If the kitchen is the heart of the home, the bathroom is its oasis. Any busy parent knows it is their refuge!
In the second installment in our series about how HVAC and plumbing can contribute to health and wellness, we’re focusing on how plumbing, and especially new, high-tech fixtures and appliances, play a key role.
But it’s not just about a fancy toilet with a bidet and warming seat. Plumbing innovations in filtration and controls help the home – and the people in it – live healthier and more comfortably.
Whole house filtration. Like newer HVAC systems can include whole-house air filtration, new plumbing technology can provide whole-house water filtration. It’s so convenient for customers who won’t need to install filters on every tap. These whole-house filters remove contaminants like lead, bacteria and chlorine not just from the water you drink, but the water you use to bathe and wash your clothes, too.
Voice controlled plumbing fixtures. It sounds like stuff out of the Jetson’s, but it’s becoming more and more commonplace in new homes or ones with remodeled kitchens and baths. Integrated with smart home systems, you can now turn your faucets on and off with voice commands. (Hint: Do not tell your tween about this capability if they are mischievous!
Touchless fixtures. These are not new – public restrooms have been using this technology for a while now. But it took a big jump for residential fixtures during Covid-19, when people were newly concerned about the spread of the virus on things like faucets.
Temperature control features. No, this is not about turning cold to hot or vice versa. These are anti-scald controls that protect people – primarily younger and older folks – from burns in the shower or at the sink.
High-tech toilets. The “john” is going high-tech. Toilets with a built-in bidet function are becoming more popular in the U.S. for a few reasons – it’s a cleaner experience overall, it is a huge help with hygiene in older adults, and it also helps households cut down on their use of toilet paper. There are also seat warming features and other settings that are customizable for members of the household.
Low-flow fixtures. Reducing water use is a priority for many families, and the newer, low-flow fixtures like toilets, faucets and showerheads are so advanced that people don’t know the difference between that and a high-flow model. It’s not like the old days when low-flow showers were a trickle compared to regular flow heads. Now people can do their part for the planet and still get the comfortable shower experience they love.
Remote monitoring and diagnostics. This is moving from the “nice to have” category into a must. It’s beneficial in so many ways. For plumbers, it’s handy to have customers with this capability because it spots trouble before it becomes an emergency call – usually in the middle of the night when it’s below zero outside. For customers, it means peace of mind when they’re home and even more so when they’re away, knowing their pipes have not sprung a leak.
Plumbing is so much more than just hooking up pipes to convey water throughout a home. It’s about comfort, safety and health, too.
