You may already have “smart” devices and appliances installed in your home without knowing it. If you can adjust your thermostat from your smartphone or turn your lights on and off while you’re on the other side of town – those are typical smart devices. Even plumbing products are going “smart” these days. Smart plumbing products might include smart water heaters, smart leak detectors, and smart water monitors.
Installing smart plumbing devices and appliances can apply an extra layer of convenience and security to your home, as well as lower your daily water usage and monthly water bills. Keep reading to learn more about the perks of installing smart plumbing products. And if you’re considering adding one to your plumbing system, see to it that you have the help of a trusted plumber in Narvon.
Smart Leak Detectors
When a pipe bursts or your basement or crawlspace floods thanks to heavy rain, it’s pretty obvious that your home is dealing with a major water leak that can result in severe damage. But some leaks aren’t as obvious. Even minor water leaks from appliances or plumbing pipes can accumulate over time, resulting in higher bills and the potential for damage to your home.
That’s where a smart water leak detector can help. Leak detectors should be installed in bathrooms, basements, beneath the kitchen sink, and near water-using appliances. Smart leak detectors track home water usage and alert you via your smartphone if it notices irregular water usage in your home – which can mean there's a leak someplace. They can also notify you if they detect a leak, or a running toilet.
If you’re away from home and your water heater suddenly springs a leak, you’ll be alerted immediately with your smartphone so you can take appropriate action to get the leak fixed and avoid further damage to your home.
Smart Water Heaters
Did you know the traditional water heater accounts for about 12% of a family’s energy expenditure, second only to your heating and cooling system? To keep your hot water heater’s energy usage in check, try upgrading to a smart water heater. Smart water heaters come with energy-saving features and remote controls.
So how do smart water heaters help exactly? Equipped with smart technology, a smart water heater can evaluate your home’s water-usage patterns and even predict usage and make recommended adjustments. Traditional tank water heaters, for example, must constantly heat water during the day so hot water is waiting when you need it. With a smart water heater, though, you can keep your water heater off during the workday when you’re out of the house or when you’re away for work or vacation.
This can conserve energy, help lower water bills, increase safety, and offer more control over your appliance. Speaking of control, if you have a shower at 7 a.m. every day, you can schedule your water heater to start at 6:45 so you’ll have hot water on hand. Smart water heaters also notify you of any leaks or system malfunctions via your smartphone. If leaking is detected, for example, the smart water heater should automatically switch off. This minimizes damage to the appliance and your home.
Smart Water Monitor
Some of us probably have little idea how much water we’re using on a daily basis. Smart water monitors are incredibly useful if you'd like to reduce your water consumption and save money on your monthly water bills.
Smart water monitors can record helpful data that indicates how much water you’re using in your home or business and how much each appliance or fixture is taking. The bulk of water monitors feature a web-based interface that helps you to monitor water usage in real-time. This kind of information can help you find out if you have an inefficient toilet that should be upgraded, or if someone in your household is frequently taking 30-minute showers in the upstairs bathroom–allowing you to make the correct adjustments.
Along with saving money on your water bills, smart water monitors help homeowners lower their carbon footprint to guarantee there is enough water for future generations to come.