When most people think about gadgets and tech advances, they don’t tend to consider plumbing systems. This is strange because home plumbing has always been at the forefront of technological advancement for thousands of years. But, in recent years, we have seen some new and environmentally sound advances that are extremely exciting. In this article, we will look at the hottest plumbing tech for 2022 and beyond.
1. Smart Pipes
We have seen the adoption of smart systems in many aspects of our daily life and now there are smart pipe systems for your home or business. Let’s face it, locating leaks with a flashlight is time consuming and difficult and even a tiny leak can waste a lot of water over time. A smart pipe system can detect leaks and send an alert directly to your phone. You can shut off the water supply remotely to prevent water damage and have access to detailed information to spot any abnormalities. These smart systems can track your water usage and monitor your currency water pressure. This is a great way to fully understand how your plumbing pipes are performing and to avoid unexpected problems.
2. Tankless Water Heaters
A traditional tank water heater has been the status quo throughout the 90s and into the 2000s. But, these water heaters have a short 10-15 year lifespan and they are prone to corrosion problems. Tankless water heaters are far superior, they have been around a few years now, but they have improved significantly. The water is passed over an efficient heating element and you have access to hot water on-demand. There is no need to store and heat water for long periods which wastes a great deal of energy. It’s estimated that tankless water heaters can lead to energy savings from 24% up to 34%. To make this proposition even more attractive, the latest models have improved energy efficiency and they are less expensive.
3. Water Treatment Systems
Many people want access to better quality water than they receive from their private well or municipal water supplier. In recent years, we have seen an increase in the number of people installing water filtration and softening systems in their homes. These technologies have improved in terms of efficiency and they have become more affordable. There is no need to suffer the effects of poor quality or hard water and there are systems to treat a wide variety of water quality problems.
4. Greywater Recycling
Many people are keen to make greener choices for their homes and this is especially true when it comes to home plumbing systems. The industry has made a great deal of progress in this area and one of the more interesting developments is greywater recycling. This is a process where lightly used water is repurposed in the home for other duties instead of wasting it by directing it into the drain. As an example: the dishwasher rinse cycle water equates to gallons of water that is very clean apart from some soap residue and a few food scraps. Greywater recycling will allow you to store this lightly used water and then make use of it for a variety of tasks, such as watering the plants or flushing a toilet. This is not a brand new concept, but it was largely limited to DIY plumbing systems in rural areas for the longest time. But, this technology is now more accessible for everyone and it’s simple to use in a modern green home.
5. Smart Toilets
There are many smart devices, so it would be logical that someone would apply this technology to a plumbing fixture that we used every day. Smart toilets are touchless models that were previously limited to bathrooms in upmarket hotels, restaurants, and other swanky locations. But, this technology is now more accessible for homeowners and they have some amazing features, including voice commands, heating, built-in media players, nightlights, and more. Certain models can do double-duty as a bidet and although they need extra energy to run they are designed to save water. If you want the ultimate in luxury the next time you need to go this may be what you’ve been waiting for.
6. Smart Faucets and Plumbing Fixtures
This technology has been around for a few years, you may have seen a motion-sensing faucet in an airport, hotel, or restaurant bathroom. But, smart faucets and other smart plumbing fixtures have become more affordable. The best thing about this tech is that it promotes cleanliness and you can use voice commands to operate the system. The faucet can be set to deliver an exact volume of water that you specify. So, you can save water and lower your utility bills with no loss in performance. A smart faucet will help you to manage bacteria on your hands and the sink and they are a great conversation starter.
7. Smart Irrigation Systems
Let’s face it, it’s hard to develop and maintain a healthy lawn and a lot of effort is required to get the ideal results. There are irrigation systems, sprinklers, and automatic water systems that can help. But, these systems can be erratic, they waste large volumes of water and it’s all too easy to forget about turning them off. When an irrigation system is running if rain is falling or the ground is already soaked, it’s a waste of money. A smart irrigation system can help the user to avoid these water wasting techniques. Full control over the watering system via a smartphone or control panel which can be engaged and disengaged at will. When you’re away from home and it rains you will get an alert and you turn the sprinklers off remotely. A smart irrigation system can be connected to the National Weather Service data which turns on the sprinkler on dry days and off on wet days. Sensors in the soil can check the moisture levels to prevent overwatering problems.
If you want to install the latest plumbing tech in your home, contact your local professional plumber today.
