Everybody poops, but we don’t like to admit it. Even though humans spend 3 years of their lives using the toilet, what do we really know about it?

That ends today! Here are 10 facts you probably never knew about the toilet.

1) The first movie to show a flushing toilet was “Psycho,” and many audience members were upset at the indecency.

2) Toilet handles have up to 40,000 germs per square inch! Make sure to use a piece of toilet paper to flush and wash your hands!

3) More toilets flush during halftime of the Super Bowl than any other half-hour period of the year. Guess that’s why it is called the Super Bowl .

4) Most toilets flush in E flat. Didn’t know they were musical instruments…

5) The technology that disposes of solid waste in space shuttles costs $23.4 million. No wonder NASA is under-funded!

6) Great Britain’s King George II died on October 25th, 1760 by falling off a toilet.

7) Chinese Emperors were the first to commission toilet paper in 1391 AD.

8) World Toilet Day is November 19. Mark your calendars and make sure to celebrate!

9) The White House has 30 bathrooms and goes through approximately 636 rolls of toilet paper each day.

10) Britain’s public toilets have been voted the worst in the world, followed by Greece, France, and Thailand. Remember that next time you have fish and chips at a British pub.

We know that plumbing fees can be costly, so we have collected a few ideas that will help reduce your bills and protect you from further damage.

1) Put ice cubes in disposal: Ice and soap will clean your disposal blades, as well as sharpen the edges. It may be noisy, but it is effective.

2) Don’t buy urinal cakes or in-tank cleaners: These scented items are supposed to keep your bathroom smelling fresh and clean the bowl, but are they worth it? Vinegar is a fine alternative that most people already have at home and these items actually get stuck in pipes and cause clogs.

3) Wipe down faucets: Water corrodes metal. Everyone knows this, but assume it doesn’t apply to sink faucets. Spending an extra ten seconds to dry your faucet and handles if they get wet or soapy will save you money from replacing them down the line.

4) Check your plumbing on a regular basis: Make sure the toilet is properly flushing and drains are letting water exit. This saves money over the long-term, when problems grow bigger.

5) Don’t purchase warranties on cheap products: If you are cutting costs by buying a lesser-quality item, don’t get the warranty on it. You know it will break, but probably not until the warranty expires. Either spend more money on the best piece you can or simply expect to replace the bad product down the road when it breaks.

Hopefully these help cut back on plumbing needs, while also saving you some dough.

Toilets not flushing, sinks leaking, and burst pipes are among the more common plumbing issues that can happen in a building. But there are also problems that arise which building owners are not even aware of, such as grease traps.

It’s a (Grease) Trap!!!

So, what is a grease trap?

Also known as a grease interceptors, recovery devices, and converters, grease traps are plumbing devises that are supposed to prevent grease and solids from entering the wastewater disposal system.

Did You Know? Grease traps have been used since the Victorian Age and Nathaniel Whiting was the first to patent the devise in the 1800s.

It is normal for trace amounts of fats, oils and grease (FOG) to mix with wastewater and enter septic tanks, where they float on top as a layer of scum and are devoured by microorganisms. The issue is when too much enters the tank and it begins to overwhelm the treatment facility, which can cause the untreated sewage to be released into the environment.

In addition, oil and grease change from liquids into solids when they cool, which can cause them to build up and clog drains.

Quick Tip: Never dump cooking oil, or grease, like that from bacon, down the kitchen sink, as it can clog the drain or jam the garbage disposal. Instead, pour the hot liquid into a plastic container or aluminum can, then scrape it into the garbage after it has congealed and hardened.

Rooter Experts Provides Commercial Plumbing Services

Grease traps and liquid waste systems are very common in industrial and commercial buildings, especially restaurants. These devices remove 85-90% of FOG waste. Commercial kitchens are required to have these traps to prevent sewer blockage and overflows.

Rooter Experts can either install new grease traps to get you up to code, clean your existing grease traps, or replace items that are old or outdated. Also, we have commercial plumbing services for cleaning your pipes, if they have become clogged with FOG products.

Follow Rooter Experts on Twitter for more blog posts, like this recent rant about the LA rain flooding : @RooterExperts

There has been a recent upswing in rainfall in Los Angeles for the past few weeks, and I think we all know what that means: flooding.

