Saturday, October 31, 2026
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The Plumbing Brief
Independent plumbing intelligence
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The Plumbing Brief

Research

Original plumbing data and research from public sources: wages, prices, water bills, workforce, and housing data, with methods and sources stated.

An open concrete septic tank access riser in a backyard lawn with the lid set aside on the grass
Research

Do Septic Tank Additives Work? What EPA and Extension Research Says

Do septic tank additives work? EPA and extension research says no. What they can harm, which states restrict…
A large cast iron boiler with pipes and gauges in the basement of a New York apartment building
Research

NYC Boiler Inspections: 889,703 Reports Show Defects and Late Filings Falling

889,703 NYC boiler reports: defects fell to 6.7% in 2025, late filings to 1.4%. High-pressure 11.5% defective. Borough…
Gloved hands tighten a wrench on copper and PEX pipe fittings between two water heater units.
Research

Water Heating Fuel Since 2009: Is America Switching From Gas to Electric?

EIA RECS: electric water heating rose from 41.2% (2009) to 46.2% (2020), gas fell to 48.0%. The shift…
A plumber connecting the supply hose behind a washing machine in a laundry room
Research

Dishwashers and Washing Machines by State: Who Has Them and How Often They Run

EIA RECS: 73% of US homes have a dishwasher, 84% a washer. Utah leads (89%), Hawaii trails. Every…
Gloved hands use a wrench to tighten a copper pipe fitting under a sink amid valves and supply lines.
Research

Plumbing and HVAC Employment by County: Where Contractor Jobs Grew Fastest, 2019 to 2025

BLS QCEW: plumbing/HVAC contractor jobs grew 15.8% from 2019-2025; Washoe County, Nevada led at +57%. 20 big counties…
A pipefitter welding large steel pipe in a commercial mechanical room, sparks flying
Research

Residential and Commercial Plumbing Firms: 25 Years of Business Counts, Jobs and Pay

BLS QCEW 2001-2025: residential plumbing/HVAC firms grew from 58,798 to 94,274; commercial pays $95,883 vs $69,397.
Gloved hands tighten a brass fitting on copper pipe, wrenches and pipe scraps on a drop cloth nearby.
Research

Plumbing Contractors by State: Firms, Jobs and Average Pay in 2025

BLS QCEW 2025: 123,866 plumbing/HVAC contractor businesses, 1,315,566 jobs, $82,153 average pay. Every state ranked.
A weathered rural cabin with a hand water pump and a plastic water barrel in the yard
Research

Homes Without Plumbing: How Many US Households Lack Running Water or a Full Bathroom

AHS 2023: 392,000 US homes lack complete plumbing; 336,000 have no running hot and cold water. Concentrated among…
Gloved hand gripping a pipe wrench on brass water meter fittings with copper pipes, soft natural light.
Research

Average Water Bill by Region: What US Households Pay Each Month for Water and Sewer

AHS 2023: US median water and sewer bill is $57/month, mean $71. San Francisco highest of big metros…
A clear glass of water being filled from a kitchen faucet, a water filter pitcher on the counter beside it
Research

Is Tap Water Safe to Drink? 12.2 Million US Households Say Theirs Is Not

AHS 2023: 12.2M US households say their tap water is not safe to drink. Los Angeles highest at…