By Karen Lopez
Over the past few years, the plumbing industry has seen several trends come and go. From innovative tools improving work efficiency to advanced technologies employed for convenience, plumbing professionals have been using these trends to guide their core business decisions.
As a professional in this domain, it’s important to stay updated with these trends and technologies, both to better meet customer expectations and also to gain an edge over your competitors.
Here are six hot technologies that are expected to rule the plumbing industry in the coming years.
1. Touchless Fixtures Are Growing in Popularity
The latest advancements in the plumbing industry are offering benefits like convenience, control, cost savings, and increased energy efficiency. Though touchless fixtures have been in for a while, their demand seems to be rising each year.
The current five billion-dollar market for smart bathroom fixtures is all set to revolutionize the plumbing industry with innovative and eco-friendly fixtures and technologically advanced hardware. Smart fixtures like touchless faucets, sensor-enabled soap dispensers, and automatic cistern systems aid in creating a flexible and luxurious environment for all.
Check out Sloan’s touchless restroom fixtures. The fixtures are sensor-operated for hands-free activation of plumbing fixtures. This greatly improves the overall hygiene in restrooms and conserves water and energy.
2. Smart Toilets Are Set To Flourish
Smart toilets are equipped with several functions like automatic flushing, overflow protection, water-saving features, self-deodorizer, sensor-enabled commercial LED lighting, self-cleaning features, and much more. These technologically advanced toilets are becoming an integral part of smart homes.
The rising demand for hygienic sanitary products, the changing lifestyle of consumers, and the growing global water conservation awareness are driving this trend. Brands like Kohler and Ove are coming up with innovative features that standard toilets do not offer. The smart toilet market that was valued at 6.08 billion dollars in 2018 is expected to reach 12.9 billion dollars by 2026 at a healthy CAGR of 9.89%.
In the coming years, we will see internet-connected toilets that are equipped with sensors that can analyze waste. This will be useful in detecting the early signs of chronic, debilitating disorders like diabetes, infections, kidney disease, and cancer. These toilets will also share insights into public health and monitor diseases before they become a full-blown epidemic.
Toilet lids with motion-sensing LED lights will be a hit this year. It is quite common for people to visit the bathroom in the wee hours of the morning. In such cases, this smart feature will help people handle their business and get back to sleep without having to worry about accidents.
Smart plumbing fixtures are changing the concept of bathrooms. For instance, Kohler’s Numi 2.0 toilet is integrated with Amazon’s Alexa, giving users the ability to create personalized presets as per their preferences. Each user can set their preferred temperature, cleansing pressure, and ambiance.
Such cutting-edge technologies are expected to stay in vogue for many years to come.
3. The Demand for Smart Water-Leak Sensors Will Surge
Whether it’s due to faulty pipes, a leaky washing machine, or water heater issues, leaks can cause a lot of damage to households. Plus, the cost of leaking pipes is high. In fact, the insurance claims for water damage have been soaring, with the annual cost amounting to 2.5 billion dollars.
Moreover, people are getting environmentally conscious and taking measures to save water.
Smart leak detectors can reduce the impact of plumbing problems. When a leak is detected, the sensors set off an alarm or trigger an alert. A few advanced systems also shut off the valves to prevent major damage or water loss. They can also alert the homeowner about freezing temperatures and humidity issues.
The smart leak detector market is expected to clock a modest CAGR of 4.4%, with top brands like Honeywell, Samsung, and LeakSMART competing for a larger market share. The growing residential and commercial applications, intense competition, new launches, and retrofitting and renovation of old technologies are the key factors that will drive this trend.
4. Smart Irrigation Is Gaining Momentum
In the year 2021, one of the key developments in the agricultural plumbing domain has been the improvement in hydraulic efficiency. Thanks to sensors and remote meters, farmers can remotely control the moisture content of the soil and know the weather.
Technological solutions like automatic irrigation rescheduling are also helping them optimize water consumption and ensure environmental sustainability by reducing their carbon footprint. Further, remote sensing offers information on the state of the crops.
For instance, satellite imagery can map vegetation and soil health using specific parameters, namely the moisture content and its photosynthetically active biomass index and nitrification.
This boost provided by the sensor technology means improvements in the operations and control of agricultural plumbing infrastructure. In the coming years, the plumbing industry will see more irrigation associations opting for smart solutions to water their land as per the real needs of the crop.
The major drivers for this trend are the growing awareness and adoption of eco-friendly solutions, increasing government water conservation initiatives, growth in smart cities, and increasing the need for efficient irrigation systems.
5. The Rise of Specialty Plumbing Tools
Technology is significantly impacting how plumbers fix issues in homes and offices. For instance, fixing a leak behind walls is an invasive operation involving tearing down the entire wall. Modern technology is helping plumbers detect the exact source of the leak, making the process less invasive.
Modern plumbing tools go beyond wrenches and jetting machines. Today, there are several business tools available that help plumbing professionals streamline business operations and manage day-to-day affairs.
For instance, a drain inspection camera helps in inspecting sewer using systems that offer high-definition video, portability, and self-leveling camera heads.
In the coming years, you can expect more of such innovative tools for supporting plumbing business operations.
6. Rising Customer Awareness on Greywater Plumbing
As mentioned earlier, an increasing number of people are prioritizing the environment and working towards reducing their carbon footprint. Hence, they are looking for proactive strategies like greywater recycling to reduce the negative impact on the environment.
Greywater (wastewater from laundry, kitchen, and bathing) accounts for 75% of the wastewater produced in households. As a plumbing professional, you can train customers to recycle this water through greywater plumbing. This type of plumbing system aims at recycling this water for outdoor use. The used water is temporarily held in a tank before it’s used for irrigation or other purposes. Installing such systems can reduce water bills and positively impact the environment.
Wrapping Up
Convenience coupled with the desire to save money and preserve the environment are driving the top trends in the plumbing industry. If you are in the plumbing domain, take note of the trends shared in this post and use them to guide your business decisions.
Staying on top of these trends will enable you to meet customer needs and gain an edge over the competition.
Karen Lopez is a freelance content writer at marketing digest. With her keen interest in home decor and remodeling, she loves contributing insightful articles about the latest renovation trends in residential and commercial spaces. In her free time, she enjoys listening to Jazz music and watching Netflix.