Smart technology has rapidly expanded in many areas. While some smart devices are mostly just meant to make life convenient, other types of smart technology are designed specifically with the goal of conservation and helping to protect the environment. This is one area where the use of smart plumbing and irrigation can be extremely beneficial.
These technologies are a great way to conserve water and prevent unnecessary waste, which is especially useful in areas like California that experience frequent droughts. In this article, we’ll look at some of the best smart plumbing and irrigation devices for water conservation and the benefits they can offer.
Smart Leak Detection and Smart Water Shut-Offs
Plumbing leaks are by far one of the biggest sources of water waste. In the US alone, it’s estimated that over 2 trillion gallons of water are wasted each year as a result of leaks in municipal water systems and residential/commercial plumbing systems. Household plumbing leaks alone account for approximately 1 trillion gallons of this wasted water. Some estimates even suggest that nearly half of the clean, treated water produced in the US is lost due to leaks, putting even more strain on our already stretched water resources.
Smart leak detection devices are a great solution for ensuring that your household doesn’t contribute to this massive water waste problem. The most basic devices are just a motion sensor that you can connect to your Wi-Fi network and send a notification to your phone if the sensor ever gets wet.
This type of device is mostly used to detect if an appliance like a washing machine, dishwasher, water heater or refrigerator is leaking so that you can quickly shut off the water to the appliance to minimize the amount of water damage that results from the leak.
Being able to recognize if your water heater is leaking right away is also helpful for reducing the amount of water that gets wasted. If your water heater were to burst and you didn’t immediately shut off its valve, it could flood your house with hundreds of gallons of water in a short time.
The more advanced leak detection devices are installed on the main water line that runs to the house and work by monitoring water usage. The device is extremely sensitive and able to tell the difference between normal usage and usage that results from even a small plumbing leak. It will then send a notification to your mobile device to alert you if it detects a leak.
Some devices also have a smart shut-off that allows them to automatically turn the water to the home off in the event of a leak. Another advantage of this type of device is that it comes with an app that allows you to monitor your water usage, potentially enabling you to find ways you can reduce your usage to conserve water.
Smart Water Heaters
Another growing trend is the production of smart water heaters. These units can have a variety of functions, such as a maintenance sensor that alerts you if the water heater isn’t working effectively and needs to be serviced or repaired. This type of feature is useful for preventing the water heater from using excessive energy and for preserving its lifespan.
Most units also monitor hot water usage and allow you to see usage statistics through the app. One useful way to use this feature is to see how much hot water you use for a typical shower and how much you can save if you take shorter showers. You can also monitor the amount of energy the water heater uses. Some units can even make automatic adjustments to conserve energy. For instance, if the unit determines that you never use hot water during certain times, such as at night or on the days when no one is home, it can slightly reduce the temperature temporarily to minimize energy usage.
Another great thing about many smart water heaters is that they have a built-in leak detector and an automatic water shut-off that will activate in the event of a leak. These features are beneficial both for preventing water waste and minimizing water damage.
Smart Irrigation
Outdoor water during the summer months results in a substantial increase in water usage. The concern is that a large percentage of this water is also wasted due to inefficient watering practices. By insufficient watering, we mean things like overwatering, watering more often than necessary and watering during hot, dry conditions where much of the water evaporates before it can soak down into the soil.
Smart irrigation systems are designed to avoid these issues while ensuring that lawns and gardens still get enough water to stay healthy and keep growing. Most homeowners see around a 20% reduction in the amount of water used for outdoor watering with a smart irrigation system, but some may see up to a 50% reduction.
Smart irrigation systems work by monitoring weather conditions, the moisture level in the soil or sometimes both. Systems that monitor weather use what’s known as a climate-based controller. Some of these controllers connect to the internet and monitor the current weather reports for the area and the weather forecasts.
The controller then uses this information to determine the appropriate times to turn the irrigation system on and also how long the system should run. For instance, the system will only come on when the temperature is lower and will water more frequently in dry conditions and less frequently in humid conditions.
Other controllers just monitor the weather on-site for things like temperature, humidity level and recent rainfall. The only drawback to this type of controller is that your irrigation system may still run just before a rainstorm, as the controller doesn’t know the weather forecast.
Soil-based controllers use probes in the ground to measure the moisture content in the soil. This makes them more accurate in determining exactly when the irrigation system needs to run. The probes will also signal the controller to shut the irrigation system off as soon as the moisture content reaches a certain level. You still have to program the days and times you want your irrigation system to run, but the controller will only run the next cycle if the ground is sufficiently dry.
Smart irrigation systems that both monitor weather and measure soil moisture are the most accurate and thus best at conserving water. This type of system basically manages everything automatically, ensuring the water only runs in certain conditions depending on the current weather, the weather forecast and how saturated the soil is currently.
Go Over Your Options With the Pros
Since 2010, Environmental Heating & Air Solutions has been providing leading heating, cooling and water heater services in Benicia, Roseville and throughout Northern California. Our plumbing service team is ready to help if you’re looking to enjoy the benefits of a new smart water heater. We also install LeakSMART leak detection devices that will alert you to any leaks throughout your home and can automatically shut off your water.
If you’re considering upgrading your plumbing with smart leak detection, we offer easy financing options on approved credit so that you can get the safety you need now without having to pay the full cost upfront. For more information or to set up an appointment or in-home consultation, contact us today.
