Trends in Plumbing Technology

Our partners and plumbing experts at ServiceTitan share the top four plumbing technology trends that are making a real difference in the plumbing industry and translating to new offerings for our current and future customers in Westfield, Noblesville, Fishers, Carmel, Zionsville, and in and around Central Indiana!

Tankless Water Heaters

Tankless, or on-demand, water heaters remain highly popular for good reason, as this plumbing technology can save households $400 to $60 in energy costs every year, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Traditional storage water heaters are larger and store up to 80 gallons of heated water. This leads to wasted energy as the unit keeps unused water hot. By contrast, smaller tankless water heaters can heat the water as it passes through the device, at a rate of 2 to 5 gallons per minute.

Homeowners also save over the life of the appliance, as most tankless water heaters last more than 20 years—compared to 10 to 15 years for a storage water heater, according to the Department of Energy.

Hot Water Recirculation

Instead of wasting water by letting cold water run through the pipes until it’s hot, a hot water recirculating pump gives you hot water quickly, right when you want it. 

Plumbers install this plumbing technology on both tankless and storage tank water heaters, although the pumps can be installed near faucets, too. Pumps with a timer mean you can schedule it to shut off, making hot water instantly available during peak usage. Unused water remains in the tank to prevent waste.

Smart Pipe Technologies 

Gone are the days of homeowners coming home and unexpectedly finding a flooded laundry room or basement. New water pipe technology will offer leak detection for anything from a dripping toilet or a burst water pipe, and sends alerts to a smartphone, guarding against unexpected water damage. Depending on the device, smart pipe technologies monitor temperature and humidity, monitor water flow and usage, or completely shut off the home’s water supply in the event of an emergency.

Smart pipe technologies requiring professional installation mean homeowners get smart plumbing with an expert to guide them through the process. If homeowners want to control all of their home’s smart devices with a smart home hub, it’s important to know their devices’ specifications, because not all devices are compatible with a hub.

Advanced Faucets

A few years ago, did voice-activated faucets seem like cutting-edge plumbing technology? Now commonplace, these devices give homeowners myriad options for hands-free kitchen and bath faucets. Controlled on command through a digital voice assistant, these advanced faucets deliver precise amounts of water exactly when needed and allow water to be turned on or off without touching the handle. Touchless faucets using motion sensors, once found only in commercial settings, are another advanced option now readily available for your customer’s home or business.