22 Jan Can Toilet Motion Sensors Save Water?
According to Gov.sg, Singapore utilizes 430 million gallons of water daily. This figure is expected to increase by twofold come 2060. To put it into perspective, each of us uses approximately 94 units of 1.5 litres bottled water per day.
Singapore’s National Water Agency (PUB) reports that showering and flushing contributes to half of the water usage in residential areas. The agency conducted a study on 400 households in between 2016 to 2017 to monitor and record residential water usage. They found that showering accounted for 27% of water consumption, while flushing came in second at 18%.
To tackle the increasing water demand, the government is pushing for water conservation policies across the board. Evidently, water conservation needs to happen at the grassroot level. As responsible consumers, we can pinpoint ways to efficiently decrease our water consumption.
Now here is the good news, Toilet Motion Sensors are highly efficient automated toilet units that can effectively conserve water. In addition to that, it can help us cut down on our water bills. Surely most of us have experienced using an automated toilet before. It is hygienic, convenient and above all, it is designed to conserve water.
If you are looking to reduce your water consumption, you can start by integrating Toilet Motion Sensors, be it in residential, commercial or public restrooms. Nonetheless, you may have questions about the efficacy of such toilets and how it helps to save water.
To answer your questions, let us take a look at how a Toilet Motion Sensors works and why installing one helps you to conserve water.
How Do Toilet Motion Sensors Work?
The major component of an automated toilet is none other than its motion sensors. These motion sensors detect infrared energy (heat) that is emitted from your bodies. Simply put, the sensors will activate the flush mechanism (through an electrical signal) when it senses a change in temperature (from hot to cold). Therefore, the flush mechanism is only activated once you have shifted away from the toilet seat.
How Can Toilet Motion Sensors Save Water?
There is an ongoing debate about the effectiveness of Toilet Motion Sensors in water conservation efforts. Public opinion is swayed by the occurrence of phantom flushing or multiple flushes activated by highly sensitive or poorly configured sensors.
Essentially with the correct configuration and proper maintenance, Toilet Motion Sensors can indeed contribute to water conservation.
Timed Delay Between Flushes
If you have ever used an automatic toilet, you would have observed that there is a timed delay between flushes. This means that once the flush mechanism has been activated, you will have to wait a few minutes before re-flushing. This intentional delay deters multiple flushing and prevents any unnecessary water consumption.
Sensor with Pre-Set Range
As for the sensor, a pre-set range is designated for it to detect the presence of a user. This range can be adjusted according to the size of the toilet. When configured correctly, the sensor can precisely detect the user’s movement. This will prevent any premature activation of the flush mechanism.
Ultimately, precise configuration is necessary to ensure that Toilet Motion Sensors work correctly, thereby limiting the number of flushes per user to conserve water consumption.
HOW TO COMBAT PHANTOM FLUSHING
Nonetheless, the issue with Toilet Motion Sensors as mentioned above is the prevalence of phantom flushing. A phantom flush happens when an automatic toilet activates its flushing mechanism without any movement or prompting from a user. This situation may arise due to sensors that are overly sensitive. Poorly configured sensors may wrongly detect the slightest of movements such as the flickering of lights or someone walking past a cubicle. When this happens, the flushing mechanism tends to be needlessly activated, contributing to water wastage.
As such, it is vital to understand how to minimize phantom flushing in your automated toilet and optimize water consumption. Here is a list of things you can do to address problem:
- To stay on top of things, create a system where users can report any occurrence of phantom flushing to your establishment.
- Inform you maintenance and janitorial staff about the problem and have them alert you when phantom flushes are discovered
- Try altering the intensity of lighting in the restroom or configuring the toilet sensor to see if it solves the problem.
- When installing new automatic toilets, always keep tabs on them to ensure that they have been configured properly and are not phantom flushing.
- Note any new units that are exhibiting this problem and report it to your supplier as soon as possible in order to be covered by their warranty.
- Phantom flushes can be hard to detect, as such it is important for you to monitor any discrepancies in your water consumption. Compile data on your water usage rates for a period of 5 years and check for any spikes or excessive charges.
Hire Professionals for Installation and Maintenance
It is paramount that you engage a trusted plumbing service to install your Toilet Motion Sensorss. The precision of the sensors is highly dependent on the skills and experience of the installation team.
Moreover, regular maintenance is necessary to keep your automatic toilets in good working condition. This is especially true for public or commercial restrooms where foot traffic is constant. Continuous usage will eventually contribute to wear and tear on your automated unit, thereby requiring regular maintenance.
A lapse in maintenance could cause the sensors to malfunction and contribute to unnecessary water wastage.
Get Quality Toilet Sensors from KC Plumbing
KC Plumbing is a leading plumbing company in Singapore. With 15 years of experience, rest assured that we conduct our services professionally and efficiently.
We offer toilet sensor installation for various industries spanning Food & Beverage, Factories, Building Management, Shopping Centres and Airports. Automatic toilet flushers are ideal for all commercial and public restrooms. With our precision workmanship you can install high quality Toilet Motion Sensors in your establishment. Join in the effort to conserve water today and contact us to learn more about our toilet sensors and plumbing in Singapore.