Smart home tech has reached the bathroom and the boiler cupboard. Some of it is genuinely useful — it can catch a leak before it brings a ceiling down. Some of it is more about novelty than value. Here's our honest take on what's worth considering, especially if you're planning a new bathroom.
Leak sensors: small, cheap, worth it
A leak sensor is a small puck that sits on the floor under a sink, behind the washing machine, beside the boiler or next to the toilet. When it gets wet it sounds an alarm, and connected versions send an alert to your phone. They're inexpensive and need no plumbing work at all.
In a tenement flat, where a slow leak can go unnoticed until it's through the ceiling of the flat below, they're particularly good value. Put one anywhere water could leak out of sight.
Automatic shut-off valves
A step up is a motorised valve fitted on the incoming main, just after the stopcock. Paired with leak sensors, it closes automatically when a leak is detected, even if you're away. Some models also watch the flow and shut off if water runs continuously for too long — a sign of a burst pipe.
These need to be fitted by a plumber, on a stopcock and pipework that are in good condition. They're most worthwhile in homes that are often empty, holiday lets, or flats where a leak would affect neighbours. Some insurers look favourably on them, so it's worth asking yours.
Smart thermostats and radiator valves
A smart thermostat lets you control the heating from your phone and learn your routine. Smart radiator valves go further, heating each room only when it's used. They can make a home more comfortable and help avoid heating empty rooms.
Wiring a thermostat to the boiler or changing boiler controls is gas-appliance work, and at Southside Plumbing that's carried out by our independent Gas Safe registered partner engineer (Reg. No. 666283). Swapping radiator valves is plumbing, which we do ourselves.
Digital showers
A digital shower mixes the water in a hidden unit and gives you a simple control panel, sometimes with a remote or app to start the shower warming up. They make for a very clean-looking shower wall, and they're great for accessible bathrooms because the controls can be placed wherever suits the user.
Before choosing one, check it suits your water system. Some need mains pressure, some are designed for gravity systems with a pump, and some need a separate electrical supply. We'll check this at the survey.
Smart toilets
Shower toilets with built-in washing and drying, heated seats and automatic lids are increasingly popular. They're comfortable and can help people with limited mobility. They need an electrical supply near the toilet and a water feed, so they're much easier to plan into a new bathroom than to retrofit.
Water use monitors
Monitors clip onto the incoming pipe and show how much water you use, and when. They're interesting, and they can help spot a hidden leak — if water is being used at three in the morning, something is running. For most households, a leak sensor or two gives most of the protection for less money.
Before you buy
Check compatibility with your plumbing, your heating system and your Wi-Fi, which can be weak in thick-walled sandstone tenements. Anything that relies on the internet should still work safely if the connection drops.
The best time to add smart kit is during a bathroom renovation, when walls and floors are open and cables, valves and hidden units can be fitted neatly. Mention what you're interested in in the planner notes and we'll build it into your plan.