Amanzi ayimithombo eyigugu futhi ebiza kakhulu, kodwa angaba yingozi uma ebonakala ezindaweni ezingafanele ekhaya lakho, ikakhulukazi ngendlela engalawuleki. Bengilokhu ngihlola i-Flo by Moen smart water valve ezinyangeni ezimbalwa ezedlule futhi ngingasho ukuthi ngabe ingonge isikhathi nemali eningi ukube bengiyifakile eminyakeni embalwa edlule. Kodwa ayiphelele. Futhi ngokuqinisekile ayishibhile.
Ngokuyisisekelo, uFlo uzokubona futhi akuxwayise ngokuvuza kwamanzi. Kuzovala nomthombo wakho wamanzi oyinhloko uma kwenzeka isenzakalo esibi kakhulu, njengokuqhuma kwepayipi. Leso yisimo engike ngabhekana naso mathupha. Ipayipi eluphahleni lwegaraji lami laqina laqhuma ngolunye ubusika ngesikhathi mina nomkami sihamba. Sabuya ezinsukwini ezimbalwa kamuva sathola ingaphakathi legaraji lethu lonke libhujisiwe, amanzi esaphuma epayipini lethusi elingaphansi kwesentimitha elilodwa elihlukanisiwe ophahleni.
Kubuyekezwe ngomhlaka-8 kuNhlolanja 2019 ukuze kubikwe ukuthi i-Flo Technologies yakhe ubudlelwano obuhle ne-Moen futhi yaqamba kabusha lo mkhiqizo ngokuthi i-Flo ngu-Moen.
Isentimitha ngayinye yesikwele se-drywall yayimanzi, inamanzi amaningi ophahleni kangangokuthi kwakubonakala sengathi lina ngaphakathi (bheka isithombe, ngezansi). Cishe konke esasikugcinile egaraji, okuhlanganisa ifenisha yasendulo, amathuluzi okusebenza ngokhuni kagesi, kanye nemishini yokulima, kwawonakele. Izivuli zeminyango yegaraji nazo zonke izibani kwadingeka zishintshwe. Isicelo sethu sokugcina somshuwalense sidlule ku-$28,000, futhi kwathatha izinyanga ukuthi yonke into yomiswe futhi ishintshwe. Ukube besifake i-valve ehlakaniphile ngaleso sikhathi, ngabe kube nomonakalo omncane kakhulu.
Ipayipi lamanzi elaqanda labe seliqhuma ngesikhathi umbhali engekho ekhaya izinsuku eziningana labangela umonakalo ongaphezu kwama-$28,000 esakhiweni kanye nokuqukethwe kwaso.
I-Flo ine-valve enenjini oyifaka entanjeni enkulu yokuphakelwa kwamanzi (1.25-intshi noma ngaphansi) engena ekhaya lakho. Ungakwenza lokhu ngokwakho, uma ukhululekile ukusika ipayipi eliphakela ikhaya lakho amanzi, kodwa uFlo uncoma ukufakwa kochwepheshe. Bengingafuni ukuthatha noma yikuphi ukushaqeka, ngakho uFlo wathumela uchwepheshe wokulungisa amapayipi ukuze enze lo msebenzi (ukufakwa akufakiwe entengo ka-$499 yomkhiqizo).
UFlo une-adaptha ye-Wi-Fi engu-2.4GHz, ngakho-ke kubalulekile ukuthi ube ne-router enamandla engenantambo enganweba inethiwekhi yakho ngaphandle. Endabeni yami, nginesistimu ye-Wi-Fi enama-node amathathu e-Linksys Velop, enephuzu lokufinyelela ekamelweni lokulala elikhulu. Umugqa oyinhloko wamanzi ungakolunye uhlangothi lodonga lwekamelo lokulala, ngakho-ke isignali yami ye-Wi-Fi yayinamandla ngokwanele ukusevisa i-valve (ayikho inketho ye-ethernet exhunywe ngocingo).
