Research
Original plumbing data and research from public sources: wages, prices, water bills, workforce, and housing data, with methods and sources stated.
How Common Are Plumbing Leaks? 1 in 12 US Homes Had One Last Year
8.4% of US homes had an inside leak last year (AHS 2023). Pipes were the top cause; pre-1940…
Plumbing Employment Through Two Recessions: Why the Trade Fell Less and Recovered Six Years Sooner
Plumbing and HVAC employment fell 20.4% in the financial crisis against 28.3% for construction, and regained its peak…
Construction Job Openings and Quits: 25 Years of Federal Turnover Data
Construction openings peaked at 399,000 in 2022 and fell to 55,000 in 2009, a 7.2x swing. In 2009…
Plumbing Material Prices Since 1990: Copper Up 277 Percent, Fittings Up 172
Copper and brass mill shapes rose 277% since 1990 and plumbing fittings 172%, against 140% for consumer prices.…
Which Household Utility Rose Fastest Since 1980? Water, Not Energy
Water rose 146% in real terms since 1980. Electricity fell 3% and piped gas fell 8%. Four household…
Water and Sewer Bill Inflation: 838 Percent Since 1980, and 146 Percent After Inflation
Water and sewer prices rose 838% between 1980 and 2024 against 281% for all consumer prices. That is…
How Long Water Problems Take to Fix: 902,000 Closed Complaints by Category and Agency
Heat and hot water complaints close in 1.3 days, plumbing in 20.8, tree-root sewer cases in 131.6. The…
When to Winterize Plumbing: Median First and Last Freeze Dates for 46 US Cities
Median first freeze runs 6 October in Denver to 6 January in Orlando. Freeze dates and season length…
Frozen Pipe Risk by Metro: Freeze Days and Hard-Freeze Days for 50 US Cities
Denver averages 156.9 freeze days a year, Los Angeles none. Freeze and hard-freeze day counts for 50 US…
Does Building Age Affect Water Use? Size and Age Measured Across 58,750 Buildings
Bigger buildings use less water per square foot and newer ones use less again. Measured across 58,750 building-years…