You might already have “smart” devices and appliances installed throughout your home without even knowing it. If you can adjust your thermostat from a smartphone or turn your lights on and off while you’re on the other side of town – those are considered to be smart devices. Even plumbing products are becoming “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 optimize your daily water usage and monthly water bills. Continue below to learn more about the advantages of installing smart plumbing products. And if you’re looking into adding one to your plumbing system, be sure you have the help of a trusted plumber in Sandpoint.
Smart Leak Detectors
When a pipe breaks or your basement or crawlspace floods because of heavy rain, it’s pretty obvious that your home is dealing with a major water leak that may lead to significant damage. But some leaks aren’t as obvious. Even small water leaks from appliances or plumbing pipes can add up, leading to higher bills and potential damage to your home.
That’s where a smart water leak detector can help. Leak detectors are installed in bathrooms, basements, under the kitchen sink, and around water-using appliances. Smart leak detectors track home water usage and alert you with your smartphone if it notices abnormal water usage in your home – which can point to a leak somewhere. They will also notify you if they find a leak, or a running toilet.
If you’re away from home and your water heater suddenly starts leaking, you’ll be notified immediately with your smartphone so you can contact a professional to get the leak resolved and prevent further damage to your home.
Smart Water Heaters
Did you know that 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 consumption in check, consider upgrading to a smart water heater. Smart water heaters come with energy-saving features and remote controls.
So how do smart water heaters work exactly? Furnished with smart technology, a smart water heater can analyze your home’s water-usage preferences and even predict usage and make appropriate adjustments. Standard tank water heaters, for example, must continually heat water over the course of the day so hot water is ready when you need it. With a smart water heater, though, you can turn 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 save energy, help lower water bills, boost safety, and offer more control over your appliance. On the subject of control, if you shower at 7 a.m. each day, you can set your water heater to start at 6:45 so you’ll have hot water ready. Smart water heaters also inform you of any leaks or system malfunctions via your smartphone. If leaking is detected, for example, the smart water heater can automatically shut off. This limits damage to the appliance and your home.
Smart Water Monitor
Many of us probably have little idea how much water we’re using. Smart water monitors are highly useful if you want to lower your water consumption and save money on your monthly water bills.
Smart water monitors can record helpful data that indicates how much water you are using in your home or business and how much each appliance or fixture is using. Many water monitors are equipped with a web-based interface that allows you to supervise water usage in real-time. This type of information can help you find out if you have an inefficient toilet that needs to be upgraded, or if someone in your household is regularly taking 30-minute showers in the upstairs bathroom–allowing you to make any needed adjustments.
Aside from saving money on your water bills, smart water monitors help homeowners lower their carbon footprint to make sure there is plenty of water for future generations to come.