Uzodinga futhi i-AC outlet eduze komugqa wakho wokuhambisa ukuze unikeze amandla i-valve ye-Flo enenjini kanye ne-adaptha yayo ye-Wi-Fi. I-Flo smart valve isesimweni esiqinile, futhi inezitini zamandla ezingaphakathi, ngakho-ke iplagi kagesi ekugcineni izongena kalula ngaphakathi kwesembozo se-receptacle sangaphandle esifana ne-bubble. Ngikhethe ukuyixhuma ku-outlet ngaphakathi kwekhabethe langaphandle lapho kufakwa khona i-heater yami yamanzi engenathangi.
Uma ikhaya lakho lingenayo indawo yokuphuma yangaphandle eduze, kuzodingeka uthole ukuthi uzoyinika kanjani amandla ivalvu. Uma unquma ukufaka indawo yokuphuma, qiniseka ukuthi usebenzisa imodeli ye-GFCI (ground-fault circuit interrupter) ukuze uzivikele. Ngaphandle kwalokho, i-Flo inikeza intambo yokunweba eqinisekisiwe engamafidi angu-25 ngo-$12 (ungasebenzisa kufikela kwezine zalezi ndawonye uma udinga ngempela).
Uma umugqa wakho wamanzi ukude kakhulu nendawo yokukhipha ugesi, ungaxhuma izintambo ezintathu zalezi zintambo zokwelula ezingamafidi angu-25 ukuze ufinyelele indawo yokukhipha ugesi.
Izinzwa ezingaphakathi kwevalvu ye-Flo zilinganisa umfutho wamanzi, izinga lokushisa lamanzi, kanye—ngenkathi amanzi egeleza ngevalvu—izinga amanzi ageleza ngalo (lilinganiswa ngamagalani ngomzuzu). Ivalvu izokwenza futhi “ukuhlolwa kwempilo” kwansuku zonke, lapho ivala khona ukuphakelwa kwamanzi ekhaya lakho bese iqapha noma yikuphi ukwehla komfutho wamanzi okungabonisa ukuthi amanzi ashiya amapayipi akho endaweni ethile ngale kwevalvu. Ukuhlolwa kuvame ukwenziwa phakathi nobusuku noma ngesinye isikhathi lapho ama-algorithms ka-Flo efunde ukuthi awuvamisile ukusebenzisa amanzi. Uma uvula impompi, ugeza indlu yangasese, noma uphetheni ngenkathi ukuhlolwa kuqhubeka, ukuhlolwa kuzoma futhi ivalvu izovuleka kabusha, ukuze ungaphazamiseki.
Iphaneli yokulawula i-Flo ibika ngomfutho wamanzi wendlu yakho, izinga lokushisa lamanzi, kanye nezinga lokugeleza kwamanzi. Uma usola inkinga, ungayivala ivalvu lapha.
Lonke lolu lwazi luthunyelwa efwini bese lubuyela phansi kuhlelo lokusebenza lwe-Flo kudivayisi yakho ye-Android noma ye-iOS. Izimo eziningana zingabangela ukuthi lezo zilinganiso ziphume ngaphandle kokuphazamiseka: Ake sithi umfutho wamanzi wehla kakhulu, okubonisa ukuthi kungaba nenkinga ngomthombo wamanzi, noma uphakeme kakhulu, okubeka ingcindezi emapayipini akho amanzi; amanzi abanda kakhulu, okubeka amapayipi akho engozini yokubanda (ipayipi eliqandisiwe lizophinde libangele umfutho wamanzi ukuba wakheke); noma amanzi ageleza ngesivinini esivame ukuba phezulu, okubonisa ukuthi kungenzeka ukuthi ipayipi liphukile. Imicimbi enjalo ingabangela amaseva kaFlo ukuthi athumele isaziso sokusunduza kuhlelo lokusebenza.
