Scientific advancement is characterized by new technological developments aimed at making life simpler and one of the modern developments in bathroom equipment is the introduction of touchless faucets. The touchless or sensor faucet is a piece of technology that works like magic. No need to touch the faucet anymore! Bring your hand under the spout and the water will start to follow. The faucet, also called automatic faucet, operates with a proximity sensor that detects presence of hands and the valve automatically turns on to let the water flow. In this way, the user does not have to touch the faucet to turn it on, as is necessary in traditional faucets.

Touchless Faucet Types:

• Brass and chrome coated faucets

This type of faucet is made of zinc and coated with brass. The brass coating is meant to reduce corrosion rate and keep it shiny for longer. This faucet however, causes hygiene issues. The brass can wear off with time, as a consequence of which the zinc would corrode and this creates hygiene concern.

• Solid brass faucets

These faucets, as suggested by the name, are made up of brass alone. The brass does not erode and this makes the faucet durable. The reduced risk of erosion with these faucets makes it suitable for bathrooms where the water is "hard". "Hard" water increases risk of rusting.

• Plastic faucet

Plastic faucets are more popular than the others because these are cheaper, however, these faucets are less durable as they can break or wear off faster.

• Stainless steel faucet

The stainless steel surface ensures that the faucet remains shiny and does not corrode as long as the surface remains unscratched.

Touchless Faucet Features:

1. Spout

The spout is the part of the faucet visible above the surface and it holds all the other parts together. The spout plays a role in designs as it is the visible part and comes in different

2. Sensor

The sensor is the feature that makes touchless faucets unique. This sensor is a presence sensor that detects the presence (not motion) of hands and opens the valve to allow the water to flow. The sensor is present at the base of the lip and when hands are brought under the spout, it activates. These sensors can be infrared sensors that detect the infrared rays that hands give out, or ultrasound sensors that are activated when the path of the ray is blocked.

3. Solenoid valve

The valve is a solenoid-activated diaphragm valve that can open or close with a tuber like disk to control water flow. The valve is controlled by the sensor and together these control the flow of water.

4. Power source

The faucet needs a power source that will run the sensor, the electronics and the valve. This can be in the form of a low-voltage current from an AC transformer or a dry-cell.

Touchless Faucet Benefits:

1. They help in water conservation

Since the water begins to flow only in the presence of hands and automatically turns of hen they are no longer detected, these faucets reduce the risk of water wastage. This in turn can reduce your water bill.

2. These are hygiene friendly faucets

In traditional faucets, touching the faucet is a major cause of spread of germs from one person to another particularly in public places like hotel bathrooms. By eliminating the need to touch the faucet this technology eliminates this problem.

Durability and ease of use
The durability of these faucets depends on the type of material used. The stainless steel and brass faucets are most durable while plastic faucets are less long-lasting. In general, touchless faucets are less at risk of damage because they do not need to be touched. They are also much easier to use than traditional faucets.