CE Pro December 2022 - 38

TECHNOLOGY
Water-based
Technology
WHAT
ACTUALLY
IS A BIDET
SEAT?
The new generation of
" bidet seats, " or " washlets "
as they are called in Japan,
are integrated replacement
toilet seats. They are
installed by simply replacing
the existing seat, hooking
up to the cold-water toilet
feed with a tee adapter and
a second flexible hose and
then plugging into an electrical
outlet, which supplies
power for an integrated
water pump, water heater,
air dryer, etc., depending on
the model.
They have one or more
nozzles that extend when
activated to provide a
gentle flush of warm
water, with several position
options to suit users of
both genders. They usually
have a small warm water
tank that eliminates any
" cold-water shock " when
used. A bit of water is used
to wash the nozzle after
each use. Bidet seats use
very little energy and can
reduce consumption of
toilet tissue considerably.
" Smart toilets " extend
the experience by integrating
the toilet bowl and
flushing mechanism with
the bidet seat. This allows
a streamlined appearance,
as well as a few added
features. Most offer an
" auto-flush " feature like
commercial rest room
toilets as well as automatic
seat lifting and lowering.
Some are also tankless,
like commercial fixtures.
38 | CE Pro December 2022
Typically, plumbers are not prepared to add electrical outlets and provide the connectivity
necessary to turn a bathroom into a luxurious haven for clients... but integrators can.
science, but they are getting
closer. Unlike electrical usage,
water tends to be used
one device at a time, which
makes it easier, but most
systems cannot distinguish
between identical model
toilets, and have difficulty
with appliances that use
small amounts of water over
extended periods of time,
like dishwashers and washing
machines. Some systems allow
you to add point-of-use
flowmeters to determine the
usage more precisely for that
device, but if several devices
are using water simultaneously,
it may be difficult for
the system to determine
that. Since most outdoor
irrigation systems run on a
timer, many flowmeters can
be programmed with a rough
irrigation timer schedule, so
they will attempt to isolate
that flow measurement.
Flume integrates directly
with Orbit B-Hyve irrigation
timers, for example.
Flowmeters can help
integrators be water conservation
heroes to customers,
or at least offer them
valuable insights. When I
installed a flowmeter, the
biggest surprise for me
was that outdoor irrigation
was responsible for by far
the largest proportion of
water usage - well over
50% in the winter and as
much as 80% in the summer.
Our washing machine and
dishwasher used a negligible
amount of water, especially
over a monthly period, and
although long showers were
significant, the total water
consumption was dwarfed by
the sprinklers. So, for water
conservation, cutting unnecessary
irrigation was far more
cost-effective than investing
in a new dishwasher.
These products are all
relatively small investments
and offer many benefits.
Again, they cross over in
installation skills, and the
trades most skilled in installing
them, such as plumbers
and landscapers, are not
likely to offer them to your
clients. There's also potential
to integrate such devices
with whole-home control
systems, as the native apps
can be somewhat crude.
Working in
Quality Control
Unless you live in Flint,
Mich., or another region
where the water from your
tap has some unpleasant
color or odor, water quality
can be an ephemeral issue.
Even if it looks perfectly
clear, tap water can contain
a variety of chemical,
biological, and/or radiological
contaminants that can
be very unhealthy. These
days, water quality is a major
concern and a pillar of the
wellness movement, and
there technologies available
to evaluate and filter water.
Solutions range from
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CE Pro December 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of CE Pro December 2022