Uma amanzi egeleza ngokushesha kakhulu noma isikhathi eside kakhulu, uzothola ucingo lwe-robo oluvela endlunkulu yaseFlo lukuxwayisa ngokuthi kungase kube nenkinga nokuthi idivayisi yeFlo izoyivala ngokuzenzakalelayo ipayipi lakho lamanzi uma ungaphenduli. Uma usekhaya ngaleso sikhathi futhi wazi ukuthi akukho okungahambi kahle—mhlawumbe ubunisela ingadi yakho noma ugeza imoto yakho, isibonelo—ungamane ucindezele u-2 kukhibhodi yefoni yakho ukuze ubambezele ukuvalwa kwamahora amabili. Uma ungekho ekhaya futhi ucabanga ukuthi kungase kube nenkinga enkulu, ungavala ivalvu kusuka kuhlelo lokusebenza noma ulinde imizuzu embalwa bese uvumela uFlo ukuthi akwenzele.
Ukube bengifake i-valve ehlakaniphile efana ne-Flo lapho ipayipi lami liqhuma, kuqinisekile ukuthi bengingayinciphisa inani lomonakalo owenziwe egaraji lami kanye nokuqukethwe kwalo. Kunzima ukusho ngokunemba ukuthi ukuvuza bekuyobangela umonakalo ongakanani, nokho, ngoba i-Flo ayiphenduli ngokushesha. Futhi ubungeke ufune, ngoba bekuyokwenza uhlanye ngama-alamu angamanga. Njengoba kunjalo, ngihlangabezane nenani lalawo ngesikhathi sokuhlolwa kwami kwezinyanga eziningana kwe-Flo, ikakhulukazi ngoba bengingenalo isilawuli sokunisela esihleliwe sokuhlobisa ingadi yami phakathi nesikhathi esiningi saleso sikhathi.
I-algorithm kaFlo incike emaphethini abikezelwayo, futhi ngivame ukuba ngumuntu ongahlelekile uma kuziwa ekuniseleni insimu yami. Indlu yami iphakathi nendawo engamahektha amahlanu (ehlukaniswe endaweni engamahektha ayi-10 eyayiyipulazi lobisi). Anginalo utshani bendabuko, kodwa nginezihlahla eziningi, izihlahla zama-rose, nezihlahla. Ngangivame ukuzinisela ngesistimu yokunisela ngamaconsi, kodwa ama-squirrel angaphansi komhlaba ayehlafuna imigodi emapayipini epulasitiki. Manje nginisela nge-sprinkler enamathiselwe epayipini kuze kube yilapho ngithola ikhambi elihlala njalo, elingavimbeli ama-squirrel. Ngizama ukukhumbula ukufaka i-Flo kwimodi yayo "yokulala" ngaphambi kokuba ngenze lokhu, ukuvimbela i-valve ukuthi ingavusi umsindo we-robo, kodwa angiphumeleli njalo.
Umugqa wami wamanzi oyinhloko uqonde phezulu, okwaholela ekutheni i-Flo ifakwe ibheke phansi ukuze amanzi ageleze ngendlela efanele. Ngenhlanhla, uxhumano lwamandla alunamanzi.
Uma wazi ukuthi uzohlala kude nekhaya isikhathi eside—ngokwesibonelo, useholidini—futhi ngeke usebenzise amanzi amaningi nhlobo, ungabeka uFlo kwimodi “yokuhamba”. Kulesi simo, ivalvu izosabela ngokushesha kakhulu ezenzakalweni ezingavamile.
I-valve ehlakaniphile iyingxenye nje yendaba ka-Flo. Ungasebenzisa uhlelo lokusebenza lwe-Flo ukusetha imigomo yokusetshenziswa kwamanzi nokulandelela ukusetshenziswa kwakho kwamanzi ngokuhambisana naleyo migomo nsuku zonke, masonto onke, kanye nenyanga zonke. Uhlelo lokusebenza luzokhipha izexwayiso noma nini lapho kunokusetshenziswa kwamanzi okuphezulu noma okwesikhathi eside, lapho kutholakala khona ukuvuza, lapho i-valve ingasebenzi (njengokungenzeka ngesikhathi sokuphela kukagesi, isibonelo), kanye neminye imicimbi ebalulekile. Lezi zexwayiso zifakwa embikweni womsebenzi kanye nemiphumela yokuhlolwa kwezempilo kwansuku zonke.
