Oras - Blog

What can today’s consumers expect from their faucets?

Oras — Tue, 07 Feb 2023 14:21:47 GMT

According to the latest Houzz kitchen and bath research, renewing bathroom fixtures is high in demand. In fact, 88% of renovating homeowners also upgrade their bathroom faucets while they’re at it. Read about the latest consumer trends and find out what you can expect from your next faucet update.

We expect today’s fittings to offer more than just reliable functionality. With every new faucet, we should also demand new styles and features. Consumers seek versatile solutions that satisfy a wider range of requirements – from conserving water and energy to offering unique styles and guaranteeing easy usability through a range of features that can be customised via accompanied Apps. We can and should expect today’s faucets to become tailored to our unique needs.

Let’s dive into the 3 most common consumer needs.

1. ECO features to save resources and track consumption

We demand more than good looks from today’s faucets. A growing number of homeowners are shifting their focus to smarter ways of conserving resources and monitoring daily water and energy use.

That’s why most modern faucets integrate ECO features, which are specifically designed to to help us use less water without even noticing. Faucets with low-flow functionality, for example, limit the amount of water that’s leaving our faucets while still maintaining a pleasant, consistent water stream for pursuing our daily activities.

2. Perfect fit, perfect comfort

Designing for better comfort has experienced a renaissance in many of today’s kitchens. More often, we see homeowners' kitchens equipped with faucets that feature advanced functionalities, and surfaces and layouts reminiscent of professional restaurant kitchens.

That’s why, in recent years, many manufacturers have updated existing bathroom collections to meet an ever-growing demand for smart design and helpful additional features that make everyday life as comfortable as it gets.

Following a common request of consumers, our latest faucets come in various sizes to fit different washbasin designs and layouts. As basins often differ in size, shape and styles, finding a faucet that matches both in looks and in functionality is key.

Whether it’s a high spout, a pin lever or a side-operated faucet that brings more comfort to our homes, it’s all about those small design changes that make everyday tasks significantly more convenient. From washing hands to cleaning the sink basin, perfectly fitting faucets mean perfect comfort and peace of mind.

3. Hybrid, touchless and other exciting features to support everyday tasks

New technological innovations have also made it possible to integrate smart tech features into our faucets – a trend that’s still advancing to give homeowners exactly what they need and ease everyday life.

HYBRID faucets, for example, are considered the new must-have for those looking to make water use more convenient – and ecological. They’re known for combining the best of both worlds – automatic (touchless) and manual operation – and allow you to either use the lever or choose handy touchless features for washing hands and equipment without touching any surfaces.

Automatic activation features, which engage high temperatures and water flow only when necessary, not only deliver more comfort and safety to homeowners, they also empower us to save vast amounts of water and energy during our everyday routines.

What’s more, consumers also expect to become smarter through digital features. By enabling us to customise faucet settings, activate cleaning modes according to individual needs and receive personalised reports via connected Apps, we can anticipate having more knowledge and control over our daily consumption in the future.

From resource-saving features to well-thought-out designs and smart, built-in technology, we can and should anticipate bathroom faucets to bring more comfort and ease to our everyday lives.

We’re excited to see a wide range of designs and models in the coming years that advance our daily comfort, but also elevate the look and feel of our bathrooms. With a combination of slim proportions, modern shapes and multiple finishes, it’s about time to turn our bathrooms into an attraction of their own.

The top 5 water-and energy-saving faucets

Oras — Tue, 07 Feb 2023 13:00:52 GMT

Shorter showers are just one way to save water and energy in our homes. With technology helping us cut consumption by up to half, looking out for faucets with dedicated sustainability features can help achieve major savings without compromising on comfort.

Did you know that installing water-saving devices in our buildings is seen as one of the key solutions to sparing tomorrow’s resources?

According to the latest estimates, we can expect a more efficient use of water and electricity by nearly 40% through technological improvements alone. So what are the latest technological advancements and which faucet is the right for you to save resources during your day-to-day routine?

We compiled a list of our top-of-class sustainable showers, washbasin and kitchen faucets, equipped with water-and-energy-saving features — from touchless sensors to low-flow settings.

Oras Nova shower system

The innovative shower system is specifically designed to prevent water waste by limiting water flow without compromising comfort. Equipped with an individually adjustable water-saving function (EcoFlow), you can save up to 60% water during your shower routine.

But sparing resources means much more than reducing our use of water. It also means saving energy whenever we can. That’s why our eco-friendly shower systems come with built-in temperature limiters. An integrated safety stop makes sure the water temperature stays within an energy-friendly range and only exceeds 38°C when activated through a special button.

Oras Optima Style washbasin faucets

For the modern bathroom, this hybrid washbasin faucet combines the best of both worlds allowing you to operate it both manually by using the lever or touchless with the help of integrated smart sensors that detect moving hands.

This can lead to important water savings as the water flow activates only when hands are within the recognition range. That way, you can rest assured that water runs only when needed.

