Is A Residential Self Cleaning Toilet Good For A Primary Bathroom?
Self Cleaning Toilet Designs For Bathroom Remodeling
For years, we've been satisfied with our utilitarian porcelain and chrome toilets that are in almost every home. Today, technology has finally reached the bathroom. It started in Japan with the invention of the “super toilet.” In fact, these fancy high-tech toilets can be found in 72% of Japanese households. At a minimum, they include a bidet and often a seat warmer, but this is only the beginning.
High-tech features vary but today, manufacturers are including everything from motion activated lids that open when you approach, to air vents that heat the front of the toilet to keep the users feet warm, heated seats, bidets with air dryers, music systems and even a combination sink/toilet that treats and recycles the sink water and uses it to flush the toilet, reducing your home's water use.
Japanese smart technology toilets are currently available in the United States from manufacturers like TOTO, and U.S. manufacturers like Kohler and American Standard are manufacturing and selling smart toilets specifically designed for the American market. As more homeowners become aware of “smart toilets” the market is growing. One extremely popular function, especially in the U.S. is the self cleaning toilet.
The Self Cleaning Toilet: Luxurious and Practical
If you're planning a primary bath remodel, it's worth taking the time to do a little research and check out the technological innovations that smart toilets offer. Companies like Kohler and American Standard are adapting the technologies pioneered by the Japanese to the American market. The general response has been extremely positive. People who have tried the technology have called it nothing less than “life changing.” In fact, Kohler's share of the smart toilet market increased by 50% last year.
Even at the basic level, smart toilets are a practical choice as well as a luxury item at home in a modern spa-like primary bath. As the trend of aging in place continues to grow, smart toilets can be a useful addition for people with a limited range of motion. As homeowners age and performing household chores like regular cleaning gets more difficult, a self cleaning toilet can reduce the effort and time spent cleaning and new technology like TOTO's E-water+ self cleaning toilet uses electrolyzed water rather than harsh chemicals, making it more environmentally friendly.
Beyond Simple Utility
In the past, your toilet was a utilitarian item, but technology is changing it's function. A smart toilet can save you money, time and even protect your health as you age. With features like a bidet you can eliminate the need for toilet paper, using less resources and saving money. Smart toilets like those made by Kohler are programmed to use less water when flushing. For example, when you raise the seat, the toilet knows it can use less water to flush. If you sit for longer than a minute, the toilet uses a longer flush, and then automatically initiates the self cleaning mode.
Kohler is selling a model called the Numi which is a one piece design packed with features like a heated seat, integrated bidet with temperature control and an air dryer, music, a foot warmer, and a deodorizer which pulls the air back through a charcoal filter and releases it out the back, and it's also a self cleaning toilet. All the features are controlled from an integrated touchpad screen!
Consideration When Installing A Self Cleaning Toilet
Smart toilets can cost anywhere from $600 to $10,000 depending on the features offered. Of course, as more consumers enter the market the price will come down. Right now, American Standard is offering a model called the ActiClean that is a self cleaning toilet priced in the $500 range, not much more than a high-quality standard unit.
Another challenge homeowners need to address is that all of these toilets require electricity to operate. As many homes do not have outlets near the toilet, this is an issue that will need to be addressed during remodeling. Some state building codes do not allow plumbing and electrical to be placed in the same wall so you will need to consult your local building codes. Also, if your unit includes a bidet, you may need some additional plumbing.
As the technology continues to evolve and enter the market, prices will come down and manufacturers will offer more options. One technology that is being explored is biometrics. In the future, biometric features could analyze waste to provide the early diagnosis for diseases like colon or prostate cancer, diabetes and more. Manufacturers are also exploring the technology to address older users, bedridden patients, and disabled children.
If you're remodeling your primary bathroom, take a look at smart toilet technology and self cleaning toilets. Speak with your designer at Forward Design Build Remodel about your options. A smart toilet can cost a little more, but if you're creating a spa-like primary bath, it's a technology that can really improve your quality of life!
Forward Design Build Remodel is a residential design-build firm in Ann Arbor, Michigan that is known for its commitment to craftsmanship and communication. We are committed to improving our neighbors quality of life with inspired design and creative remodeling. Our homes are highly functional, exquisitely beautiful, and remarkably comfortable. Contact us to speak with an expert about your new home or remodeling project.