Modern Bathroom Technology for Your Smart Home
Thomas
July 9, 2019
With the development of smart appliances, everyday life has been transformed, with tasks being made shorter and easier to complete. Even your bathroom space should be considered in your home automation plans in order to ensure the space is relaxing and convenient to use on a daily basis. Some of the most exciting tech releases are designed for use in the bathroom with the aim to increase the connectivity, productivity and efficiency of your home.
Smart Sinks and Showers
As a space which is used multiple times a day by all members of the household, automated and personalised bathing routines can be achieved by using smart shower and sink technology. With state of the art technology, facial recognition can be used to personalise shower temperature, not only does this mean that you will always enter the shower at your preferred temperature, but it can also ensure children are protected from scalding themselves. Personalisation can be taken even further with oil diffusion and playlists available depending on your preferences. You will never want to leave the bathroom again!
Smart Lighting
Lighting control in your home has many advantages over conventional light switches and dimmers. Lighting scenes can be created depending on the ambiance of each room and these scenes can be changed at the touch of a button. This is particularly effective in rooms such as the bathroom, where a “relax” scene can be created- imagine relaxing in the bath with all lighting dimmed to your individual preference by pressing a button labelled “relax”. Switch between different scenes depending on time of the day and your preference, brighter lighting may be needed during your evening skincare routine, and dimmed lighting when you are finding your zen whilst soaking in the bath.
Smart Toilet
Reimagining our most-used, simple, everyday items, is what the smart technology industry does best and saving time and money is always at the centre of these developments. Despite the increasing popularity of smart lighting and smart homes, one of the most used daily items is often forgotten in the home automation process, the toilet.
The term “smart toilet” actually refers to the seat itself and if often a seat attachment. There is much variation from one model to another, but the general consensus is that the unlike some other smart gadgets, a smart toilet isn’t a gimmick — it can improve hygiene for the whole family.
The Benefits of a Smart Toilet
One of the most obvious benefits of a smart toilet, and something that’s shared with other smart devices, is convenience. Some models will flip the seat and lid automatically, reduce your toilet paper consumption by including a bidet wand, and flush the bowl for you. It may not sound like much, but it’s enough to save you precious seconds every time you go.
And of course, there’s the hygiene element. These toilets can offer greater cleanliness than conventional models. Using water spray after each toilet visit is more hygienic than simply using toilet paper to clean yourself. After all, if you got waste on another body part, you wouldn’t simply wipe it away with dry tissue paper.
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<p>And smart toilets can be beneficial for people who have medical conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome or hemorrhoids. If you’re a sufferer, you can easily find yourself using excess toilet paper, which exacerbates the discomfort. But with a smart toilet, the wash feature removes the need for excess wiping, which can irritate or break the skin.On top of that, automatic functions reduce the need to touch physical buttons or lids, reducing the transmission of germs. Plus, some toilets have functions like a pre-mist that keeps grime from sticking to the toilet bowl. This reduces the likelihood of harmful bacteria hanging around on the inner surfaces of your toilet.</p>
<h2><strong>What to look for in a smart toilet</strong></h2>
<p>There is a vast range of smart toilet features available, but each model will have a different combination of them. So the most important thing is picking a smart toilet that gives you the features that you’re looking for, without breaking your budget. We’ll explain the most common features below, and their importance to a good smart toilet system.</p>
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<p>At the most basic level, there’s comfort. This can include multiple features and design considerations. For bathrooms that are regularly cold, consider a heated seat, as well as heated water jets. Consider the diameter of the toilet seat opening, the width of the seat, and the type of material used, all of which will affect how comfortable the toilet is (especially if you’re smaller or taller than average).But don’t forget durability — cheap plastic hinges can spell out a breakage waiting to happen. Customer reviews are a good indicator of poor durability, as it’s usually mentioned a lot if the product is prone to damage. Your biggest concerns here should be the seat itself, the hinges, and any complex electronics, as these are the most fallible aspects of smart toilets.</p>
