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The e-Flow faucet ensures that the faucet stops running, even if kids forget to turn it off.
Photo courtesy of Delta Faucet.
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By Anne Balogh
The installation of elegant new faucets is near the top of the list for most bathroom upgrades. Now you can give your clients plumbing hardware that has brains as well as beauty, with the ability to turn on and off automatically with the wave of a hand.
"Smart" sensor-activated faucets have been ubiquitous in public restrooms for years. Now some faucet manufacturers are offering the same no-touch convenience for the home bath. These electronically controlled fixtures boast many of the same features as their commercial counterparts but are often less expensive and easier to install and service. Some commercial models are also suitable for home installation.
Here are answers to some of the questions you and your clients are likely to have about this latest trend in home plumbing:
How do electronic faucets work?
To turn water on and off automatically, most electronic faucets use proximity sensors that detect motion using beams of infrared light. As the user’s hands enter the beam’s path, the light is reflected back into a sensor receiver that activates water flow. When hands are moved away from the sensor, the loss of reflected light signals water flow to stop.
The electronic circuitry in most home units is powered by standard AA batteries, so hardwiring to the home’s electrical system is not required. However, adapters for conversion to AC power are available with some models, allowing connection to a 120-volt outlet. You can also find systems that generate their own power. The Solis from Sloan Valve Co. is a solar-powered faucet with a storage cell that transforms sunlight or artificial light into electrical energy. Another self-sufficient unit, EcoPower from Toto USA, operates on hydropower, using a small internal turbine to generate its own electricity whenever the water runs.
What are the chief advantages?
Improved sanitation is the most obvious benefit of touch-free fixtures. With no handles, there is no means of spreading dirt or harmful bacteria from one user to the next.
Hands-free operation also makes the faucets usable by virtually anyone, regardless of age or physical ability. "These fixtures are good options for universal design," says Mary Jo Petersen, a Connecticut-based certified kitchen and bath designer who specializes in this approach to making spaces more accessible by people of all ages, sizes and abilities. "I’ve been waiting a long time for such products to be introduced for residential use. They are wonderful for anyone who might have trouble reaching or turning the handles on a faucet," she says. Many of these fixtures are ADA-compliant. (For more information, click here.)
Another plus is water conservation. Sensor-activated faucets eliminate wasted water flow by discharging only what the user needs. Most turn off automatically within 10 to 60 seconds, and some models include low-flow aerators to further conserve water.
What about aesthetics? Will these fixtures look good in a home bathroom?
Although not yet available in a wide array of styles and finishes, sensor-activated faucets for residential use tend to be more contoured and refined than those designed for commercial applications. Optional trim plates allow for attractive installation in standard sinks with three openings. And some models offer special decorative embellishments, such as Delta's e-Flow with interchangeable temperature-control handles in zesty colors such as Orange Spice and Zen Purple.
If homeowners want more flexibility in faucet design, retrofit systems are available that automate virtually any brand of faucet. "They offer the best of both worlds: You get the style of faucet you want, with sensor control," says Mary Jo, who encountered this technology for the first time at the 2005 Kitchen/Bath Industry Show. One such unit, from Technical Concepts, consists of a sensor-activated control box that mounts under the sink.
How do you control water temperature?
With the most basic models, the temperature of the water flowing from the spout is governed by the water temperature in the supply pipes. The drawback is that once the temperature is set at a moderate level appropriate for hand washing, the faucet is not a ready source for cold or hot water. More sophisticated units get around that problem by including a mixing valve and a temperature control setting that allow the homeowner to easily adjust water temperature right at the spout.
Is false activation a problem?
Manufacturers claim that today’s advanced infrared technology offers accurate, consistent performance, ensuring that their electronic faucets deliver water only when they detect the user’s hands. Kohler, for example, says its new Tripoint infrared sensor works like an autofocus camera, and is only triggered when hands come within a certain distance of its infrared eye.
How much does touchless convenience cost?
With price tags ranging from about $270 to $600, sensor-activated faucets are not practical for every homeowner, and they are unlikely to eclipse the popularity of the traditional version with handles. But for bathroom remodeling projects where sanitation and hands-free accessibility are top priorities, these smart plumbing fixtures can be a wise choice.
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