You might already have “smart” devices and appliances installed in your home without being aware of it. If you can control your thermostat from a smartphone or switch your lights on and off while you’re on the other side of town – those are considered 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 lower your daily water usage and monthly water bills. Keep reading to learn more about the advantages of installing smart plumbing products. And if you’re considering adding one to your plumbing system, see to it that you have the help of a trusted plumber in Los Angeles.
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 may cause severe damage. But some leaks aren’t so obvious. Even small water leaks from appliances or plumbing pipes can accumulate over time, resulting in higher bills and the potential for damage to your home.
That’s where a smart water leak detector can help. Leak detectors can be installed in bathrooms, basements, under the kitchen sink, and around water-using appliances. Smart leak detectors monitor home water usage and alert you through your smartphone if there is abnormal water usage in your home – which can mean there's a leak someplace. They can also alert you if they find a leak, or a running toilet.
If you’re on vacation and your water heater suddenly starts leaking, you’ll be alerted right away via your smartphone so you can take appropriate action to get the leak patched and prevent 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 use, second only to your heating and cooling system? To keep your hot water heater’s energy consumption in order, consider upgrading to a smart water heater. Smart water heaters come supplied with energy-saving and remote controls.
So how do smart water heaters work exactly? Designed with smart technology, a smart water heater can evaluate your home’s water-usage habits and even estimate usage and make appropriate adjustments. Traditional tank water heaters, for example, must continually heat water throughout the day so hot water is available when you need it. With a smart water heater, though, you can shut your water heater off during the workday when you’re not home or when you’re away for work or vacation.
This can save energy, reduce water bills, increase safety, and supply more control over your appliance. Speaking of control, if you have a shower at 7 a.m. every day, you can set your water heater to come on at 6:45 so you’ll have hot water ready. Smart water heaters also alert you of any leaks or system errors using your smartphone. If leaking is detected, for example, the smart water heater can automatically turn off. This reduces damage to the appliance and your home.
Smart Water Monitor
Many of us probably have little idea how much water we’re using on a daily basis. Smart water monitors are particularly useful if you want to reduce your water consumption and save money on your monthly water bills.
Smart water monitors can record helpful data that shows 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 helps you to supervise water usage in real-time. This sort of information can help you learn if you have an inefficient toilet that should 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 guarantee there is plenty of water for future generations to come.