Are Touchless Faucets Worth the Money? How To Decide


There are many hardware options available to you when it’s time to upgrade your kitchen or bathroom. Touchless faucets have become some of the most popular recommendations in recent times. But are they worth the money, or are they just an unnecessary gimmick?

Touchless faucets are worth the money when there’s a need for reduced interaction with faucet heads in a public setting because it is harder to spread germs with zero contact. Hand washing also becomes easier even when holding objects. However, in single-user homes, they may be a luxury.

Are you remodeling your kitchen or bathroom? This article will cover all you need to know about touchless faucets to simplify your decision-making process.

Modern and stylish washbasin with modern bathroom tap with infrared sensor

Touchless Faucets are Worth the Money for Many People

Depending on your needs and the makeup of your household, a touchless faucet may actually save you money in the long run. They are gaining in popularity and are worth looking into.

From standard stout variants to long and curved designs, touchless faucets come in multiple design options, so you can choose the type that works best in your kitchen or bathroom.

Touchless faucets also come in various price ranges, and because of how they work, they may be the most budget-friendly option.

How Touchless Faucets Work

Touchless faucets or hands-free faucets are similar to standard faucets, except that rather than relying on a handle, they are fitted with infrared sensors that detect movement and then they turn on the water automatically.

The sensors on most touchless faucets can do this because they have built-in infrared light. The light is always on, so anytime it bounces off a user’s hand, it will trigger a response from the detector.

Some other types of touchless faucets are fitted with ultrasonic field sensors instead of the infrared types. A hand moving in front of the sensor will disrupt the field, causing the faucet to turn on or off.

The Advantages of Touchless Faucets

The following are some of the major benefits of installing touchless faucets:

Better Water Conservation

Most touchless faucets are designed to deliver a low flow rate. This reduces the amount of water used in one session in comparison to standard faucets. Also, since the sensor controls the water flow based on the presence of a hand (or object), there’s no risk of leaving taps running overnight.

Although they may be seen as a luxury in a home, if there are children in your home, touchless faucets are worth the money too. Children often simply forget to turn faucets off. Touchless faucets deal with this problem easily because the water flow ends as soon as the child leaves the faucet area. So, the faucets help you cut down your water bill.

Improved Hygiene

The main advantage touchless faucets have over other types is that you don’t need to touch anything to get water. This means you can reduce the spread of germs from the bathroom or kitchen into the living areas.

You also no longer have to reach for the sink head with hands full of soap or food smear. Once just move your hand in front of the sensor, and you can operate the faucet easily.

Easy Access and Convenience

From children to senior citizens, everyone benefits from touchless faucets. Simply placing a cup under a faucet is enough to turn it on. Once you have enough water and remove the cup, the faucet automatically turns off. This convenience makes them a great addition to most homes. 

You no longer have to worry about controlling the faucet when you have to fill a large pot while cooking.

Sink in a bathroom with modern bathroom tap and tiles in natural stone look

Low Maintenance Requirements

Touchless faucets rarely leak because there are no constantly moving parts that can wear down after repeated use. This means you don’t have to worry about regular maintenance or replacing the faucet handles every few months. As long as the sensors are working, you can use a single touchless faucet for years without maintenance.

Disadvantages of Touchless Faucets

Touchless faucets are not without their disadvantages. Here are some of them:

Higher Cost

Touchless faucets tend to cost more than standard sink faucets. If you’re looking at the different types of faucets made of similar materials, you’re likely to pay more for the touchless faucet. So, if you’re looking at budget options, you should probably consider other types of faucets.

Reliance on Electricity

The sensors on a touchless faucet rely on electricity to work. So, a power outage means the sensor won’t work. For models that allow it, this would mean reverting to manually controlling the faucet. If your chosen model doesn’t allow it, you’ll have to get water from other sources until power returns.

Most installers recommend using batteries to power the sensor. If you choose to go with that option, that’s an extra ongoing expense to worry about.

Accidental Activation

Since the sensors control the water flow, the faucet can be accidentally activated due to random movements such as moving dishes, reaching for something close to the faucet, or pets climbing onto the sink.

Kitchen Faucets

How To Decide if a Touchless Faucet Is Worth the Money

A touchless faucet can cost up to $400, so it makes sense to carefully consider if you need one or not. For example, if you frequently cook and seem to always need to turn the faucet on with blood from raw meat on your hands, then a touchless faucet is worth the money.

Similarly, touchless faucets make sense for artists, craftsmen, and mechanics who will benefit from having water on demand without leaving a mess behind.

If none of the above scenarios apply to you, you can save money by going with traditional faucets or touch options activated with a single touch.

Final Words

Touchless faucets are a convenient addition to any kitchen or bathroom. They offer a stress-free way to get water in the sink and save you the strain of cleaning messes left behind on the faucet from dirty hands. However, they are not always cost-effective for everyone. Before you spend hundreds of dollars on one of these, be sure you won’t get more value from a faucet that costs less than $100.

Rob

I'm Rob, the founder of theonetechstop.com. I’m a Marine Corps vet with a master’s degree in Information Systems and have been working in the technology field for over a decade.

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