Chances are you already have “smart” devices and appliances installed throughout your home without knowing it. If you can adjust your thermostat from a smartphone or flip 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 increasingly “smart” these days. Smart plumbing products can include smart water heaters, smart leak detectors, and smart water monitors.
Installing smart plumbing devices and appliances can establish 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, see to it that you have the help of a trusted plumber in New Castle.
Smart Leak Detectors
When a pipe breaks or your basement or crawlspace floods due to heavy rain, it’s fairly obvious that your home is dealing with a major water leak that can lead to extensive damage. But some leaks aren’t as obvious. Even minor water leaks from appliances or plumbing pipes can accumulate over time, leading to higher bills and potential damage to your home.
That’s where a smart water leak detector helps. Leak detectors can be installed in bathrooms, basements, beneath the kitchen sink, and around water-using appliances. Smart leak detectors monitor home water usage and alert you via your smartphone if it notices excessive water usage in your home – which can mean there's a leak somewhere. 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 begins to leak, you’ll be alerted immediately via your smartphone so you can contact a professional to get the leak patched and avoid further damage to your home.
Smart Water Heaters
Did you know that the standard 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 usage in check, try upgrading to a smart water heater. Smart water heaters are equipped with energy-saving and remote controls.
So how do smart water heaters differ exactly? Equipped with smart technology, a smart water heater can analyze your home’s water-usage habits and even predict usage and make recommended adjustments. Traditional tank water heaters, for example, must continually 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 shut 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, improve safety, and give you more control over your appliance. Speaking of control, if you take a shower at 7 a.m. every day, you can program your water heater to start at 6:45 so you’ll have hot water waiting for you. Smart water heaters also inform you of any leaks or system errors using your smartphone. If leaking is detected, for example, the smart water heater should automatically shut off. This reduces damage to the appliance and your home.
Smart Water Monitor
Many of us probably have no idea how much water we’re using on a daily basis. Smart water monitors are particularly useful if you'd like to reduce your water consumption and save money on your monthly water bills.
Smart water monitors can capture helpful data that illustrates how much water you are using in your home or business and how much each appliance or fixture needs. Many water monitors include a web-based interface that allows you to supervise water usage in real-time. This type of information can help you learn if you have an inefficient toilet that needs to be upgraded, or if someone in your household is routinely taking 30-minute showers in the upstairs bathroom–allowing you to make any needed adjustments.
Along with saving money on your water bills, smart water monitors help homeowners lower their carbon footprint to ensure there is plenty of water for future generations to come.