<p>And then there’s the matter of eco-friendliness, which usually concerns the GPF (gallons per flush) rating and power usage. Look for a low GPF if you want to keep water bills low and avoid wasting water. And consider a system with automatic shutdown when not in use, so you aren’t wasting electricity either.</p>
<h2><strong>Maintaining a smart toilet</strong></h2>
<p>First-time installation can be tricky. Depending on the product you choose, it may or may not be doable on your own. For toilets with a power cord, you’ll need an electrical outlet — so if you don’t have one, you’ll need an electrician. Though there <em>are </em>some products that use batteries, you’ll have to ask yourself if you want to deal with the ongoing cost and hassle of replacing the batteries regularly.</p>
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<p>Once installed and plumbed into the water supply, you’ll only have to worry about cleaning the system. Fortunately, this isn’t too different from cleaning a regular toilet system — in fact, in some ways, it’s easier. Thanks to features like a quick-release seat and pre-misting to prevent grime from sticking to the bowl, you likely won’t have to clean as often, and it shouldn’t take as long.The only difference you’ll need to be wary of is the presence of electronics that you wouldn’t see in a traditional toilet. It goes without saying that you should avoid moisture around electrical sockets. And you should try to avoid splashing excess water or cleaning products onto remote controls, LCD screens, or other control panels.</p>
<h2><strong>Methodology</strong></h2>
<p>Our method for ranking the top products in any category is based on genuine professional and consumer reviews. We scour the internet for authority opinions on best-in-class products. Then we take a look at consumer reviews on websites like Amazon to see whether customers are in agreement with the experts.</p>
<p>By combining these methods, we can weed out any sales tactics, focusing only on products that are genuinely considered the best. For good measure, we also consider a range of additional criteria specific to each type of product. Here are those additional RAVE criteria against which we’ve judged each smart toilet:</p>
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<li><strong>Comfort,</strong> as you don’t want to be uncomfortable when going about your business;</li>
<li><strong>Eco-friendliness,</strong> in terms of both water and energy use;</li>
<li><strong>Flushing system,</strong> in terms of how the smart system works and how it ranks against others;</li>
<li><strong>Cleanliness,</strong> and specifically whether the system self-cleans, or how difficult it is to manually clean;</li>
<li><strong>Intelligence,</strong> concerning the breadth of features included;</li>
<li><strong>Value for money,</strong> because smart toilets don’t come cheap.</li>
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The Best Smart Toilet
Kohler Veil
Many smart toilets opt for seat-mounted buttons or a wireless remote that can be carried around — and often misplaced. But the Veil is different. It uses a wall-mounted, touchscreen LCD that controls all of the toilet’s features. No more fishing around for a lost remote or craning your neck around to see the control interface.
Whether you’re using the bathroom by day or by night, the integrated lighting system will light the way for you. LED lights positioned inside of the bowl create an aesthetically pleasing look that isn’t too garish. And onto the important part — the toilet uses 1.28 GPF or 0.8 GPF, depending on full or partial flush choice.
One of the biggest drawbacks of the Kohler smart toilets is that they cost so much upfront. You will also need to ensure that your home has considerable water pressure for the Veil to function properly. But with all that said, when it comes to the best smart toilets, you won’t find any better than this.
Pros
- Convenient wall-mounted remote
- Night light aids nighttime use
- Sleek design
Cons
- Requires an electrical connection
- Needs significant water pressure
- Expensive
Toto Washlet C100 Seat
Smart toilets don’t always have to come as a full set — sometimes a seat is enough to upgrade your existing system. And the benefit here is that a seat upgrade is incredibly simple to install yourself, without calling in professionals. The Toto Washlet C100 Seat is our favorite smart seat. It doesn’t skimp on functionality, featuring a heated seat, deodorizer, and pre-misting function to reduce grime adherence.