People like to blame the city planners or the government for having a bad sense of how to drain the water, but I think that is short changing them. LA is beautiful about 99% of the year, and then it floods like its biblical times.

Let’s create a metaphor. If you had a recipe for delicious meal, but you knew that 1/100 times it burned, would that stop you from making that particular dish? No! You would take your chances and 99% of the time come out with scrumptious cuisine that everyone loved and devoured every last bite of (except for the smog).

Basically, as a citizen of this American paradise (minus the traffic), we have to settle for the fact that we occasionally have to deal with the rain causing flooding. But think about it this way; at least we’re not Seattle.

Los Angeles Plumbing Company

So what does this mini-rant mean? Well, just because we have to accept the rain, doesn’t mean we have to let it destroy our homes.

For whatever reason and whoever is to blame, Los Angeles drains are solid as a condom, making its streets overflow. This then causes the sewers to overflow, which dumps tainted water, which then ends up seeping into basements.

It is crucial (and by “crucial” I mean you don’t want feces soaking into your carpet) to have your pipes regularly inspected and cleaned. Because the rain in LA is about as predictable as an Ervin Santana start, you need to plan this regularly.

Call Rooter Experts, your local Los Angeles Plumbing Company for more details and to get an estimate. Sewage water has contaminates that can make you ill, so it is best to take care of your family’s health. Contact us today with any questions.

Rooter Experts is now on Twitter: @RooterExperts

If you are in need of commercial plumbing in Los Angeles then check out Rooter Experts. We have excellent plumbers, quick response times, top tier equipment, and great services for businesses.

Rooter Experts can cater to your company’s specific needs, whether it is an emergency, a full installation, or for regular inspections.

We offer pipe, toilet, sink, and water cooler installation for your business. If you are considering updating your plumbing or need to meet new minimum standards of operation, our technicians have tons of experience.

Apartment and Rental Plumbing for Landlords

If you are a landlord, you know how important having a reliable plumber can be. When renters have a plumbing issue they need resolved, it is your responsibility to pay for the service. Also, you need to make sure that the plumbing is up to code before a new tenant can move in. Because of this, it is best to develop a working relationship with a plumbing company.

If you are located in Los Angeles or Ventura County, you should strongly consider Rooter Experts. We have been in the business for over a decade and have fostered apartment plumbing deals with other landlords. In return for your return business, we can work out some structure that is beneficial to both of us. And of course we provide quality work that ensures showers, sinks, and tubs are flowing smoothly.

Outdoor Plumbing and Trenchless Inliner Service

Outdoor plumbing can be some of the most difficult to identify and fix because it isn’t as simple as noticing a leaky pipe. Most outdoor issues are underground, where the only warning is an unexplained muddy spot.

If you find that your water is discolored or tastes funny, you may have a burst pipe outside and require trenchless inliner services for your business. Contact a commercial plumbing company, like Rooter Experts, and have them come out to investigate. If we notice a problem, we can perform trenchless inliner services, where we dig two holes in the ground and construct a new pipe within the existing one. This creates minimal damage, reduces cost and time, and will fix the problem.

For more information, call us at 888-395-7117

Rooter Experts offers some kitchen plumbing tips to help keep your appliances running smoothly. We know it can get expensive to constantly call a plumber for assistance, so we’re giving you hints to prevent damage, so you can save our number for serious situations only.

Garbage Disposal Problems

• Your garbage disposal is strong, but it can be weakened. Don’t substitute your disposal for a trash can or compost bin for discarding waste, because it will wear down over time. Stringy items like celery, chicken skins, and banana peels can get wrapped around the blades, rather than being properly ground up.
• Hopefully this is common knowledge, but you MUST run the water while using the disposal. It flushes food particles that could otherwise clog in the drain. Run it for 15 seconds before and after using the disposal.
• Here is a helpful cleaning hint: toss some ice cubes into the garbage disposal. Although it will sound loud and frightening, it is actually cleaning and sharpening the blades. Add some dishwashing detergent for a better clean.