Kubalulekile ukuqaphela lapha, nokho, ukuthi uFlo akakwazi ukukutshela ngqo ukuthi amanzi avuza kuphi. Ngesikhathi ngihlola, uFlo wabika ngokunembile ukuvuza okuncane ohlelweni lwami lwamapayipi, kodwa kwakusezandleni zami ukukuthola. Icala kwakuyisicabha esigugile endlini yangasese endlini yami yokugezela yezivakashi, kodwa njengoba indlu yokugezela iseduze nehhovisi lami lasekhaya, ngangizwile indlu yangasese isebenza ngisho nangaphambi kokuba uFlo abike inkinga. Ukuthola umpompi wangaphakathi ovuzayo cishe bekungeke kube nzima kakhulu ukukuthola, kodwa ipayipi lepayipi elivuzayo ngaphandle kwendlu kungaba nzima kakhulu ukulithola.
Uma ufaka i-Flo valve, uhlelo lokusebenza luzokucela ukuthi wakhe iphrofayili yendlu yakho ngokuphendula imibuzo mayelana nosayizi wendlu yakho, ukuthi inaphansi amangaki, yiziphi izinsiza ezinazo (njengenani lamabhavu namashawa, nokuthi unechibi lokubhukuda noma i-hot tub), uma unomshini wokuwasha izitsha, uma ifriji yakho ifakwe umshini wokwenza iqhwa, ngisho noma une-water heater engenathangi. Luzophakamisa umgomo wokusebenzisa amanzi. Njengoba nginabantu ababili abahlala ekhaya lami, uhlelo lokusebenza lwe-Flo luphakamise umgomo wamagalani angu-240 ngosuku. Lokho kuhambisana nesilinganiso se-US Geological Survey samagalani angu-80 kuya kwangu-100 okusetshenziswa kwamanzi ngomuntu ngamunye ngosuku, kodwa ngithole ukuthi ikhaya lami livame ukusebenzisa okungaphezu kwalokho ezinsukwini enginisela ngazo ukuhlobisa ingadi yami. Ungazibekela umgomo wakho kunoma yini ocabanga ukuthi ifanelekile bese uyilandelela ngokufanele.
I-Flo inikeza isevisi yokubhalisa ongayikhetha, i-FloProtect ($5 ngenyanga), enikeza ukuqonda okujulile ngokusebenzisa kwakho amanzi. Iphinde inikeze ezinye izinzuzo ezine. Isici esiyinhloko, esibizwa ngokuthi i-Fixtures (esisese-beta), sithembisa ukuhlaziya ukusetshenziswa kwakho kwamanzi nge-fixture, okufanele kwenze kube lula kakhulu ukufeza imigomo yakho yokusebenzisa amanzi. I-Fixtures ihlaziya amaphethini okugeleza kwamanzi ukuze ibone ukuthi amanzi akho asetshenziswa kanjani: Mangaki amagaloni asetshenziswa ukuhlanza izindlu zangasese; malini amanzi athululelwa empompini wakho, eshaweni, nasebhavini; ukuthi angakanani amanzi asetshenziswa yizinto zakho zikagesi (i-washer, i-dishwasher); nokuthi mangaki amagaloni asetshenziswa ekuniseleni.
Izinto ezifakiwe zifakiwe kusevisi yokubhalisa ye-FloProtect ongayikhetha. Izama ukuthola ukuthi usebenzisa kanjani amanzi.
I-algorithm ayizange ibe usizo kakhulu ekuqaleni futhi yayizohlanganisa iningi lokusetshenziswa kwamanzi kwami esigabeni "sokunye." Kodwa ngemva kokusiza uhlelo lokusebenza ukuthi lubone amaphethini ami okusetshenziswa kwamanzi—uhlelo lokusebenza lubuyekeza ukusetshenziswa kwamanzi kwakho ngehora, futhi ungahlela kabusha umcimbi ngamunye—kwaba nembambe kakhulu ngokushesha. Akukapheleli, kodwa kusondelene kakhulu, futhi kwangisiza ngaqaphela ukuthi mhlawumbe ngangichitha amanzi amaningi kakhulu ekuniseleni.
