bathroom

Homeowners, located in the heart of Illinois, moved into their house in May 2020. It was a new build that had sat as a community showcase home since being built in 2016. But there was one problem, in particular, the homeowners wrestled with on a daily basis. The 50-gallon tank water heater in the home furnished water for a 3,500-sq.-ft home, yet more importantly, could not provide enough hot water to fill up the wife’s 120-gallon soaker tub.

The couple began researching tankless water heaters with a vengeance. Through much research and discussions, the search led to a Rinnai SENSEI™ RXP199iN condensing tankless water heater, a sleek and efficient alternative to the tank we had endured for years. The idea of endless hot water was tantalizing, but what truly sealed the deal was its energy efficiency. Unlike traditional water heaters that constantly keep a tank of water hot, the Rinnai system only heats water as needed. The environmental and financial savings were undeniable.

Early this fall, the homeowners hired a local team at Lanz Plumbing, who is a Rinnai Pro installer, to do the installation. Watching them work, they felt like they were witnessing the future unfold in their home. They removed the tank and installed the compact Rinnai Sensei unit on the wall in our basement utility room. It didn’t look like one of the really cool boiler or tankless projects they typically see on social media, but its size alone was a revelation—they gained an entire corner of usable space.

The first time the couple turned on the shower in the main upstairs bathroom after the installation was another revelation. The water flowed hot within seconds, steady and unrelenting. No longer did they need to wait up to a minute to get the hot water to the main bathroom. They tested its endurance by running multiple faucets, the washing machine, and even the dishwasher simultaneously. Not a flicker of cold interrupted the flow of hot water. It was as if they had discovered a hidden luxury they hadn’t realized they were missing.

Beyond the convenience, the homeowners have started to notice the savings. The energy bill over the past two months, which had always spiked during the colder months, was noticeably lower. And as someone who takes pride in being environmentally conscious, the homeowner felt a sense of accomplishment knowing he was reducing his carbon footprint.

But the true moment of validation came the first weekend after installation. The wife, notorious for taking marathon showers and two-hour soaks, was finally able to enjoy a soak in 100-gallons of steamy hot water. They marveled at the endless hot water.

The Rinnai tankless water heater didn’t just upgrade the home; it transformed the couple’s daily routine and provided peace of mind. They no longer worry about running out of hot water or wasting energy. It was more than just a purchase—it was an investment in comfort, efficiency, and a better quality of life.

Oatey^® Stain-Free Plumber’s Putty, the only putty on the market compatible with ABS, PVC, and other plastics, is non-staining on porous stone surfaces

Oatey Co., a leading manufacturer in the plumbing industry since 1916, is pleased to introduce its reformulated Oatey^® Stain-Free Plumber’s Putty. Now compatible with ABS plastic pipe, it is the only plumber’s putty that provides a solution for ABS connections without compromising appearance.

With Oatey’s Stain-Free Plumber’s Putty, plumbers, contractors and homeowners alike can now rely on one putty for all applications, simplifying inventory, reducing costs, and ensuring they have the right product on hand for any job.

Plumber’s putty creates a waterproof seal between rigid surfaces, effectively preventing leaks and maintaining fixture integrity. With its unique formulation, Oatey Stain-Free Plumber’s Putty stays flexible and is easy to mold and work with, offering exceptional performance in every application.

In addition, its non-staining formula guarantees that it will not discolor most porous surfaces, including granite, marble, quartz, sandstone and Corian, preserving the aesthetic quality of the work. The putty cleans up easily and requires no cure time, saving valuable time on the job site.

Oatey’s improved Stain-Free Plumber’s Putty formula also remains pliable throughout its shelf life, providing workability long after it is first opened.

For more information, visit oatey.com.

Bio Bidet by Bemis, a leading manufacturer and retailer of bidet toilet seats and attachments, today announced findings from its 2024 survey, opening the lid on rising consumer sentiment around bidets.

The holiday equals bidets for more consumers

The survey found that overall bidet sentiment and popularity continues to increase — just in time for the holidays. In fact, 48% of people said they would buy or would consider buying a bidet or bidet attachment as a holiday gift this year, up from 38% in 2022.

Of the generations, younger consumers are paving the way for buying bidets. Gen Z was found most likely to consider purchasing a bidet or bidet attachment as holiday gifts this year.

Younger consumers have bidet FOMO

The rise in bidets as a holiday gift coincides with growing consumer interest in trying bidets — 58% of consumers are willing to try a bidet. Younger consumers are leading the pack for trying bidets, with 71% of millennials and 69% of Gen Z most likely to check them out.

