Will Your Plumbing Business Diminish Due to Automation?

Every day you read an article or see a video online about how modern technological developments transform almost every aspect of contemporary life. Some plumbing professionals are nervous about consumers wholeheartedly embracing the numerous smart devices that affect our industry. Appliances such as smart dishwashers or refrigerators allow consumers to control them via voice commands or an app on their phone that works from anywhere. If someone is shopping for an impromptu gathering and remember they need more ice at home, they can alert the fridge, and it can comply to the request via the app before the homeowners arrive back to the house. 

Also, smart faucets and toilets are increasingly becoming a source of installation requests, and new construction and homes that are undergoing renovations are installing these devices. Because having smart home technologies increases both the convenience and is a perk many buyers look for when purchasing a home, most consumers do not see a downside to the upgrade.

Many plumbing professionals are beginning to offer expanded services to meet consumer demand for smart products. A few of the areas you should concentrate on having an excellent working knowledge of the advances in home plumbing-related technology to include some of the following areas:

Water-Saving and Green Technology Devices

Toilets that are sensor-flushing and have water-saving features have been around for a while, and most plumbing pros are comfortable dealing with them. Tankless water heaters are fast rising in popularity. This expanding demand is because they deliver hot water on demand with no waiting, and there is no potential for a holding tank with thirty or more gallons of water to leak and ruin your house in a mini-flood event.

Smart sprinkler systems are another upgrade many residential and commercial customers are investing in. These systems have sensors throughout the lawn that determine the moisture content of your yard and water accordingly in coordination with reports from the National Weather Service for whether or not it is going to rain. Some of the pricier options water the sections as your yard according to how dry it is, so an area in direct sun that may get more dried out gets watered more often than areas of the yard in the shade that retain moisture better. The result is measured water usage and a lush, green lawn.

Smart piping units run throughout the property and alert when there is a leak or clog and show the area where the problem occurs via an app. Homeowners can monitor consumption and, if necessary, turn off devices like a smart shower after a certain amount of time to keep the cost of water down for the home budget. 

Graywater Recycling Units

Another way homeowners are turning towards engaging in water conservation is the installation of graywater recycling systems. Once clean water comes from the tap and gets used for showers, baths, or washing machines, the water then has a designation as graywater. This tainted water gets collected and used for purposes such as flushing toilets and watering lawns; thus, it helps the household save money.

Plumbers Can Use This Technology to Their Advantage

The one element all of these types of devices and systems have in common is they need knowledgeable plumbing professionals for installation, repairs, and ongoing maintenance. The tradespeople that undergo continuing learning to support the technology are the plumbing pros that will maintain a market share.