Ukubhaliswa okungu-$60 ngonyaka kukunikeza nelungelo lokubuyiselwa imali yomshwalense wabanikazi bezindlu zakho uma ulahlekelwa umonakalo wamanzi (okulinganiselwe ku-$2,500 futhi kuneminye imikhawulo ongafunda ngayo lapha). Ezinye izinzuzo zincane kakhulu: Uthola iwaranti yomkhiqizo eyengeziwe yeminyaka emibili (iwaranti yonyaka owodwa ijwayelekile), ungacela incwadi eyenziwe ngokwezifiso ukuze uyethule enkampanini yakho yomshwalense engase ikuvumele ukuthola isaphulelo ku-premium yakho (uma umhlinzeki wakho womshwalense enikeza isaphulelo esinjalo), futhi uyafaneleka ukubhekwa ngokushesha yi-"concierge yamanzi" engaphakamisa izixazululo zezinkinga zakho zamanzi.
I-Flo akuyona ivalvu yokuvala amanzi ezenzakalelayo ebiza kakhulu emakethe. I-Phyn Plus ibiza u-$850, kanti i-Buoy ibiza u-$515, kanye nokubhalisela okuphoqelekile okungu-$18 ngenyanga ngemuva konyaka wokuqala (asikakabukezi noma yimuphi waleyo mikhiqizo). Kodwa u-$499 uwutshalomali olukhulu. Kubalulekile futhi ukusho ukuthi i-Flo ayihlanganisi nezinzwa ezizobona ngqo ukuba khona kwamanzi lapho kungafanele khona, njengasephansi kusuka kusinki egcwele amanzi, ibhavu, noma indlu yangasese; noma kusuka kusitsha sokuwasha izitsha esivuzayo noma esingasebenzi, umshini wokuwasha, noma isifudumezi samanzi ashisayo. Futhi amanzi amaningi angaphuma epayipini eliqhumile ngaphambi kokuba i-Flo ikhale i-alamu noma isebenze yodwa uma ungayenzi.
Ngakolunye uhlangothi, amakhaya amaningi asengozini enkulu yokulimala kwamanzi kunomlilo, isimo sezulu, noma ukuzamazama komhlaba. Ukuthola nokuvimba ukuvuza kwamanzi okubi kakhulu kungakongela imali eningi kuye ngokuthi umshwalense wakho ukhokhiswa malini; mhlawumbe okubaluleke kakhulu, kungavimbela ukulahlekelwa yimpahla yakho kanye nokuphazamiseka okukhulu empilweni yakho okungabangelwa yipayipi lamanzi eliqhumile. Ukuthola ukuvuza okuncane kungakongela imali ebhilini lakho lamanzi lanyanga zonke; ingasaphathwa eyokunciphisa umthelela wakho emvelweni.
I-Flo ivikela ikhaya lakho ekulimaleni kwamanzi okubangelwa ukuvuza okuhamba kancane kanye nokwehluleka okukhulu, futhi izokwazisa nangokuchitha amanzi. Kodwa kuyabiza futhi ngeke ikuxwayise ngokuqongelela kwamanzi ezindaweni lapho kungafanele khona.
UMichael ukhuluma ngezingoma ezihlakaniphile zasekhaya, ezokuzijabulisa zasekhaya, kanye nezokuxhumana kwasekhaya, esebenza endlini ehlakaniphile ayakha ngo-2007.
I-TechHive ikusiza ukuthi uthole indawo yakho efanelekile kwezobuchwepheshe. Sikuqondisa emikhiqizweni ozoyithanda futhi sikubonise ukuthi ungayisebenzisa kanjani ngokugcwele.
Isikhathi sokuthunyelwe: Julayi-03-2019