Curious to learn more about your consumption patterns? By connecting your faucet to the Oras app, you get to do just that and also customise the faucet’s functions according to your needs. You can, for example, set the faucet’s after-flow time to a duration that minimises your water use.

Oras Saga kitchen faucets

Imagine your faucet used less water without you even noticing. That’s exactly what the Oras Saga does. Lowering the amount of water released per minute, it helps you achieve major water and energy savings during your everyday kitchen tasks. Whether that’s washing your hands or cleaning pans and pots.

It also comes with an integrated cold start feature which can have quite an impact on your energy use. By setting cold water as the default mode, no energy is wasted on heating up water for simple day-by-day operations, such as washing hands.

Digital hand shower

Most of us have good intentions to minimise our use of water and energy. But keeping track of our daily consumption can become quite a challenge and all too often, we only get to see the numbers when opening our water and energy bills.

If becoming smarter and changing your everyday behaviour in real-time is a priority, it might be a good idea to upgrade your current setup with a digital hand shower. With its stylish design, the digital Oras Hydractiva Digital is equipped with smart functionalities that provide real-time feedback on your water and energy use via an integrated display. By connecting the hand shower to the digital hand shower App, you can also set water consumption goals, receive data on your long-term usage, and access valuable tips on saving water.

Oras Stela washbasin faucet

The Oras Stela washbasin faucet is the perfect choice if you plan to add a touch of elegance to your bathroom but still aim to save resources.

Coming in different variants, you can flexibly select your preferred operating mode – whether that’s integrating touchless features or going for a single lever that’s equipped with low-flow functionality. The perfect balance of smart design and ECO features helps limit temperatures and flow rates and keeps water and energy waste at a minimum.

While saving water often comes down to habits and behaviour, our extensive range of technological solutions for kitchens and bathrooms can play a crucial part in reducing our resource consumption. And even if only implementing one of these, you can already have a big impact on preventing water and energy from going to waste.

Big or small, turn your kitchen into a functional one

Oras — Thu, 15 Dec 2022 08:00:00 GMT

A functional kitchen comes in all shapes and sizes

Making coffee or cooking pasta in a well-functioning kitchen feels better, no matter how much time you spend in it. While a larger kitchen space allows for endless options, a smaller size shouldn’t limit you in making your kitchen as functional as possible. In fact, smaller spaces can often lead to charming solutions.

Whether it’s storage space, the location and type of the water station, your lighting concept or cozy seating areas, the functional design of your kitchen can vary a lot based on its size.

We gathered our top 4 aspects to guide you on your journey towards creating a more functional kitchen – in small and large spaces.

1. Storage space

If you’re planning for a big kitchen, storage solutions are most likely endless. It all comes down to your preference. And if you can play it loosely, you could consider hiding your appliances such as toasters and juicers in the cabinets. This will give a clean look to your kitchen.

If you however need to fight for storage space in your small kitchen, you could consider a few options. Plan for ceiling-high cabinets to create that extra space for all your pots and pans and opt for open cabinets for an open and roomy feeling in an otherwise small kitchen.

You can also get to thinking beyond cabinets and use the walls and corners for alternative storage options like shelves or baskets.

2. Water station

The general recommendation is to follow the golden triangle when choosing the location of your faucet, fridge and stove in the kitchen. According to the golden triangle theory, the kitchen’s three main work areas – the sink, fridge and stove – should form a triangle. The triangle is aimed to create a rotational flow between the tasks of cooking (stove), prepping (sink), and storage (fridge), and it’s important that no element, such as a kitchen island, blocks the flow. While a big kitchen will come with more options, the golden triangle should also be possible in a smaller kitchen. At the very least, it is a good idea to keep your water station easily accessible.

The nature of your faucet might vary based on how big your kitchen is. If you have a bigger sink and enough space around it, a high swivel spout faucet is key to getting into all the corners and nooks to rinse off the sink; with a double sink, you can multitask between washing or rinsing dishes, or prepping food for cooking, and a swivel spout allows you to push your faucet to the sink you need.

A flexible hose or pull-down spray can be equally useful, enabling you to easily wash larger pots, fill up containers and enjoy the overall added flexibility.

Oras also offers a variety of faucets with pull-out sprays, with options including swivel/non-swivel and high/low spouts, all under the Comfort design line extension .

Oras Inspera features a pull-out spray

Touchless faucets can be a great aid in creating a fully functional kitchen, too, and can fit any sized kitchen. A hybrid faucet can give you the flexibility of choosing between manual and touchless mode, so you can activate the touchless feature for small tasks while cooking, like washing food or rinsing your hands; and use the manual levers when you’re filling a pot with water, or you’re washing the dishes with the flexible hose or swivel spout. Hybrid faucets can help you save time and effort by simplifying processes when needed, can save water and money, and are equipped with manual levers for extra flexibility. You can take a look at our range of hybrid faucets here.

