Plumbing is a very important feature of modern homes and helps to maintain safe and sanitary societies. Plumbing enables the reliable flow of hot and cold water and the removal of waste and sewage. Furthermore, plumbing fixtures greatly affect how well plumbing works, and many new homes feature the latest in plumbing fixtures. Let’s take a closer look at various plumbing fixtures that you might consider if you are building a new home or remodeling one.
Faucets and Sinks
Faucets and sinks are the most commonly used plumbing fixtures and have a significant impact on how well plumbing works in your home. The faucets enable you to draw water on demand, and the sinks hold that water and safely dispose of it after you use it. Whether you are washing your hands, brushing your teeth, or maybe shaving, it’s important for your faucets and sinks to work their best.
Recent advancements in faucet technology have improved how faucets work and help to prevent wasting water. The creation of the smart faucet is one of the most important. You likely have used several in public restrooms or rest areas.
A motion sensor determines when the water should run and shuts off automatically when you pull your hands away. The sensor makes it nearly impossible for the faucet to run and cause internal flooding. Undoubtedly, that feature has thwarted potential vandalism in countless public restrooms over the years.
Water Softener and Heater
If you are drawing your water from a municipal supply that has notoriously high levels of minerals that create hard water, you probably have a water softener inside your home. A water softener removes the minerals that could cause the water to have a bad taste. It also might look rusty and leave water stains on your sinks, showers, and bathtubs.
A water softener installation will cure your hard water problems and make the water taste better. You’ll have to route your home’s entire water supply through the softener and then to the water heater. But the efforts it worth it to improve your home’s water quality and make it easier to draw a glass of clean water from the tap. A quality water softener is a terrific feature that will make hard water potable and clean.
You also might consider installing a tankless water heater. A tankless heater does away with the traditional hot water tank in favor of on-demand heating closer to the plumbing fixtures that use it. You can have heating elements situated near sinks, tubs, and showers. When you turn on the hot water, the heating elements deliver good, hot water on demand instead of heating it in a tank beforehand.
Showers, Baths, and Low-Flow Toilets
Showers and baths also can benefit from improved smart technology. For example, you could install a smart showerhead that reduces the amount of water that you use while taking a shower. Even better, it tells you when the water temperature has reached your ideal level so that you can take a comfortable shower with plenty of hot water that is neither too hot nor too cold.
The smart system lets you determine the ideal temperature and set it so that the shower or bath will tell you when it has reached that temperature by illuminating an LED light. When the light turns on, you can get into the shower or tub and enjoy your ideal water temperature. When you leave, the shower can shut off automatically using a motion sensor.
A low-flow toilet is another plumbing fixture that many older homes might lack. A low-flow toilet does not require 3 gallons of water per flush. Instead, it uses about half that amount flush and sends the waste to the sewage system for proper disposal. You use less water, which helps you to save money on your monthly water bill.