SMART SHOWERS
Modern bathrooms go high-tech
Imagine waking up and hearing the shower turn on, all by itself, warming to just the perfect temperature and adjusting itself to include the right shower pressure and directional sprays. As you walk into the bathroom, the light automatically goes on, and with the touch of a button, your towel, which is either hung on a rack or tucked inside a small drawer, is being warmed to cosy perfection.
Mornings can be a real hassle, especially when you’re rushed. But today’s bathrooms are going super high-tech, turning to digital automation to streamline the whole process.
The new U by Moen shower is one such product that is revolutionizing the shower experience. Here’s how it works: the shower system is a Wi-Fi cloud-based digital shower that offers you the ability to connect to your shower and personalize it to your own settings.
“Consumers want to wake up and want to have a shower customized for them, rather than find the right temperature or shower options,” said Garry Scott, vice-president of marketing and e-commerce at Moen Canada.
“Consumers have technology throughout their homes — from the heating and cooling to sound, lighting, and more; technology has crept into every area of the home, so let’s connect you to water and improve the experience, and add smart technology to your shower.”
With a digital valve behind the wall, there’s no need for nozzles and handles, lending a very streamlined look to the shower. A sleek control panel, which can connect to up to four devices, controls everything.
“And it’s Wi-Fi-based, so not
The main thing to keep in mind when integrating technology in the bathroom is installation. Many components will need to be put in during (initial) construction/renovation ...
only do you have the panel but you can download an app and it gives you the ability to personalize your shower from outside the bathroom,” Scott added.
Not only do these “smart” showers offer convenience, but they can save money and add to overall bathroom safety, too. Celine Marcotte, Graff’s business development manager, said that advancements in valve technologies mean decreased water use. And a thermostatic mixing valve blends hot water with cold water to ensure a constant, safe temperature, preventing the release of scalding water.
Automatic lighting is another relatively recent technological innovation in modern-day commodes. There’s overhead lighting that can be motion-activated as well as nightlights. In fact, Kohler’s line of Nightlight toilet seats features two unique LED bulbs that illuminate the toilet in a soft glow, so no stumbling around in the middle of the night.
Additional cool features for today’s Jetsons-inspired bathroom include towel warming racks and drawers, no-fog mirrors, heated floors, no-touch automatic soap dispensers, and TVs that are embedded right into the mirror.
The main thing to keep in mind when integrating technology in the bathroom, Marcotte said, is installation. Many components will need to be put in during construction/renovation to avoid removing walls and tiles after the fact, so plan accordingly.
Today’s bathrooms can be modern marvels of the future when decked out with sleek automation features. These “bells and whistles” can make the whole bathroom experience one that is effortless, cost-efficient and even a little indulgent. From the perfect shower to the soft glow of a nightlight, bathrooms have certainly involved from their humble utilitarian beginnings.