Smart Plumbing Is The Next Trend Homeowners Want

As a child dreaming about the future, what did you imagine? flying cars and instant food? What about a mood-changing showerhead or a self-cleaning toilet? According to an article published by Medium, smart technology has become increasingly interwoven with our lives, helping us monitor everything from the health of livestock to the sleeping patterns of babies. About a quarter of Americans now have smart devices in their homes, and 81% of homebuyers say they'd be more inclined to buy a home with smart devices already installed, explains Rochester Real Estate.

Smart devices like security systems and thermostats have become commonplace in American homes, but what could be the next innovation? A new release of Kohler products explored by TechHive suggests that smart plumbing could be the next step in the smart home revolution. But what exactly is smart plumbing? How does it work, and why should we want it? Here's what we have to look forward to with the rise of smart plumbing. 

Some smart home gadgets might seem a little silly to the average consumer, but what about a device that could help you save money and prevent plumbing issues? Smart water valves are practical and easy-to-use devices that can give you some peace of mind with your plumbing. These sensors are easy to install, and they can track the pressure and water usage for all of your sinks, showers, and appliances. These resulting reports help homeowners understand how much water they're using every month and where they potentially use too much, for example, during long showers. 

Kohler recently updated their H2Wise smart water valve, allowing it to link with a Kohler faucet. When the new H2Wise+ senses an increase in pressure through the pipes, it will be able to send a signal to the faucet and open it briefly, preventing breaks and water leaks during hard freezes, notes TechHive. Devices like the Moen 920-004 Flo Smart Water Leak Detector also have the ability to alert you to water leaks and moisture in hidden spaces, like basements or cabinets (via PC Mag.) 

Next on the list of devices you'll want in your home is a smart showerhead. These showerheads offer unique features like touchless controls, Bluetooth speakers, LED lights, smartphone compatibility, water usage monitors, and more. The concept of smart showerheads has been around for a while, but the trend took a while to catch on. Now, many people claim that they'll never go back to boring showers. According to Grandview Research, the smart shower market is expected to reach a value of $2.71 billion by 2030. 

Who doesn't want showering at home to feel like a luxurious health spa? Kohler's newest showerhead release, The Sprig Shower Infusion System, is designed to gently infuse essential oils into the shower water itself (via TechHive). With hardware prices starting around $119, The Sprig can be attached to your existing plumbing. The company will also offer essential oil pods with scents like lavender, vanilla, and chamomile green tea, enhancing users' showering routines with aromatherapy. As we move toward more innovative and health-conscious homes, smart showerheads like The Sprig are likely to become an everyday luxury. 

A home device straight out of science-fiction books, smart toilets are becoming a major trend in home innovation. These toilets have some awesome features that plenty of people are curious about. For example, most smart toilets have built-in bidets, and some come with water temperature settings, pressure controls, and even air dryers. Even more intriguing features could include Bluetooth speakers, night lights, and self-warming toilet seats. 

Despite all the bells and whistles, smart toilets should be taken seriously. According to Review Geek, these toilets are incredibly helpful for disabled and elderly people who may have trouble getting clean without a bidet. They can also be more sanitary in general, as many have antibacterial surfaces, self-lifting lids, and automatic flush features. If you hate cleaning your toilet, you can now consider investing in one of Kohler's new self-cleaning toilets for around $3,400. These toilets use ultraviolet light and electrolyzed water to clean and sanitize the bowl after every use (via Tech Hive). With so many quickly advancing features, we can't help but wonder what's next for smart plumbing. Would you use a toilet that can run health tests too, or is that a step too far?