Sink Maintenance

• Never pour grease or oil down the drain. These liquids congeal, or get hard, when cooled and could cause the sink to clog. Instead, pour them into a plastic container, let it harden, and scrape it into the garbage.
• Clean the aerator: sediment builds up in the aerator, which can cause the water pressure to decrease. Unscrew it from the faucet and clean it with a soft brush and vinegar.
• If you smell a strange odor, you need to investigate possible sources of the problem. Old and rotting food can grow mold, which is known to be related to respiratory problems. The longer you take to unclog a drain, the worse it becomes.

Los Angeles Plumbing Company

For more advice from Rooter Experts, your local Los Angeles plumbing company , read our weekly blog posts with bathroom and kitchen plumbing tips. Check out this hilarious post from last week about the Worst Plumbing Experience . Follow us on Twitter for updates @RooterExperts

Let me start by preempting this story: in no way was Rooter Experts involved with this event.

Okay, where to begin… My friend Mark told me about his experience from two years ago while renting an apartment out in North Hollywood. I won’t say anything about where it took place or who was involved, in order to keep everyone’s identities safe, but I will say that we all had a good laugh when we heard about this.

Mark actually had a very good relationship with his landlord. He never showed up unexpected, he respected boundaries, he understood when Mark needed an extra week with the rent check, and he was great at fixing any problems when they occurred. Perhaps a little too good, it would turn out.

The landlord planned to stop by the apartment to pick up the rent check in early May 2010, which was no problem for Mark. But earlier that morning Mark noticed that his bathroom faucet was dripping and leaking from the base. He figured, no problem, I’ll wait and tell the landlord when he arrives.

So the landlord shows up, collects the rent check, and hears the issue. Now Mark wasn’t really concerned, but the landlord has an obligation to fix any plumbing problems in the apartment. This old man sort of freaks out and tells Mark it is too late to hire a plumber. Mark assures him its fine and he can wait until morning or even until the weekend, but the landlord insists on getting it fixed.

After thinking it over, the landlord remembers that one of his tenants in his Van Nuys apartment does some freelance plumbing and has helped in similar situations at that apartment. The two locations are a 10-15 minutes drive, so he calls up the man. This tenant’s son answers the phone, says his dad broke his arm at the construction site where he works, but he can come by and take a look, for which the landlord thanks him profusely.

About 45 minutes later, the plumber’s son arrives stinking of booze. There is no doubt he is drunk, and Mark is regretting this decision. What should be a simple fix takes over half an hour and when Mark looks in the bathroom it is covered in dirt, grease, and grime. But the landlord thanks the drunk young man as he is leaving.

Of course, I try the faucet and it is no longer dripping, but instead is SPRAYING all over the bathroom. I yell to the landlord, who takes one look in the bathroom and takes off sprinting for the drunk guy.

Luckily, he catches him and brings him back to redo the repair. This time, it takes over an hour and the floor, sink, toilet, and mirror have somehow gotten even dirtier. But I make sure to test the faucet and it is in fact fixed, although the warm water doesn’t seem nearly as hot as it should be. The landlord and drunk guy leave, but it is shortly after midnight and Mark has work tomorrow.

Los Angeles Plumbing Company

The moral of this story is to not use an amateur plumber who may or may not be intoxicated (in this case, he definitely was). Rooter Experts is a professional Los Angeles Plumbing Company that will show up promptly at your residence and do a thorough job, the first time. Don’t be like Mark, hire someone who can get the job done right.

They say the best offense is a good defense. So instead of having to call a Los Angeles plumbing company to fix your pipes, here are some shower and tub maintenance tips to help keep everything operating in excellent condition.

Blocked Shower Head

When the shower head gets clogged, the problem is usually lime deposit. This is not good for the shower head, or your human head. A simple solution is to fill a plastic bag with white vinegar and rubber band it around the head of the shower to soak overnight. If this does not solve the issue, you may need to replace it.

Watch your Drains

Showers are one of the top culprits of clogging that we see, but they are also the most easily preventable. Simply purchase a drain cover to catch the hair that get tangled and knotted inside the drain. You can also remember to pour a chemical drain cleaner down every month, to prevent a clog before it happens.

Caulk Check

When the caulk in shower doors or behind tile gets damp, it can mold and start to detach. This causes further water damage to walls, floors, and other surfaces. These issue can quickly add up, including reducing the value of your home.

