the forefront of plumbing, waste management, and sanitation today. In some countries, a toilet is considered a luxury. Some estimations state that nearly 2.5 billion people don’t have access to adequate toilets. Thankfully, for most in America, this isn’t the case.
But toilets weren’t always the norm here. The White House didn’t have its first flush toilet until 1853. President Millard Fillmore was in office when the installation happened twenty years after the White House had running water. It wasn’t until Franklin Pierce took office after Fillmore that the White House had a modern bathroom.
Other Fun Facts
While most people think about indoor plumbing, there are some interesting outdoor plumbing facts, too. For instance, the first lawn sprinkler was patented in 1871 by an American named Joseph Lessler. But lawn sprinklers weren’t in wide use until the growth of the booming suburbs in the middle of the 20th century.
It’s also kind of neat to think about how much plumbing is in America. After all, if every house has indoor plumbing, how much piping can there be? The answer: an estimated 5.3 million miles. With that amount of copper pipe, one could encircle the entire earth more than 200 times! Imagine how much there is in the entire world!
And last but not least, a young American man named Al Moen invented the single-handle faucet after burning himself with a double-handle faucet. He figured out a way to control both hot and cold water with a single faucet!
About Befort Plumbing & Heating
The professionals at Befort Plumbing & Heating have served Aurora, CO for years. They offer upfront pricing and punctual technicians. They also provide financing options and a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Call now for plumbing service!
