Who put the flush toilet on the map? Or how did they convey water in ancient times, long before pipes were to be found under every street? One might like to know what plumbing has been through in the past hundred years or so.
We have seen our share of that history at Dallas Plumbing & Air Conditioning. Being in the business of pipe repair in North Texas since 1903 puts us among the state’s most venerable and longest running plumbing and air conditioning firms. We would be happy to take your call at 214-227-9459 should the occasion arise. But we will put off that for a moment and tell you about some of the trade’s more entertaining history.
Plumbing Is Older Than You Would Imagine
“Plumbing” is derived from plumbum, the Latin for lead; hence the Pb you will find for lead on the periodic table. The Romans had their plumbers to work with the lead pipes that brought water into the city. So if anyone is quick to quip that plumbing is a modern invention, set them straight on the fact it is a profession of thousands of years.
Then there are the aqueducts the Romans put up to transport water by way of gravity and good engineering over considerable distances. Some remain to this day. You have to be humbled by the ingenuity required to do such things without the benefit of electricity or anything modern.
Thomas Crapper Did Not Invent the Flush Toilet
Folks are often taken aback by this. With his name, Thomas Crapper makes an easy story to tell and many will ascribe the flush toilet to him. In reality it was Sir John Harington who came up with an early version of one in the latter part of the 1500s. Crapper had his share of plumbing patents and made improvements in the 1800s that saw the flush toilet become a household fixture, but he does not get credit for its invention.
Some other milestones in plumbing that are worth knowing:
- It was not until the 1800s that major cities put in place modern sewer systems.
- By the end of the 19th century, having standardized threaded pipes meant installations and repairs were no trouble at all.
- Most Americans had to wait for the 20th century to have indoor plumbing.
- The water heater in its present form was being developed in the 1880s.
- For generations cast iron was the material of choice in homes until something better came along.
The State of Things When We Opened in 1903
Indoor plumbing was still something of a luxury in a good many Texas homes when the Dallas Plumbing Company got started. You would not have come across many cars and there was no such thing as air conditioning. People made do with outdoor wells and pumps or hauled their water.
All these years later we are still family owned, with the third and fourth generation at the helm. We have put down roots in this community for more than a century and have the knowledge to show for it.
A Century of Change
You can see it in the materials. There is plenty of galvanized steel and cast iron in older houses, while the newer build has copper and plastic that will not corrode and stand the test of time. Fixtures are another matter; the toilet of yesteryear took several gallons to flush, whereas today’s models are much kinder on the water bill and the environment. Same goes for faucets and water treatment.
We have also put in place heating and air conditioning services for the hot and cold of a North Texas season. (Electrical is not something we do, but for cooling, heating and plumbing we are well equipped.)
Experience Counts
We have put our hands on homes from just about every era and know the ways of both new systems and old pipes. Our service area of 150 plus zip codes includes Dallas, Fort Worth, Tarrant and Collin counties, and we do not add a trip or per-mile charge for it. Free estimates are available and we are on hand for emergencies around the clock. Weekday rates hold until 8pm and on Saturday till 4.
Have a question or a pipe that is leaking? Get in touch with Dallas Plumbing & Air Conditioning at 214-227-9459 and let us put our experience to work for you.
