Make your life easier and cleaner by switching to touchless faucets in your home
Touchless faucets can make the sinks in your bathrooms easier and cleaner to use. They utilize a sensor to start the flow of water, so you never have to touch the faucet. Placing your hand under the spout triggers the water to start running, and the water stops when you take your hand away. Here are five benefits of touchless faucets to help you decide if an automatic faucet is the right update for your home.
Because touchless faucets only run when needed, water consumption is cut dramatically compared to a traditional faucet. When we leave the faucet on to wash our hands or brush our teeth, about 2 gallons of water go down the drain, using about 2 gallons of water per minute.
A touchless faucet eliminates this waste. Hands-free faucets have a much lower flow rate because air is mixed with the water, creating the same feeling as using a larger quantity of water. Over time, this will add up to big savings on your water bills. A local faucet installation pro can help you update your faucet and save resources and money.
Bacteria can thrive in a bathroom if left to their own devices, much of which end up on standard touch faucets. Equipping your sinks with automatic faucets keeps the germs at bay and helps reduce the risk of spreading them to everyone who uses the same sink.
Kids (and, let’s be honest, some adults) get distracted easily, especially when making faces in the bathroom mirror. A touchless faucet for handwashing and toothbrushing eliminates unnecessary water waste when they aren't paying attention. Touchless faucets also offer fixed temperatures, which helps prevent burns.
While traditional touch faucets consist of several elements (like separate faucets and handles), automatic faucets come as a single unit. There are no faucet handles to clean or replace if they break. Touchless faucets are made of durable materials, such as ceramic and stainless steel, helping reduce corrosion over time.
Some hands-free sinks have fixed temperature settings to help keep kids and other users safe when using the hot water. Instead of picking a traditional faucet with a handle that users can adjust—and accidentally adjust to too-hot temperatures—choose an automatic faucet that lets you set and forget the temperature. That way, no matter who uses your sink, you won’t have to worry about temperature safety.
If you want a different option than a traditional faucet, you have two main choices: a touch faucet or a touchless faucet. Here, we discuss how they’re similar and how they differ.
Touch faucets are the middle ground between traditional faucets and touchless faucets. They turn the water on or off with a single touch, often with a tap on the faucet's spout. Some touch faucets also have a touchless component and automatically turn off the water after a set amount of time without a second touch.
Touch faucets have several pros and cons to consider. Here’s what you need to know:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Conserves water | More expensive than traditional faucets |
| No handles or knobs that can be difficult to use | Requires batteries or electricity |
| Less touching means fewer germs | Learning how to tap them on can take time |
| Stays cleaner than traditional faucets | Less control over water temperature and flow |
| Turns on with just a tap | Requires professional installation |
Touchless faucets don’t require contact to turn the water on and off. Most have a movement sensor that automatically turns on the faucet when you place your hands underneath the spout and turns it off when you pull your hands away. This can have upsides and downsides, including the following:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Saves water | Higher cost than traditional faucets |
| Prevents the spreading of germs | Requires professional installation |
| Convenient to use | Requires electricity to work |
| Easy to clean | Can take time to learn how to use them |
| Fixed water temperature for safety | Less control over water temperature and flow |
These two types of faucets have similar pros and cons compared to traditional faucets. However, understanding those slight differences can help you choose which one will be the better fit for your home and family.
While touchless faucets offer many benefits, they’re not always the right choice for everyone. Some considerations to keep in mind before making the switch include:
Touchless faucets are about 30% more expensive than traditional models.
Hands-free faucets contain more mechanical parts, making repairs and replacements more costly. A pro who replaces faucets can get yours working.
Sensor taps need regular cleaning, as buildup can affect their responsiveness.
Experienced DIYers may want to install their own faucet. However, hands-free faucets have a different, more complicated installation process than traditional faucets, which can increase the cost of replacing them. Plus, your local codes may require hiring a licensed plumber or electrician.
In either case, bringing in a professional ensures proper installation. Replacing a traditional bathroom faucet costs $170 to $360 on average. In comparison, touchless faucets cost $200 to $600.
Laura Hennigan contributed to this piece.
