Touchless faucets have reimagined how we use water dispensers. They are smart appliances that use motion sensor technology to activate water flow that eliminates the need to touch handles. This is an efficient way to prevent the spread of germs from one person to another.
As practicing good hygiene routines in the workplace is more critical now than ever, touchless faucets are sensible investments. By using non-touch technology such as touchless faucets in the office helps reduce the spread of COVID-19.
Benefits of Touchless Faucets
A touchless faucet comes with a variety of benefits. For instance, it can use less water than a traditional one as it is designed with a low flow rate. This technology is commonly used in public settings as it reduces your exposure to viruses and bacteria left behind by previous users, preventing the contamination of your hands.
Here are some more benefits of using touchless faucet water dispensers:
It Saves Water
Sensor faucets shut off automatically after each use, reducing water waste that can be caused by over-pouring of water. A hands-free faucet only turns on when you need it and then turns off automatically when you’ve finished using it. Over time, this will save you a lot of water, which is good for the environment and your bank account.
They Are Energy Efficient
Sensor faucets enable you to keep the water at a constant temperature. This means you don’t use extra energy to change the temperature of the water. For this reason, as well as being able to control the water flow, touchless faucets tend to be much more energy-efficient than traditional hand-operated ones.
Improves Hygiene
When not clean, standard faucets can be a breeding ground for germs and other bacterias. Being completely touch-free means that you can avoid the mess and spread of germs entirely. A simple waving of the hand motion will operate the faucet. This is the main advantage that touchless faucets have over touch faucets as there is no cross-contamination between users.
Touchless Faucets Help Stops the Spread Covid-19
According to WHO, the COVID-19 virus spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes and when a person touches a contaminated surface. Many institutions, companies, and homes have had to adjust to the new normal based on the CDC and the government’s recommendations in response.
To prevent cross-contamination and anyone touching a contaminated surface, hands-free or automatic plumbing installation has been very popular. With sensor-activated options, touchless faucets have helped keep the wash areas free of contamination and viruses /germs at a minimum.
Want to know how to clean your cooler? Read our blog Sanitize Your Cooler: 15 Easy Steps.
They Are Convenient
Like touch faucets, touchless faucets are also very easy to operate. They are great for people who may have difficulties reaching and using a traditional one. They can be used with ease and reduce the risk of spillage and accidents.
How Do Touchless Faucets Work?
A touchless faucet uses infrared sensor technology that allows you to start the flow of water without touching the water dispenser. A touchless faucet turns on and off with a single movement.
How Does This Work?
The answer comes down to understanding the technology behind it and the devices used. A touchless faucet uses a modern capacitive technology consisting of a sensor. When you place your hand in front of the sensor, the water will start to flow, and the water will stop when you take your hand away.
In addition to this smart technology, touchless faucets are made up of many components that allow them to function at an optimum level. These parts include:
Sensors
A touch-sensitive faucet uses sensors that have an infrared detector paired with infrared light. When you move your hands in front of the sensor, the infrared light will bounce off your hand and into the detector. The sensor is designed to only turn on and off with a single movement and shouldn’t react at all to a longer grab of the dispenser. That means all you have to do to turn the faucet on and off is move your hand in front of the sensor.
Solenoid Valve
The valve is the center of water-flow control. The signals from the sensor are sent to the valve, and in turn, when it detects a motion, the signal triggers the valve to open and starts the water flow. In the case that no signal is sent, the solenoid valve remains shut, and no water flows from the faucet.
Power Source
In order for the touchless faucet water dispenser to operate, they need to be powered by electricity. Before installing a touchless faucet, make sure that the power source required for it matches what you have.
Differences Between Touch and Touchless Faucets
Both touch and touchless faucets are innovative upgrades of traditional faucets. A touch faucet allows you to turn the water on or off with a simple tap or physical touch. Meanwhile, a touchless faucet only needs to sense the motion of something in front of it for it to turn on.
To decide which one is better for your customer’s needs, consider the pros and cons of both faucets. For instance, if you want more control of the faucet, you may want to consider a touch faucet. However, as discussed above, to avoid the risk of contaminating your water dispenser and ensure cleanliness at all times, a touchless faucet may be the solution that you need.
What You Need to Consider Before You Purchasing a Touchless Faucet Water Dispenser
You need to consider a number of things when buying a water dispenser with a touchless faucet. Here are just a few:
Activation Feature
Because touchless faucets use motion-detecting sensors to activate water flow, it is important to know how many sensors are in each faucet. Those with multiple sensors are more accurate than those with only one.
Power Supply
There are two options when it comes to the power supply: the battery or an alternating current (AC) transformer. Both options are fair, depending on whether you have an electrical connection available. If you have access to an electrical connection, consider choosing a model that plugs into an outlet as it is the more cost-effective option. However, if you don’t have an electrical connection where you will be installing the water dispenser, you will have to go with the battery option. In this case, invest in rechargeable batteries to help ease the cost over time.
Water Flow Rate
Knowing the flow rate will help determine the efficiency of the faucet before you buy it. The water flow rate will affect the ease and comfortability with which you will be able to use the water. The standard of measurement for water flow in plumbing fixtures is gallons per minute (GPM). The lower the GPM, the more efficient the faucet is with water.
Which Are the Best Touchless Faucets?
Many are turning to touchless faucets as an eco-friendly and sanitary solution for water dispensers in the current environment. They have created a convenience that is much needed today. If you are thinking about transitioning to the touchless faucets, connect with our team, and we will find the best solutions for you to facilitate your touchless faucets needs as you grow your business.
Want to know which are the best touchless faucet to buy? Here are our top picks:
Gibraltar Touchless Infrared Faucet
Gibraltar Touchless Infrared Faucets are IR faucets that are retrofittable on most Tomlinson type mechanical faucets. This option allows for easy install and touchless functionality for your water coolers in minutes.
Gibraltar Touchless Infrared Faucet features include:
- Retrofittable on any bottled water or point of use cooler with Tomlinson valves.
- Fast and easy to follow installation in under 30 minutes.
- It connects directly to the cooler’s primary power source, saving outlet space for other devices.
- Install kit includes faucets, power supply, and all necessary installation parts.
- Allows you to update your existing fleet without having to order a complete cooler
Touchless Gibraltar
Touchless Gibraltar is the newest member of the touchless family. The model has a graceful yet simple design reimagined with touchless Infa-red dispensing. The original Gibraltar features have been retained, including high-density polyethylene material, UV resistant cabinet, stainless steel hot/cold reservoirs, and our ecient and reliable compressors.
Touchless Gibraltar features include:
- IR Touchless dispensing installed at the factory
- Available in Bottled Water or POU
- Available in Black or White
- Food Grade SS hot and cold tank
- A large, durable drip tray
- High quality and efficient compressor for reliable, consistent performance
- Two years Limited Warranty
We Are Here to Help!
As COVID-19 isn’t going anywhere fast, it will have an impact on your business. Remember, we are in this together. Proper hydration remains essential to us all, and Waterways are here to help.
If you have any questions about touchless faucets or the Gibraltar Touchless Infrared Faucets or Touchless Gibraltar, let us know. We are happy to help you with your touchless water dispenser needs!
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