“Hang on, RAVE. Why would I buy the Toto Washlet over the runner-up Toto Neorest 700H?” you ask. A major selling point of the Washlet is that it’s a tiny fraction of the cost of a full system. Since it ditches the tank and bowl, the Washlet offers considerable savings over the Neorest 700H.
The only complaint we have relating to the seat design is the sliding function, which is supposed to make cleaning easier. It’s nice to be able to slide the seat forward to clean behind it, but this functionality can make the seat feel loose. Some Washlet customers have reported that they’d prefer to be able to disable the seat warmer, and have the water jets remember preset positions.
Pros
- Premist function reduces grime
- Easily installed by yourself
- Much cheaper than a full system
Cons
- “Forgets” water jet positioning
- Seat warmer can’t be disabled
- Seat may feel loose
Toto Neorest 700H
Water efficiency is one area in which this toilet beats even the top-ranked Kohler Veil, at 1.0 and 0.8 GPF. The skirted design is accompanied by a SoftClose seat, meaning no more slams when you drop the seat or lid. The seat is heated too, so you won’t get any nasty shocks when visiting the bathroom on frosty mornings.
Everything about the Neorest 700H screams convenience, with automatic functions that are designed to keep your hands free. A proximity sensor automatically lifts the lid for you on approach, so there’s no need to risk transference of germs. This touch-free approach is also reflected in the flush function — it’s automated as well.
However, the proximity sensor can be somewhat of a hindrance rather than a help in smaller bathroom spaces. Whether you’re running a bath or brushing your teeth, you may find it triggering repeatedly when you aren’t using it. Additionally, the automatic function lifts both the lid and seat, so female users may want to think twice before buying!
Pros
- Hands-free automatic flush
- Temperature-controlled seat
- SoftClose seat prevents slams
Cons
- Proximity sensor can be annoying
- One function not female-friendly
- Pricey
Kohler Numi 2.0 Intelligent Toilet
The Kohler Numi 2.0 is a significant upgrade over the first iteration of the same product. It integrates the key feature of a smart gadget: a voice assistant. Equipped with Amazon Alexa, this toilet allows you to control its many functions using nothing but your voice — it’s super hygienic.
But you may not want to use the voice assistant, or you may be a Google Home household, which isn’t supported. In any case, you can choose to use a custom-built mobile application to control the toilet instead. And there’s integrated Bluetooth music functionality, turning your toilet into a functional speaker, too.
Kohler is a major player in the smart toilets arena — you only need to look at the Kohler Veil. But we simply couldn’t rank the Numi 2.0 any higher than fourth place owing to the lack of real customer feedback available on the internet. Though it’s clearly a strong product from a reliable brand, it just doesn’t have the same track record as our higher-ranked winners.
Pros
- Controlled with voice or app
- Equipped with Amazon Alexa
- Wireless Bluetooth music sync
Cons
- Lacks extensive customer feedback
- Doesn’t support other assistants
- Expensive
Ove Decors Remote Controlled Smart Toilet
The Ove Decors Smart Toilet doesn’t feature the best GPF rating of all the toilets we’ve looked at. It uses 1.6 gallons per flush, and doesn’t offer a partial flush function. However, it makes up for this shortcoming in other areas of its design, including with the use of an eco-friendly mode.
The energy-saving setting makes sure that your water is only heated up when you sit down on the toilet. And you can adjust the pressure and temperature of the water jets to your own preference. This can be done via an included remote, or using controls that are mounted on the side of the system.
That said, the remote leaves something to be desired, using an outdated and clunky design that doesn’t fit with the “smart” image. Our only other complaint is about the installation, which can be done by yourself, but not without some difficulty. The instructions are fairly limited, and poking around online won’t yield any more information than you get in the box.
