Bathroom Automation

So you’re in the throws of remodeling your master bathroom. You’ve got the marble tile all picked out, the brushed nickel fixtures ordered, Jacuzzi tub and body jet sprayers for the shower all due to arrive soon. What about home automation and how it can tie into your master bath remodel?

Home automation can be utilized to automatically control temperature and moisture within the room amongst many things. How often have you walked into the shower and realized that you forgot to turn on the exhaust fan? Have you looked up at your ceiling lately and seen the water/moisture damage that a hot-steaming shower can cause by not evacuating it? And we’ve all been guilty of taking an extra long shower because the heater was not turned on. We simply didn’t want to walk out into a cold bathroom after the hot shower. 

Put home automation to work to instantly warm up the room to your desired temperature, even cue up the floor heater for a set time so you can do your part to go green for the environment. The exhaust fan can turn on when it senses the moisture of the shower and turn off within a few minutes after you walk out of the room. Wouldn’t it be nice to push a button and have everything cue up just like in the homes of the rich and famous? Heating, ventilation, lighting, security and security cameras, television and music all ready and waiting to seamlessly create your desired euphoric environment. It’s just one click of a button away from reality. 

Lighting can also easily be controlled by the automation system. Walk into the shower and watch the lights and ventilation rhythmically cue up all without having to remember to touch a button. As you walk out of the room the motion detector lets the automation system know the room is no longer occupied.

Save electricity and money by dimming lights to a set, imperceptible level and extend the life of the bulbs while you’re at it. Save even more money by never forgetting to turn off the lights or exhaust fan. Did you know that 20% of the energy produced in the U.S. is used for lighting? And 50% is wasted through inefficient lighting sources or thoughtless usage. Home Automation makes saving money and extending the life of your equipment fun!

Music can be turned on, cued up to your desired station, volume level and even play your favorite playlist via the push of one button. Need to critically wake up so you don’t miss your flight overseas? Have a different setting to play head banger music. Part of your wake up alarm can turn on your desired lights—dimming them up to a determined level over say a 15 minute period. The lighting can also be programmed to automatically turn off during the week as if you’re rushing off to work and forget to turn them off.  

If you live alone or your spouse is away a lot the system can be programmed to automatically turn your alarm to “Stay” mode so all perimeter sensors are armed and you can feel safe that no one walks into the house while you’re showering. If you hear a noise outside or simply want to see who’s at the front door wouldn’t it be nice to see what’s going on? Again it’s not a problem with home automation. A simple vacuum switch located next to the shower (like one that’s used to turn on the disposal unit in the kitchen) can be installed to signal the bathroom television to turn on and switch to the security camera system.  

Wow, all of these features are available for someone to use just to wake up to in the morning? Think about all the other applications home automation can be used in the rest of the house. Of course that’s another story. To be continued…

For more information contact your local home automation specialist—HIDEF Audio Video, 1610 Monterey Road, San Jose, (408) 887-4479; Store hours are Monday-Saturday, 9 am–6 pm, closed Sunday.