Matthew's Plumbing Service, Inc.

The Most Expensive Toilet
Here’s a fun plumbing fact! You might think that the world’s most expensive toilet is covered in gold (like the Hang Fung toilet), or comes from Japan (where toilets can warm your bum and talk to you), but you would be wrong.
The most expensive toilet in the world lives on the International Space Station. Costing a cool $19 million, this toilet not only straps astronauts in place, it sucks waste away into a tank where it is then converted into drinking water.

#3: Origin of the Word “Plumber”
The word plumber can be traced back to the Romans. The word comes from the Latin term “plumbum” which means lead. Romans who worked with lead were called “Plumbarius”, which has shortened over time to the word we use today.

Fact: Lightning can (and has!) traveled through plumbing because metal piping makes for excellent conductors. The same goes for water because it is laden with impurities that help conduct electrical current. Needless to say, it's probably best to skip that shower or bath during a major storm.

Joke of the day...Somebody broke into the police station and stole the only toilet in the building. Right now the cops are anxious to apprehend the perpetrator but they have nothing to go on.

One in four Americans with children escape to the bathroom to unwind.

When zinc is alloyed with copper, brass is made. And when tin is alloyed with copper, bronze is made. Both brass and bronze are stronger than pure copper and do not corrode in air or water except for a small amount of tarnishing.

Fun fact: Pipes haven't always been made of metal. In the 1800s, both Boston and Montreal used wooden pipes; they were logs that were hollowed out and tapered at the ends.

Although a conventional tank style water heater can last from 10 to 15 years, the U.S. Department of Energy recommends closely monitoring a water heater that is seven years old or older. Although failures at this stage are uncommon, they do occur, especially if the water heater hasn't been well maintained.

According to the experts, what's a safe temperature for your water heater? 120 degrees Fahrenheit is correct. This reduces the risk of scalding, and is particularly recommended for households that include young children or elderly individuals.

According to studies reported by the U.S. Department of Energy, a gas, tankless water heater can save up to 30 percent on energy over a conventional tank style water heater. These energy savings will pay for the added cost of the unit over time.

Tank style water heaters keep water hot 24 hours a day. Care to guess what percent of the average home energy bill is spent heating water for things like bathing, washing clothes and washing dishes? If you guessed from 14 to 18 percent, you're right.

Manhole covers are circular because if they’re turned sideways, they can’t fall through their own opening.

What is the average hot water use to clean a load of dishes in your dishwasher? If you guessed from 4 to 10 gallons, you're right. To maximize energy efficiency, wash dishes only when the dishwasher is full.

Heat pump water heaters operates by extracting heat from indoors, outdoors, or exhaust air and delivering it to the water. They can be used as a standalone water heater, or in combination with a space heating system.

An indirect water heater uses a storage tank that is connected to a building's furnace or boiler. A heat exchanger in the tank allows fluid in the boiler to warm the water. This allows the space heating system to turn on and off less often.

Solar Water Heating refers to the mechanism that converts the energy of the sun into heated water. This technology consists of a collector that attracts sunlight and converts it into heating solutions available for household or even commercial purposes.

In the 1880s, Norwegian engineer Edwin Rudd developed safety features for modern water heaters, making them useable in every-day homes. He brought his invention to the city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where his idea took root and flourished.

If you’re never fortunate enough to be the first person in the shower in the mornings, you may spend half your time under icy droplets. Let’s talk about the feasibility of upgrading your hot water heater.

What culture is widely believed to have invented the water heater? If you guessed the ancient Romans, you're right. They used lots of hot water for their communal baths, and developed complex water heating and delivery systems.

While it really isn’t a big surprise, the most commonly dropped item down a sink is jewelry. The soapy water you’re using to wash your dishes is probably going to slide your rings right off your fingers, so remember to either take off all your jewelry, or use a mesh guard in the sink while washing your dishes.

Electric water heaters typically feature two electric resistance elements, one at the top of the tank and one at the bottom. Separate thermostats control the elements. The upper element is used during periods of high water use.

A leaking toilet or dripping faucet can add hundreds of dollars to your water bill, not to mention wasting perfectly good water. Call us when you are ready to stop pouring money down the drain.

Solar water heaters are cost competitive when you account for the total energy costs over the life of the system. Although the initial cost of solar water heaters is higher than that of conventional water heaters, the fuel (sunshine) is free and infinite.

Did you know that on average 15 percent of residential consumer’s monthly water bills are due to preventable water leaks? Regular home plumbing inspections can catch these types of problems early, before they have a chance to get worse.

Is your water heater making rumbling noises or popping sounds? This could indicate potential problems. Typically, it’s a sign sediment from the water has built up in the bottom of the tank, which can cause overheating.

Who are the most famous plumbers ever? Mario and Luigi of course! Although they are only fictional characters and not real plumbers, they have been in over 200 games since Mario Bros was created in 1985.