Alessandro DeMarinis is a third-generation plumber and owner of the family business. In the following article, Alessandro DeMarinis of New York discusses more about fascinating new plumbing technologies and how they can benefit anyone looking to save water, prevent disaster, and enjoy peace of mind thanks to an efficient plumbing system.
Engineering is constantly changing, adapting, and advancing, and the plumbing world is no different. New technologies are the key to improving the sustainability and functionality of plumbing systems.
DeMarinis says that there are many exciting new innovations that industry experts and homeowners alike should get excited about. These include tankless water heaters, smart irrigation systems, leak detectors, greywater recycling systems, smart toilets, smart showers, and smart water heaters.
Pretty cool, right?
Leak Detectors
Nothing is more annoying than a leaky faucet, pipe connection, or water heater. Besides the endless mopping, leaks drip money down the drain. According to plumbing expert Alessandro DeMarinis of New York, a leak detector is the answer to this huge problem. These handy devices can be installed anywhere that has potential for a leak, and they will alert the homeowner of the problem before it can become anything more than a simple fix.
Leak detectors are beneficial in two ways. First, they prevent water damage caused by a flood, big or small. Second, they provide monetary savings by allowing the owner to stop a leak as soon as possible, rather than potentially weeks or even months before the leak is found naturally.
Greywater Recycling Systems
Alessandro DeMarinis of New York says that greywater is the used water in the home that is relatively clean; think dishwasher, showers and baths, sinks, and washing machines. This water is reusable in many applications such as watering plants, filling toilets, and washing clothes. A greywater recycling system in the home treats and filters this water before sending it through the appropriate pipelines to be used again.
Greywater recycling systems reduce water usage greatly, both helping the environment and lowering water costs. Alessandro DeMarinis of New York says that this type of system is particularly useful in drought-prone locations.
Tankless Water Heaters
Regular water heaters hold up to 80 gallons of heated water at a time, but that requires quite a lot of electricity to be used unnecessarily when the water may sit unused for hours at a time. Tankless water heaters are the logical alternative: heat the water only as it is actively being used. Alessandro DeMarinis of New York says that these water heaters provide hot water at a rate of up to 5 gallons per minute.
Smart Showers
Smart showers are the future of vertical bathing. These intelligent plumbing fixtures can be controlled to run at a set temperature and preserve water as much as possible without sacrificing water pressure. Alessandro DeMarinis of New York says that this not only helps with sustainability by using much less water per shower than the standard shower head, but homeowners will enjoy lower water bills as well.
Smart Irrigation Systems
Smart irrigation systems are the latest outdoor green technology to revolutionize how sprinklers operate. Everyone loves a green lawn, but traditional sprinkler systems are inefficient and wasteful. Alessandro DeMarinis of New York says that these new irrigation systems operate intelligently using information from recent weather forecasts and sensors to determine when water is actually needed, as well as how much water to use.
Smart Toilets
Smart toilets are actually quite impressive plumbing fixtures that offer a world of features for water efficiency and human comfort. They can help preserve water usage and will make time spent on the porcelain throne a little bit more dignified. Smart toilets are best known for:
- Overflow protection
- Water-saving technology
- Bidet wash and air dry
- Heated seat
- Automatic flushing
- Emergency flushing system
- Self-cleaning capabilities
- Self-deodorizer
Smart Water Heaters
Smart water heaters use data unique to a home when heating and delivering its water. Alessandro DeMarinis of New York explains that they can be turned off whenever needed, such as when the residents are at work all day or away on vacation. These water heaters can also learn from collected data on water usage and average set temperature to customize how it functions. Most of the time, all this takes is installing a small gadget on the existing water heater.
Why Upgrading to New Plumbing Technology is Worth it as a Homeowner
It may be surprising to know that the average household uses roughly 300 gallons of water per day. That’s more than $1000 per year spent on water alone.
By using some of these new technologies and Energy Star appliances, homeowners can save up to 38% per year on their water bill. If that’s not enough, energy savings also abound when using smart or tankless water heaters.
So, while it may be an initial investment up front, these technologies quickly pay for themselves in annual savings.