Pros
- Features eco-friendly mode
- Backlit bowl and controls
- Pressure and temperature control
Cons
- Not the best GPF rating
- Outdated, clunky remote design
- Poor installation instructions
WoodBridge T-0008 Luxury
We’re fans of any smart toilet that chooses to discreetly hide away the controls on a remote or wall-mounted LCD. And the T-0008 does just that, using a remote that sits in a convenient holder, which you can attach to the wall. The hoses aren’t so well hidden, but they don’t protrude so much as to be an eyesore.
Cleaning toilets can be a pesky task, but the quick-release feature built into this seat makes the job far easier. And you shouldn’t need to clean the internal components often, since the nozzle is stainless steel. There’s also an energy-saving sensor that turns the toilet on or off as required, keeping your energy costs down.
But it’s through comparisons to our top smart toilets that the WoodBridge T-0008 loses some points. The pressure generated by the built-in water jets is weaker than the leading Toto smart toilets, and the seat is narrower. What’s more, the flush button isn’t featured on the remote, so you’ll have to flush manually — not very “smart.”
Pros
- Quick-release system for seat
- Discreet control system
- Energy-saving “On/Off” sensor
Cons
- Less pressure than the Toto
- Seat feels narrower and smaller
- Flush function not on remote
Bio Bidet Ultimate Smart Toilet Seat
The Bio Bidet is another example of a low-price alternative to a full smart toilet system. Installation of a smart seat is a straightforward affair, so this is a good choice if you want to avoid a costly plumber visit. You can self-install the seat onto the toilet in your home, and then decide if you like it enough to install a full system down the line.
Unlike toilets that include a wireless, detached remote, the Bio Bidet controls are attached to the side of the seat. As a result, they are both easily accessible and impossible to misplace around the house. Unfortunately, the toilet hoses are equally visible, something that detracts from the appearance of the system.
Many customers report that they would have appreciated a stronger air drying function, as it can take multiple uses to get completely dry. In terms of other negatives, we can only put our finger on one. The pressure settings for the jets are forgotten each time you use the seat, so you’ll need to reset them.
Pros
- Can be self-installed
- Easily accessible controls
- No risk of losing the remote
Cons
- Dryer function could be stronger
- Hoses remain visible
- “Forgets” pressure settings
Brondell Inc. S300-EW Swash
The S300-EW is another example of a seat upgrade that can slot onto an existing, traditional toilet. As such, it’s far cheaper than a full system complete with a bowl and tank. It also means that you don’t have to mess around with electrical wiring or complicated plumbing.
When it comes to cleaning, the bidet attachment makes things simple and straightforward thanks to the quick release on the seat. By comparison, the seat and hinges on a traditional toilet can easily allow germs to hide out of reach.
You do sacrifice some luxury when choosing this cheaper option — it’s clearly not as attractive as the leading smart toilets. Plus, the warm water supply will only provide around a minute’s worth of water, unlike plumbed-in alternatives with unlimited supply. You may also dislike the toilet seat opening, which is smaller than the average opening.
Pros
- Fits on existing toilets
- Wireless remote
- Quick-release seat for cleaning
Cons
- Less attractive design
- Smaller than average opening
- Warm water is limited
Euroto Luxury Smart Toilet
If you’re all about convenience, then the Euroto toilet is probably your idea of the perfect toilet system. Everything is automated, from the self-lifting lid to the automatic flush when you’re finished. There’s a remote included for fine-tuning things like water, seat, and dryer temperature, as well as water pressure.
Another innovative feature in the Euroto is the tankless heating system, which will never run out of warm water. Plus, the integrated deodorizer draws in air and passes it through an ionized carbon filter, which helps to eliminate odors.
You’ll pay for all these top-of-the-line features, though: This is definitely one of the pricier options on our list. And the self-lifting seat can get annoying in smaller bathrooms, as it often opens when you pass by.
Pros
- Lots of automation
- Built-in night light switch
- Deodorizer
Cons
- Relatively large profile
- Pricey
- Self-lifting seat can be annoying