Although most people want to try a bidet, many still haven’t pulled the lever. Seventy-four percent of consumers haven’t used a bidet yet. Gen X and baby boomers are the generations most likely to have never used a bidet at 78% and 82%, respectively.

It’s all about the bidet experience for consumers

Another reason for bidets’ growing popularity is the experience that comes with using one, thanks to features like warm water, a heated seat and a night light.

Consumers’ favorite bidet features include:

• Durable quality – 51%
• Nice design – 48%
• Warm water – 47%
• Multiple washing patterns – 42%
• Night light – 72%
• Easy installation – 53%

The easy installation of bidets also points to a trend among bidet owners: They’re more DIY inclined. The data shows that 65% of bidet owners have started or completed home improvement projects this year versus only 39% of people who don’t own bidets. Even when things go down the drain with their plumbing, 79% of bidet owners are very or somewhat comfortable handling the task themselves, like replacing a faucet or toilet.

“The results continue to exhibit an increase in not only bidet familiarity, but DIY savviness, too,” said Spencer Christian, marketing manager at Bio Bidet. “The customer satisfaction rate related to bidet purchases is landing them on more and more wish lists every holiday season, and this year is no exception.”

Bio Bidet offers fully featured bidet toilet seats for all households starting as low as $199.  Visit biobidet.com to learn more about bidets and explore an assortment of leading products, including the new app-enabled BB-1200.

Most Americans seek out – and spend more – at businesses with good bathrooms while canceling businesses with messy ones

Businesses that fail to keep their restrooms clean and maintained are unwittingly flushing away customers’ repeat business and sales. According to the Healthy Handwashing Survey™ from Bradley Corporation, almost 60% of Americans make it a point to stop at a business and will spend more money at the establishment if they know it has clean and maintained restrooms.

In fact, those age 25-44 are even more likely to shell out more cash based on the condition of a business’ restroom.

Conversely, there are negative business repercussions for experiencing a restroom in poor condition. More than half of Americans say an unclean or unpleasant public bathroom shows poor management and causes them to lower their opinion of the overall establishment. The 55+ age group is especially turned off by unkempt restrooms with more than 60% reporting a damaged impression of the overall business.

Almost 20% say a sloppy restroom actually makes them less likely to clean up after themselves.

The business fallout of unpleasant restrooms

Perhaps most damaging for customer-facing businesses is that 52% say a bad restroom experience causes them to vow not to return in the future or think twice about doing so. Another 32% will either tell a friend or post a comment on social media about the negative encounter.

While there are a variety of restroom maintenance issues that may tarnish customers’ restroom experiences, the most common ones include clogged or unflushed toilets; an overall appearance that is old, dirty or unkempt; unpleasant smells; and empty or jammed dispensers for soap, toilet paper and hand towels.

“Restroom maintenance may seem like a business no brainer but limited budgets and facility staffing issues mean that companies are doing more with less staff and resources,” says Jon Dommisse, vice president of marketing and corporate communication, Bradley Corporation. “Nevertheless, customers place a high value on clean restrooms – and reward businesses that offer them. It’s incumbent upon facility managers to prioritize regular restroom cleaning and make sure that everything is in good working order.”  

Understanding the aversion to touching restroom surfaces

“In 2023, Americans continue to be in an elevated state of germ consciousness and don’t like touching things in shared public restroom spaces,” adds Dommisse. “As a result, people use all sorts of techniques to avoid coming into contact with surfaces.”

62% use a paper towel to avoid touching toilet flushers and faucet and door handles. 43% operate the flusher with their foot. 31% hover over the toilet seat and 27% open and close doors with their behind to eliminate contact. Women are considerably more likely than men to use these evasive actions.

With so many people deliberately avoiding contact with restroom surfaces, it’s not surprising that 82% believe it is important to have touchless fixtures in a public restroom. Another 60% are more likely to return to a business that offers touch-free technology like faucets, flushers, soap and towel dispensers in its restrooms.

“When asked what restroom improvements they’d like to see, cleanliness topped the list,” Dommisse said. “After that, Americans want touchless fixtures and better stocking of supplies, such as toilet paper, soap and paper towels.”

The annual Healthy Handwashing Survey from Bradley Corp. queried 1,025 American adults Jan. 4-10, 2023, about their handwashing habits, concerns about the coronavirus and flu and their use of public restrooms. Participants were from around the country and were fairly evenly split between men (45%) and women (55%).

For more information, visit www.bradleycorp.com/handwashing.