Myths About The Touchless Kitchen Faucet
Touchless kitchen faucets are one of the newest developments for a seemingly simple device that has been around ever since plumbing was invented. Also known as automatic faucets, infrared or sensor faucets, hands-free faucets, and electronic faucets, touchless faucets address concerns about hygiene and wastage. Plus, in modern kitchens, they lend an aura of modernity and aesthetics that older designs can’t, well, touch.
In operation, touchless kitchen faucets open a valve that releases a stream of directed water towards the user. Controlling this valve is a battery-operated infrared or proximity sensor and control unit. Instead of the user twisting a knob or lever, this control unit keeps the valve open as long as the user’s hands are within the detection areas where the sensors are placed. They are powered by house electricity or batteries. Battery-powered units last up to two years and use commonly available sizes.
Touchless faucets were first used in large facilities such as malls, airports, buildings, and hospitals, where the main concerns were to conserve water and promote hygiene. They are also used for livestock farms, which have large demands for water and where wastage can eat significantly into profits. Since then, they have become popular in the residential kitchen scene because of these very features, in addition to being chic and affordable.
Negative Myths About Touchless Kitchen Faucets
Despite all the advantages and convenience, the more widespread adoption of touchless faucets has been hampered by negative myths, including:
- The myth that they spread bacteria — first reported as one of the causes of the spread of Legionella bacteria in hospitals, it is not really clear if they were first contaminated by people spreading them during use of these faucets or the hospital environment itself. As everyone knows, hospitals are a hotspot for bacteria and viruses, and all surfaces are potential breeding grounds. Touchless kitchen faucets installed in residential environments hold a lot less virulent pathogens, and hardly any cases of people falling ill from contaminated faucets have been reported.
- Energy cost — it’s true that batteries or AC power is needed, but whatever cost is incurred for operating the control units in electronic faucets is offset by savings in water consumption. For battery-powered units, rechargeable batteries offer even more savings.
- Tricky installation — if one is an accomplished DIYer (home repairs, car maintenance, a general jack of all trades), there is nothing tricky to installing a faucet as long as one follows the installation instructions. In fact, newer models have number-coded plumbing, so you don’t mess up the connections. Besides, in the age of YouTube, there is no dearth of instructional videos that show you how install these relatively simple gadgets.
- There is also the myth that the electricity used by touchless faucets can ground you — touchless faucets use around 9 volts, some a bit more, others less. Touch the poles of your car battery (which is 12 volts) and see what happens. Nothing will, we can assure you.
- Touchless faucets turn on even with no one around — a lot of these installations have been shown to be defective. Since there are electronics involved, care must be taken to follow the manufacturer’s instructions on grounding and connections.
- Touchless faucets are impossible to clean because they keep turning on — if this was a problem early on, this problem has been rectified with newer, more sensitive sensors and firmware.
- Touchless faucets enable pets or toddlers to waste water — again, newer sensors and timers are more selective between touch and mere contact, and timers shut off water flow after a predetermined period.
- Touchless faucet temperature is difficult to control — this may be true of early or inferior models. Touchless faucets arrived in the early 90s. More than 25 years later, the more reputable companies have solved this control problem.
- Poor quality and reliability — with the explosion of manufacturers offering this technology, it should come as no surprise that there are products of inferior quality. As with any other product or intended purchase, it behooves the buyer to do research and ask around for trustworthy brands.
Touchless Kitchen Faucets Are The Way To Go
Online reviews for touchless kitchen faucets may seem negative because satisfied customers rarely bother to post on forums or message boards. Like any newly-emerged technology applications, real-world use of products manifests problems that are easily corrected in subsequent production runs.
To summarize, touchless kitchen faucets diminish water wastage, promote hygiene, are significantly easier to operate, and are undoubtedly aesthetic and cool. And since faucets aren’t just used in the kitchen, consider replacing your worn-out faucets around the house with units that take advantage of the latest in technology, convenience, and hygiene. If you’re in the market for a new faucet or remodeling a part of your house that needs these, then seriously consider a touchless faucet. Your family will thank you for it.
A word about this post: I was contracted on Skype to write this but after submission, the contact disappeared. So I wasn’t paid. I’m putting this up for all to use, free of copyright.
