Somehow it seems the plumbing and piping industry attracts a lot of jokes and funny scenarios (guess we never grow out of our penchant for potty humor!). We’ve done posts on plumbing quotes, fun facts about famous plumbers and plumbing history – now Progressive Plumbing and Piping has compiled some of the most entertaining links about plumbing that we’ve come across. Enjoy!
Using everything from 18 hotdogs to 3 lbs. of large gummi bears, St. Thomas Creations tests their toilets with one question in mind: “Will it flush?” But they’re not the only ones pursuing this question that (apparently) plagues curious minds everywhere. There’s also a YouTube series testing public toilets with the same question.
Here’s something you don’t see every day: a toilet waterfall covering a huge wall in China (no, not that wall in China). The waterfall was made for a ceramic festival and uses all sorts of toilets and sinks.
The online magazine HowStuffWorks brings us the Top 10 Moments in Space Bathroom History. Gems from the list include a wearable toilet, a urine-icicle and outer-space toilet debris that looked like a meteor shower.
Video: Toilet flushes, dog goes berserk. Aptly titled, “Dog Hates This Toilet.”
So, the cause behind The Big Squat is a really good (and serious) one. But it’s a undeniably funny way to raise awareness.
While these links are pretty funny, plumbing emergencies are no laughing matter! Call the company that takes your plumbing and piping repairs seriously. Contact Progressive Plumbing next time you have a plumbing predicament.
It’s winter, so I hope you have your hot water heater up and running (otherwise, your morning shower has got to be a miserable experience)! But it’s hard to prepare for the unexpected, and if your hot water heater has gone caput, you’ll want to act fast to replace it. How do you know what hot water heater is right for your Raleigh home?
Measure the space where the heater will be installed. If there’s not a lot of room available, you’ll probably want to go with a tankless water heater.
Are you going green? Choose a more energy-efficient hot water heater like a tankless heater or a solar thermal heater.
Consider your home energy source. Buy a hot water heater designed to work with your energy source, like gas or propane.
Check the warranty (but I didn’t need to tell you that, did I?).
We’ll leave you with this video with tips on installing a water heater, and a reminder to call Progressive Plumbing and Piping for your home water heater installation!
Sometimes, you don’t want to deal with major overhauls and home renovations. Wouldn’t it be nice to make some changes at home in just a few minutes? That’s what we thought. That’s why your local Raleigh plumbers at Progressive Plumbing and Piping have collected some tips for some plumbing repairs you can easily do by yourself in just a couple steps. Ready? Here we go:
Weak shower flow? It’s often not a problem with the plumbing itself, but a sign that the showerhead is clogged with mineral deposits. How do you get rid of the gunk? Unscrew the showerhead from the pipe and soak it in vinegar overnight. Should be good as new!
Leaky Toilet? Water leaking from the toilet base can usually be stopped by tightening the closet bolts that hold the toilet down. First pry off the caps that cover the bolts, then use a wrench to tighten each bolt.
Inconsistent faucet flow? If water comes out of your faucet in bursts instead of a steady stream, it may be the result of a clogged faucet aerator. Just unscrew the part that covers the mouth of the faucet, remove the screen and run water through it until it’s clear of mineral deposits.
That was fast, huh? And remember, if you have bigger plumbing problems facing you, call the experts at Progressive Plumbing and Piping! We’re local to Raleigh, available 24/7 and would love to serve you!
Does your business have a dependable Raleigh plumbing contractor that you trust for the maintenance and repair of your piping and plumbing? Progressive Plumbing and Piping is a locally owned and operated company serving the Triangle area. We’d love to serve all your commercial plumbing needs – call us 24/7 to speak to a live plumbing professional – you’ll never get an answering machine.
Here are a few of the way we serve our commercial clients:
Plumbing isn’t always serious – in fact, there’s a whole bunch of fun things to learn about plumbing if you do a little digging. It is, after all, the occupation of Mario and Luigi (Nintendo’s Mario Brothers). Here are some plumbing facts we found interesting:
Famous and often controversial rockstar Ozzy Osbourne was a plumber’s apprentice before getting into the music industry.
The word “plumber” dates all the way back to the Roman Empire. In Rome, pipes were originally made from lead, which is “plumbum” in Latin. People who worked with lead were called Plumbarius, which was eventually shortened to the word we use today.
At 140 degrees, it takes five seconds for water to burn skin. At 160 degrees, it takes only half of a second. Home hot water systems should be set to no hotter than 125 degrees.
In Japan, some urinals have voice-activated flushing mechanisms. The urinals respond to several commands, including “fire.”
The term “plumbers” was a popular name given to the covert White House Special Investigations Unit established during the presidency of Richard Nixon in response to the leaked “Pentagon Papers” documents. Their job was to plug intelligence leaks in the U.S. Government relating to the Vietnam War; hence the term “plumbers”.
Sir John Harington is credited with inventing the flushable toilet in 1596, hence the American nickname for it, “the john.”
As we head into autumn, there are a few preventative measures you can take to steer clear of cold-weather plumbing hassles. Do these things before the freezing temperatures hit and save yourself a headache come winter!
Pay some special attention to your water heater – it’ll be working harder during colder months. Flush out your heater and remove any buildup (it reduces efficiency).
Set the thermostat on your water heater to 120 degrees for best performance.
Disconnect outdoor water hoses. If the hoses stay connected and water inside them freezes, it can cause connecting pipes to crack or break.
Check for drips or leaks from outside faucets. If you find a leak, call Progressive Plumbing and Piping. We’ll fix it, preventing freezing water from causing pipe breaks later on.
Insulate pipes that are exposed to cold temperatures, like in the basement or garage.
Now that you’ve checked off this list, go enjoy the fall weather!
