Smart technology is moving into our commercial plumbing systems. This new way of managing water helps prevent massive floods, saves thousands of gallons of water, and keeps us all a lot healthier by reducing the number of surfaces we have to touch.
The Rise of the Touchless Restroom
The most obvious smart technology in a commercial building is the touchless faucet and soap dispenser. These devices use infrared sensors to detect when your hands are nearby. They instantly start the flow of water without you ever having to grab a handle. This is a huge win for public health because it means you aren’t picking up germs from the person who used the sink before you. What’s more, these faucets are smart about how much water they use. They shut off the second you move your hands away. In a large stadium where thousands of people use the bathroom in a single hour, these tiny savings add up to a massive reduction in the city’s water bill.
Sensors That Can Smell a Leak
One of the scariest things for a building manager is a pipe that bursts in the middle of the night when nobody is around to see it. A single broken line on the tenth floor of a hotel can cause millions of dollars in damage as the water pours through the ceilings below. Smart leak detectors are now being installed all over these buildings to act as a 24-hour security team for the plumbing. These tiny sensors sit on the floor or wrap around the pipes. They can detect even a single drop of moisture where it should not be. The moment the sensor gets wet, it sends an emergency alert to a smartphone. Some systems can even turn off the main water valve automatically. This quick action can turn a potential disaster into a minor repair that is fixed before the morning shift even starts.
Tracking Every Drop With Digital Meters
In the old days, a building owner only knew they had a water problem when they received a gigantic bill at the end of the month. Modern commercial buildings now use digital smart meters that track water usage in real-time. This allows them to see exactly where every gallon is going. If the computer notices that a toilet in the lobby has been running for three hours straight, it can flag that specific fixture for repair.
Making Drinking Water Safe
Smart technology is even being used to make sure the water we drink in big buildings is safe. Some systems now include sensors that monitor the temperature and chemical balance of the water inside the storage tanks. If the water gets too warm, which can allow dangerous bacteria to grow, the system will automatically flush the pipes with fresh, cool water to keep everything safe.
We are entering a time where our buildings are actively taking care of us. It all starts with the smart tech hidden inside the plumbing. When you need commercial plumbing services in Helena, MT, contact Big Sky.