Plumbers are often under-appreciated. Surely most people don’t even give them a thought until they have an emergency like a clogged drain, a blocked sewer line, a leaky water heater or another plumbing issue in their home, office or commercial building. All of those problems are disruptive and inconvenient.
We all generally understand what plumbers do, don’t we? Just in case, the job of a plumber covers a wide range of work, from the original construction of plumbing systems in new homes, apartments, office, retail and industrial buildings, and the service, maintenance and repair work on that plumbing system once it’s all in place. Some older systems require significant upkeep or maintenance. A plumber will maintain and repair plumbing fixtures, water and gas piping and water waste and sewerage lines, and the plumbing of appliances used in those buildings. When you really appreciate a plumber, though, is when they snap into action when you have an emergency – be it a leaking water pipe, a broken water pipe, a clogged disposal, a clogged sink, a blocked bathtub drain, a blocked floor drain, a clogged sewer line or a clogged toilet.
If you have ever tried to find a great plumber – someone who can respond to an emergency like a clogged sink drain when they say they will – then you understand their value. Finding that great plumber is sometimes hard, but when you call 1-800-CLOG-MASTER you automatically get a highly qualified plumber who will respond on time with the knowledge and tools to get the job done so you can get back to your normal routine.
Interestingly, plumbing and plumbing issues like clogged drains and clogged sewer lines aren’t necessarily a modern problem. As far back as 2700 B.C. plumbing systems were used in Greek, Roman, Persian, Indian and Chinese civilizations. Plumbing was very common in public baths. Tradesmen who installed the plumbing were also the same people who came to the rescue in emergencies when pipes and drains became blocked and clogged and work had to be performed to clear the blockage and clogs.
Romans are well known to have used lead pipes to deliver water to their cities. Lead was also used for sewer lines, as well as clay sewer lines. Over time, as plumbing systems developed, a wide variety of materials were used. For example, besides lead and clay, sewer lines were made of hollowed wooden logs held together with steel bands. Clay, stone and even bamboo was used for other early water supply lines and drain lines. Today water supply lines are commonly made of brass, copper and plastic. Drain lines, sewer lines to septic systems and sewer systems are made of cast iron, clay and PVC or other plastic materials.
Besides clogged sewer lines, clogged sinks and blocked disposals, one of the most disconcerting types of plumbing fixtures to be clogged is a toilet. Modern toilets now use less water to for each flush and are very susceptible to blockage and clogs. But it is a problem that ancient plumbers also had to deal with. Almost 3,000 years ago, the king of Crete had one of the first flushing fore runners of a toilet. That means plumbers have a trade tradition reaching back thousands of years. The first “toilets” similar to what we would recognize were probably used as early as 1596 when Sir John Harrington invented and built a flushing (and probably clogging) toilet for Queen Elizabeth 1st of England. The first flushing toilet patent was issued to Alexander Cummings around 1775. As it was realized that poor sanitary conditions caused disease, the development of the toilet and modern sewer systems was promoted for the public benefit. By 1829 indoor plumbing was first installed in a hotel.
By 1910 the two-piece toilet consisting of a bowl and a tank became practical. As society became more affluent and urban areas developed with reliable water and sewer systems, sanitary disposal systems, toilets and sewer lines became commonplace. All the while plumbers stood ready to clear blocked sewer lines, unclog drains and open clogged toilets.
As should be obvious now, they may not have always been called “plumbers,” but plumbers have been around for a very long time to install and repair water lines, sewer lines, waste disposal lines and gas systems in all types of residential, institutional and commercial buildings. The same plumbers who install plumbing fixtures such as bathtubs, showers, sinks, and toilets and appliances are also at the ready, when needed to:
- Clear blocked sewer lines
- Unclog sinks
- Remove clogs in toilets
- Replace cracked pipes
- Repair or empty septic lines or tanks
The next time you need to find a reputable licensed plumber in your area, call 1-800-CLOG-MASTER.