Mold Remediation

Mold is an underrated problem in homes. Sure, you freak out when it is on your foods, but did you know that mold can kill you? It builds up in damp, unseen areas where it is able to flourish. Side effects include allergies, nasal blockage, rashes, and, in extreme cases, death. Showers and tubs are notorious sources of mold. Make sure to scrub mold and examine your tile on a regular basis for cracks where water can infiltrate into the wall.

Los Angeles Plumbing Company

If you do need the assistance of a Los Angeles Plumbing Company , Rooter Experts is here to serve. We have a professional staff of licensed plumbers ready to respond to a call at a moment’s notice. Check out more blogs and follow us on Twitter @RooterExperts

Thousands of years ago, human beings were hunters and gatherers, traversing the terrain looking for berries to eat and animals to kill. These primitive beings were free to drink from the river and go to the bathroom wherever they chose, because they could simply move onto the next location when the hunting was sparse.

Societal developments changed humans from hunters and gatherers to agricultural communities that set up in one location and grew crops there. This new “town” was the center for established society, meaning that the people could no longer simply leave their waste behind on the trip to a new area. They needed to invent a way to properly dispose of fecal matter.

Ancient Toilets

Believe it or not, there are actually signs of plumbing dating back to 2700 B.C. in the Indus Valley Civilization. While we may consider it a modern luxury, its routes trace back nearly 5,000 years.

Many of the major improvements were made during the Roman Empire’s dominance. Ancient Rome had public outhouses as some of the earliest toilets that were important centers for business and meetings. They even had water systems that transported the fecal waste downstream in lead pipes, which would remain the material of choice until the late 1800s when the United States adopted galvanized iron and then settled on copper.

De-Contaminating Water

Another big advance in the field was to create underground plumbing that was more protected from contamination. Previously, water was collected in above ground storage, where it was more likely to become a cesspool.

In 1854, a cholera outbreak in London made de-contaminating the drinking water more important. New theories were beginning to be developed concerning microscopic germs causing diseases.

The early 1900s saw the scientific work of two U.S. Army Majors, Carls Rogers Darnall and William J.L. Lyster, lead to the invention of the Lyster Bag. This device purifies water in a bag filled with calcium hypolchlorite and allowed water to be stored in water towers for consumption.

Los Angeles Plumbing

Today, we have companies like Rooter Experts who specialize in all aspects of Los Angeles Plumbing . If you have a problem with your toilet or water transportation, give us a call at 888-488-4808

Follow us on Twitter @RooterExperts for fun blogs, like this one about The Simpsons Plumbing Myths .

On a Season 6 episode of The Simpsons entitled “Bart vs. Australia,” Bart and Lisa are squirting toothpaste down the sink (see video below). The kids notice that the water circles counter-clockwise down the drain which Lisa claims is due to the “Coriolis Effect.” Furthermore, she says that water always drains counter-clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and drains clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.

Bart is skeptical and tries to prove his sister wrong. He calls a boy in Australia to disprove this theory and after hours of making the child flush toilets , admits his defeat. Toilet water flushes in different directions in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

Only one problem: this is a common plumbing myth.

The Coriolis Effect

First of all, the Coriolis Effect is misrepresented in the episode. What Lisa says is based on fact, but not actually factual.

All things being neutral, water will in fact drain counter-clockwise in the North and clockwise in the South due to the rotation of the earth. But this only happens in perfect conditions, such as a flawless tank in a room that is entirely still; the conditions that can only be met in a laboratory. If there are any imperfections in the tank, movement in the water, or other extra-ordinary conditions, then those can be blamed for the water swirling in the reverse direction.

So if the Coriolis Effect does not cause the water to drain a certain direction, what does?

Solution: Jet Streams

When you flush the toilet, water is sprayed out of jets just below the rim that are facing the same direction. These determine which direction the water flushes and can be pointed counter clockwise or clockwise, regardless of what hemisphere you live in.

As for your sink, well it drains based on outside factors, such as slope of the room and interference from outside objects, like rinsing your hands.

Although “Bart vs. Australia” is one of the best episodes of The Simpsons, the basis of the episode is fictional. No matter what hemisphere you live in, the toilet company decides what direction your water drains, not the Coriolis Effect.

Watch “Bart vs. Australia” below. The argument between Lisa and Bart occurs right after the opening credits, 22 seconds into the episode. Enjoy!

Follow Rooter Experts on Twitter @RooterExperts