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Installing and using motion-sensor faucets has several advantages now that the COVID-19 pandemic has made everyone more aware of how to mitigate the risks of transmitting and spreading illnesses.
Motion-sensor faucets use touchless technology, making turning on the water effortless. Yet, how do you know if upgrading to touchless faucets is worth the investment? To determine that, you will need to evaluate the advantages over the costs of upgrading.
Before we get into the benefits of installing a motion-sensor faucet, let's look at some of the most significant differences between a touch and a no-touch fixture.
Key Takeaways:
- Some faucets operate with touch sensors installed somewhere within the spout or handle of the fixture. The way you activate the water flow is the major difference between a touch versus a no-touch motion-sensor faucet.
- No-touch faucets are easy to use. With a wave of the hand, sensors activate the fixture to turn the water off and on. You can even choose one with a metering option so that the water turns off automatically after dispensing the designated amount of water.
- You could save thousands of gallons of water each year when you install a touchless faucet. A fixture rated at 0.35 GPM can cut up to 85% of your annual water usage. You can also save quite a bit on your water bill with a no-touch fixture.
- Most people do not wash their hands for the recommended time (no less than 20 seconds). That makes the handles on the sink one of the top-three germiest places in your home or business.
- Touchless faucets are easy to install and come in various styles and finishes to match your new faucets to your current fixtures.
Touch Vs. Touchless Faucets
There are two types of sensing faucets. You can opt for touch sensors or no-touch motion-sensor faucets. The most significant difference between these two faucet types is that one requires that you touch the fixture to activate water flow.
Motion-sensor faucets do not require physically touching the faucet to turn on the water. Touch-sensor fixtures are suitable for children and people with limited mobility. However, they are not ADA-compliant certified like touchless faucets. The chart below outlines other differences between these faucets.
5 Leading Benefits of Motion-Sensor Faucets
Installing motion-sensor faucets is a good investment in any building. Touchless faucet technology is the new wave of hygiene for residential and commercial buildings, and here are a few of the most noteworthy benefits.
1. Easy to Use
What could be easier than simply waving your hand over a sensor to turn on the faucet? These faucets are suitable for everyone, and even the more complex models require little effort to operate.
People who benefit the most from motion-sensor faucets are:
- Elderly
- Young children
- People with disabilities
- Those with impaired motor skills
- Those who are immunocompromised
Maintaining these touchless faucets is also easier. There are advanced features in these fixtures that allow you to program and monitor your faucets from a smartphone. You can even check water usage and flow rates to help you conserve water and energy.
2. Water Conservation
You could save thousands of gallons of water each year when you install a touchless faucet. A fixture rated at 0.35 GPM can cut up to 85% of your annual water usage.
Freshwater is a limited natural resource. It is everyone's responsibility to do their part in conserving water supplies to ensure they will last for future generations.
By investing in touchless motion-sensor faucets, you conserve water. These faucets must sense movement to turn on and only stay on when they detect motion or once the metering time has passed.
3. Money Savings
Water conservation leads to savings on your monthly water bill. The amount of money you will save by using less water makes the cost of a motion-sensor faucet an excellent investment, even if you opt for the high-end models.
4. Reduce the Spread of Germs
Kitchen and bathroom faucets are some of the germiest places in a home or business. They are third on a survey's list of most germ-infested places.
People do not wash their hands effectively or for the length of time health officials, like the CDC or WHO, recommend. These organizations say you should wash your hands for no less than 20 seconds. When you don't wash your hands properly, you miss some critical points on your hands where germs concentrate (see the chart below).
A touchless faucet will help mitigate risks of cross-contamination from touching filthy surfaces. They prevent the spread of viruses and promote sanitation, hygiene, and public safety.
5. Simple Installation
Whether you are installing a touchless faucet in your home or business, they are relatively easy to install. If you are doing a simple upgrade where you are only swapping out existing manual fixtures with touchless faucets, you can save yourself some money and do it yourself.
There are several on the market to choose from, and they come in various styles to match your existing décor easily.
Touchless faucets will not need any extra wiring to install. Yet, they do require a power source. So, you will need to have an outlet accessible for them to plug into installed under the sink or a battery pack to operate. You can even monitor the faucet batteries from your smartphone.
A Pro Tip from the Experts:
You will want a battery backup even if you have an outlet under the sink, so your faucet will work during a power outage. Check out the video below to see how to replace a battery in a Chicago Faucets touchless faucet.
Why It's Time to Upgrade to Motion-Sensor Faucets
Besides the many benefits of upgrading your current manual fixtures to touchless motion-sensor faucets, the look and feel of a modern kitchen or bathroom faucet increase the joy of using these spaces.
Not only are they aesthetically pleasing, but you also feel better knowing you are doing your part to reduce the consumption of natural resources. Our mission at Chicago Faucets is to provide environmentally responsible products with a sleek and modern look.
Is it time to upgrade the fixtures in your home or business with motion-sensor faucets? Contact us today to learn more about what makes these fixtures a good investment.
