Technology makes homes smarter, safer and sensory-friendly by Ben Levine
by Ben Levine
Advertorial- As the world seems to be advancing in technology and we, as a population, seem to be inundated with sensory overload, there has also been advances for those who have sensory sensitivities. In the plumbing industry many products have been created and updated in a manner that can be extremely beneficial for those with specific sensory requirements.
With new technologies the “smart” home has now moved into the bathroom and kitchen. The smart shower enables the user to adjust the temperature to within a degree. There is no more guessing if the water has reached a desired temperature. Now you can be alerted on your phone when your shower is exactly how you like it. You can even turn your shower on from your phone so by the time you enter the bathroom the shower is ready for you to your specifications.
The toilet can also be modified for those who are sensory sensitive. Kohler and Toto have created toilets that have heated seats as some individuals are sensitive to the cold (they also help increase the speed of bowel movements). A bidet can be added to the toilet as well for individuals who don’t like the feel of toilet paper (the temperature of the outcoming water can be adjusted to individual preferences).
For individuals that are sensory seeking you can now add coloured lights to your bath and shower. You can even have music playing underwater in your bathtub or have it coming from your showerhead. Some systems allow you to add an aromatherapy component to it by adding essential oils to the showerhead adding the sense of smell to showering.
When it comes to the kitchen, Moen has introduced a Smart faucet that can be set to a specific temperature and volume. This can be controlled by your voice, an App, touch, or manually. It even has a hand-washing preset, turning on briefly to wet your hands followed by a 20 pause for soap, then water continues for optimal washing time.
The days of noisy garburators are long gone. Now users can put in a “quiet” garburator that uses increased level of insulation and tighter seals to block the noise level coming from their machine.
As the evolution of technology continues to advance in the plumbing industry, so to are the sensory experiences these products provide, making fixtures more accessible to those with individual needs.
Levine Bros. Plumbing has a long history of taking care of its customers – let us help you make your home safer and more accessible.
Ben Levine is the president of Levine Bros. Plumbing. For information, visit www.levinebros.ca.
