One word that we find ourselves mentioning quite frequently here on the blog is “technology.” I’m guessing it probably isn’t a word you’d expect to see all that often on a plumbing blog, right? Well, just as is the case with about any other industry, the plumbing world has been greatly impacted by technology. It has allowed us to be much more efficient with water and energy usage. It has given plumbers the ability to pinpoint leaks in sewer pipes that may be 4-5 feet underground. All in all, it has made for smarter plumbing!
In today’s blog, we’re going to walk you through one of the bigger innovations in the plumbing industry and that involves “touchless fixtures.” While we’ll primarily focus on the touchless faucets (due to their prevalence in both the residential and commercial world), we will also make sure to touch on toilets, soap dispensers, water bottle filling stations and so much more!
Before I get started though, I would like to welcome any new visitors to our blog. Here at Stine-Nichols, we offer both residential, commercial and new construction plumbing services to the Kansas City area. With our plumbing blog, we’re focused on educating both Kansas City homeowners and business owners on everything from helpful plumbing tips to cool trends in the industry. As mentioned above, today we will be taking a look at why touchless fixtures are worth the investment!
Why Go Touchless?
To kick off this blog post, I wanted to highlight just a few of the many reasons why touchless fixtures are worth investing in. And keep in mind that these benefits are targeted for both residential and commercial purposes.
Less Germs Spread
Ever wonder why touchless faucets and other bathroom fixtures are so common in busy areas, like retail stores, restaurants and so on? Well, in short, this is meant to prevent the spread of germs, bacteria and any other grime that could be passed on when we have to touch multiple things in the bathroom. In addition, given the worldwide pandemic with Covid, this importance has been heightened to the point where touchless fixtures in commercial places are a MUST.
Eco-Friendly
As briefly mentioned in the opening paragraph, a major aspect of technological advancements in the plumbing industry has revolved around increased efficiency. One of the best advantages of touchless fixtures is the significant amount of water that will definitely be saved. Not only will this provide some financial savings to you personally, it will also ensure you’re doing your part in water conservation efforts. And believe it or not, water conservation is more important than you’d think. According to the EPA, “The U.S. population has doubled over the past 50 years, while our thirst for water has tripled. With at least 40 states anticipating water shortages by 2024, the need to conserve water is critical.”
To sum up this point, the faucet won’t be emitting water unless you’re actively using it. From brushing your teeth to washing the dishes, it’s not hard to see how much water is consistently wasted each and every day.
Longer Lifespan
More often than not, an advantage that sometimes goes unnoticed is the decreased amount of repairs needed on the fixtures themselves. Obviously, this statement isn’t true 100% of the time, but it does happen quite often. The logic behind this is fairly straightforward. With a regular faucet, you’re going to have someone constantly pulling the lever to turn it on or off. This consistent wear and tear will inevitably take a toll on the handles, knobs and levers over time. With touchless, so much of this wear and tear is avoided, hence leading to a longer lifespan and less repairs on these units!
Where Can You Find Touchless Fixtures
Having personally been in the plumbing world for over 40 years, it truly has been amazing to see some of the advancements made. Honestly speaking, they really have made everyone’s lives that much easier. Here’s just a few areas where touchless technology has been implemented, as well as an example of the best products for that particular category.
Kitchen Faucets
Perhaps one of the most useful places for touchless technology is in the kitchen. That faucet will likely get plenty of use and the touchless abilities will definitely come in handy when cooking. For an example, check out Moen’s Motionsense Touchless Faucets. Available in a number of different finishes, these faucets possess the ability to turn on with the wave of a hand or even simply by putting an object (cup, bowl, hand, etc.) in front of it.
The more you look into various “smart” faucets, you’ll also notice a theme of many of them having the ability to be synced with digital apps, like Alexa or Google Assistant, thus making them voice-activated as well! Think of commands like “pour 2 cups of water” and then the faucet does so.
Bathroom Faucets
Sticking with the theme of faucets, we’ll head over to the bathroom, where touchless technology has been very popular as well. Especially in the commercial setting, the trend is going to continue moving toward touchless faucets until the point where you’ll hardly ever see a “touch” one in a store, restaurant, gym and so on.
These ones typically aren’t as flashy as kitchen faucets, but nonetheless get the job done. To provide a tangible example, we referenced Delta’s Touch 2O.xt technology. As seen on their website linked in the previous sentence, you’ll notice how there is again a focus on “cleaner” areas. “Clean” and “safety” are likely two buzzwords you’ll hear for a while in reference to plumbing fixtures. At the same time, there’s plenty of styles and finishes to pick from to find something that fits your bathroom style best!
Toilets
Touchless toilets? Yep, that is a thing as well! While the actual toilet varys slightly on many of these, a perfect example is one of American Standard’s models. Bathrooms can become filled up with germs in no time and this is particularly the case with toilets. Many of these touchless toilets simply have a sensor either on the top or side of the tank that you’ll simply wave your hand in front of. These are available for both commercial and residential applications.
Soap Dispenser
There’s no point in investing in a touchless faucet and not a touchless soap dispenser, right? As has been the case with items mentioned above, touchless soap dispensers are already everywhere in the commercial world and are slowly making their way into residential areas. TOTO is arguably one of the best in the business and a brand we feel confident recommending here at Stine-Nichols. Simply put, their soap dispensers are effective, affordably-priced and typically don’t break down earlier than expected.
Water Bottle Filling Station
The last application area that I’ll mention today are water bottle filling stations, which are a hot item in a variety of commercial settings, including gyms and offices. In addition to the obvious safety benefits, these are also great in limiting how dependent we are on plastic water bottles. Here at Stine-Nichols, we always feel comfortable installing Elkay’s units. Definitely one of the household names in the industry!
Need Help With Installing Your Touchless Fixtures?
If there’s one thing you take away from this article, I hope that it’s the realization that touchless technology isn’t solely reserved for commercial uses. We honestly believe that it will slowly become more and more common in residential settings. Except for the water bottle filling stations, that is! Those are likely going to stay solely in the commercial world!
Here at Stine-Nichols Plumbing, it’s safe to say that all of our plumbers have had plenty of practice over the years installing touchless fixtures. From replacing existing units at major retailers around Kansas City to installing them at residential houses and even on new construction renovations, we know which brands to recommend. If you’re interested in receiving a free quote for a potential project, we encourage you to either call us directly at (816) 348-3481 or fill out the form on our website. We look forward to hearing from you!