You may already have “smart” devices and appliances installed throughout your home without even knowing it. If you can adjust your thermostat from a smartphone or switch 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 add an extra layer of convenience and protection to your home, as well as optimize your daily water usage and monthly water bills. Continue reading to learn more about the benefits 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 Greater Richmond.
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 serious water leak that can cause severe damage. But some leaks aren’t as obvious. Even minor water leaks from appliances or plumbing pipes can add up, contributing to 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, under the kitchen sink, and near water-using appliances. Smart leak detectors track home water usage and alert you with your smartphone if there is abnormal water usage in your home – which can mean there's a leak somewhere. They should also notify you if they notice a leak, or a running toilet.
If you’re on vacation and your water heater suddenly starts leaking, you’ll be informed immediately with your smartphone so you can take the needed steps to get the leak resolved and avoid further damage to your home.
Smart Water Heaters
Did you know that the typical water heater accounts for about 12% of a family’s energy consumption, second only to your heating and cooling system? To keep your hot water heater’s energy use under control, consider upgrading to a smart water heater. Smart water heaters are equipped with energy-saving features and remote controls.
So how do smart water heaters help exactly? Designed with smart technology, a smart water heater can analyze your home’s water-usage habits and even anticipate usage and make automatic adjustments. Traditional tank water heaters, for example, must continuously heat water over the course of 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 not home or when you’re away for work or vacation.
This can conserve energy, reduce water bills, improve safety, and supply more control over your appliance. While we're talking about control, if you take a shower at 7 a.m. every day, you can schedule your water heater to come on at 6:45 so you’ll have hot water waiting for you. Smart water heaters also notify you of any leaks or system failures through your smartphone. If a leak is detected, for example, the smart water heater can automatically shut off. This minimizes damage to the appliance and your home.
Smart Water Monitor
Most of us probably have no idea how much water we’re using on a daily basis. Smart water monitors are particularly useful if you’re looking to reduce your water consumption and save money on your monthly water bills.
Smart water monitors can save helpful data that illustrates how much water you use in your home or business and how much each appliance or fixture is taking. Many water monitors include a web-based interface that helps you to track water usage in real-time. This sort of information can help you find out if you have an inefficient toilet that needs to be upgraded, or if one of your kids is frequently taking 30-minute showers in the upstairs bathroom–allowing you to make the correct adjustments.
Aside from saving money on your water bills, smart water monitors help homeowners reduce their carbon footprint to make sure there is enough water for future generations to come.