Automatic faucet
An automatic faucet (sometimes called a sensor faucet) is a faucet with a hands-free mechanism for opening and closing its valve. The use of such faucets is mainly confined to public washrooms where they are an important tool for conserving water and mitigating the spread of germs.[1]
Summary
An automatic control for a kitchen or lavatory faucet can significantly reduce water consumption through intermittent operation. Automatic faucets do not need many functions that ordinary faucets need, they need only an operator. Operating the automatic faucet reduce the result in wasted water between the time that a hand moves from lever to the next object or task at hand to a bar of soap, a pot to fill with water, or a dish for rinsing.[2]
Advantages
Sensor or automatic faucets have the advantage of shutting off automatically after a hand wash therefore cutting down on water waste. This waste is also a concern for people who care for the environment. When installed in home, sensor faucets alleviate the need for parents to ensure that children have turned off taps. Sensor faucets can benefit elderly people or those suffering from arthritis since there are no handles to twist or pull. Economically, sensor faucets use less water resulting in direct savings on your water bill. In a kitchen setting, they automatically shut off after you have used the correct amount of water for rinsing a pan or washing an apple which also eliminates the worry of a sink overflowing.[3]
History
Automatic faucets were first developed in the 1950s but were not produced for commercial use until the late 1980s when they first appeared to the general public at airport lavatories. Called by other names such as Electronic Faucet, Sensor Faucet, Hands Free Faucet, Touch-less Faucet, even Infrared Faucet, automatic faucets have become a central theme in the American experience. They are now found in places far removed from airports and other institutions, places like restaurants, hotels, casinos, malls, sports arenas, as well as residential properties.
Because of their assistive qualities, automatic faucets are often found at assistive living establishments and places where the elderly and handicapped individuals call home. Automatic faucets are water saving devices, helping save 70% of the water that would otherwise swirl down the drain unused and conserve as much as 3-5% of the water used by a standard household. Other benefits of automatic faucets are found in inhibiting the spread of germs which are known to thrive on faucet handles, as well as help prevent or mitigate scalding incidents caused by hot water flowing out of the faucet.[4]
See also
- Faucet
- Sink
- Hose (tubing)
- Water conservation
- Sloan Valve Company
- In April 2011, the VOA Special English service of the Voice of America broadcast a Health Report about a new study of automatic faucets: Why Hands-Free Faucets May Be a Risk to Some Hospital Patients
References
- ^ http://www.guide2faucets.com/faucet-types/specialized/sensor-automatic.aspx Automatic faucets is a water conservation faucet, Guide2faucets
- ^ http://www.byoh.com/automaticfaucets.htm Summary, Automatic faucets 1981 - 2010 Carl Heldmann.
- ^ http://www.guide2faucets.com/faucet-types/specialized/sensor-automatic.aspx Sensor or Automatic faucets, Guide2faucets
- ^ http://www.macfaucets.com/education.htm Automatic faucets, Macfaucets 2008