Matthew Linn / Economy Plumbing Inc.

Did you know that 85 percent of the country has hard water - a water supply with fairly high levels of minerals, such as calcium and magnesium? While hard water won't affect your health, you may want to consider a water conditioning system.

Tankless water heaters, like solar models, can save money compared to traditional models. That's because traditional water heaters must keep a full tank of water heated in reserve. Tankless systems only heat water on demand.

Not sure what size hot water heater you need for your home? This is generally going to depend on how many hot water outlets there are in your home. For a two-bath home, a 40 to 50 gallon heater is more than likely going to be sufficient.

You've probably heard of the ancient aqueducts, the forerunners of modern plumbing, that supplied fresh water to the famous Roman baths. Care to guess when the aqueducts were first constructed? If you guessed 312 B.C., you're right.

If you’re a fan of characters like King Arthur, you probably know that most castles would have a protective moat around the perimeter. The moats not only would keep attackers at bay, they also served as a convenient dumping ground for sewage. No wonder nobody ever thought to just swim across.

Freeze and thaw cycles can damage pipes that are not properly protected. While we will gladly come and make repairs when needed, we can help prevent problems by inspecting pipe location, identifying areas that may freeze, and making corrective recommendations.

The National Bureau of Standards, now known as the National Institute of Standards and Technology, was founded in 1901. During the 1930s and 1940s, Dr. Roy B. Hunter was the head of the plumbing division. His papers set many of the plumbing standards that are still used today.

Have you ever wondered where the word "plumbing" comes from? If you were to pull out a periodic table of elements, you would see that lead is represented by "Pb." Why is this important? The Latin word for the old water piping material is "plumbum," the word that "plumber" derives from.

There are many ways that a plumbing line can develop cracks over time. In addition to corrosion due to minerals in the water supply, tree roots are known to stretch out underground and damage pipelines.

Arguably the most famous scientist in human history, Albert Einstein had a pretty solid backup plan in our eyes. The nuclear physicist who penned the theory of relativity once said that, if he were to do everything over again, he would be a plumber, which earned him an honorary place in the Plumbers and Steamfitters Union.

Plumbing was finally reintroduced to Europe after a 1,000-year break in 1455. At the time, pipes were made out of cast iron, which is part of the reason for the delay. To make the pipes, fires had to be developed that were hot enough to fully melt the iron.

The average person flushes the toilet 140,000 times in a lifetime. That's a lot of wear and tear on one of the most used moving parts in most toilets: the handle.

You might call us when you have a broken loo, but have you ever wondered where the term "loo" comes from? The common nickname comes from a phrase shouted by French maids emptying chamber pots: Gardez l’eau. If you were to translate that literally, it would mean, Watch out for the water.