The hybrid Oras Optima

3. Lighting

A functional kitchen provides maximum visibility in every spot. A large kitchen ideally comes with more natural light sources via windows, whereas a small kitchen might be more prone to darker corners due to the shadow cast by the furniture. Installing spotlights is useful in any kitchen to maximize visibility; in addition, spotlights can also create a nice dimmer effect after dark.

4. Seating

With a big kitchen you could consider going for an island style kitchen, which can be used as a workstation and a table at the same time, which can be a great way to entertain guests while you’re cooking.

If you’re the more classic type, go for the traditional kitchen table that can seat your friends and family. A small kitchen can also offer seating options with today’s innovative design opportunities. Consider installing a wall-mounted fold-out table or a pull-out table attached to the furniture; both options come with the flexibility of closing up the table when you need the space.

Storage space, the location and type of water station, lighting and seating all play an important role in making your kitchen functional. With the right choices, you can turn your large or small kitchen into a highly functional one. By following our guidelines, you can confidently take the first step in the right direction.

Remodeling a dream home sustainably

Oras — Tue, 22 Nov 2022 08:00:00 GMT

Ever had the vision to renovate your house just the way you want it? So did Susanne from Norway.Find out how she brought stylish design, smart functionality,and sustainability to create the home of her dreams while saving energy and money.

We’ve all caught ourselves imagining our dream home. In 2021, Susanne and her boyfriend, along with their 1-year-old daughter, turned that dream into reality. After buying a house that was almost unchanged since the 1980s, they decided to renovate the entire property, fitting it with an array of bathroom and kitchen faucets that made the place truly their own.

Susanne and her boyfriend mulled over an endless list of choices when planning the renovation project. “Where should we place the kitchen sink? What kind of faucets do we want in the guest bathroom? Do we want a bathtub, and if so, would the master bathroom need to be expanded?”

Like many of us, she went online for inspiration, browsing the latest home trends while always consulting her boyfriend, who as a carpenter by trade, was responsible for overseeing all practicalities of the renovation project. Attention to detail was critical. Everything from shower placement to piping needed to be perfect, so working with plumbers and installers that could execute all their plans was essential.

A splash of stylish design

It wouldn’t be worth working night and day to create your dream home if it didn’t bring a smile to you when you finished. For Susanne, design would make or break that smile. She wanted a sleek and stylish look throughout that complimented the rest of her design choices.

Matt Black faucets were the perfect mix for Susanne and her boyfriend. They provided a striking contrast against the beige, natural backdrop of their home, while their special coating would also help to hide water splashes and ensures easier cleaning.

A clear focus on sustainability that guided decision making

Apart from usability and elegance, all choices were driven by a desire to save water, energy and materials throughout the renovation project.

And that meant integrating sustainability into every aspect of their renovation plans, from using nature-based elements to hunting down a series of second-hand furnishings that they brought back to life.

Planning for water and energy savings from day one

Protecting resources doesn’t stop once renovations are finished. For Susanne and her boyfriend, saving water and energy in their daily lives was another key priority.

That’s why, when faced with the choice of faucet and shower systems, fixtures with water and energy-saving features were a must.

The Guest bathroom: Smart functionality for sustainability with style

Touchless faucets are often associated with public restrooms. However, as demands on resource efficiency and design were high, Susanne didn’t hesitate to make use of smart technology in her own home.

Not only because it helps avoid wasted water running through smart sensors. But also, because it significantly improves hand hygiene and creates a fresh look through modern, minimalistic design.

The kitchen: Combining the best of both worlds

Apart from ensuring resource-efficient use, functionality and comfort were top of mind for the perfect overall kitchen design.

That’s why Susanne selected a hybrid faucet for their workstation, featuring both touchless and manual handles.

This not only ensured a more convenient and hygienic kitchen routine, for example, by eliminating touching the faucet with greasy hands when cooking, but it also helped control water temperatures and water use.

“This kitchen faucet is perfect. It has all the functions that you need. A temperature display shows the exact temperature and signal if the water gets too hot. That’s not only a huge safety benefit. It also helps us save energy and ensures water only runs when we actually need it.”

The main bathroom: The small things that matter

Safety and sustainability were not just top of mind in the kitchen but also in the main bathroom. With their one-year-old daughter, avoiding the risk of burning or scalding in the bathroom was a key priority for the new family.

The Oras Vega with an integrated ECO button ensured both perfect safety and eco-friendly use. Setting a pleasant temperature as the default, it minimizes the risk of scalding while conserving precious resources during their daily bathroom routine.

With the renovation project, they also made their dream come true: Creating a cozy relaxation zone with a rounded off bathtub and small decorative features that make the time we spend in our bathrooms a little more special.

The combination of an elegant bathtub faucet with a low-flow hand shower and a matching matt black Rainshower in the shower, brought life to an aesthetic that complements their personal values and drive for safety and sustainability: An integrated EcoFlow limiter and temperature stop at 38°C helps conserve water and provides a perfectly safe and comfortable wellness zone.

Looking back on the completed renovation project, Susanne was thrilled with the finished result.

“The choices are many, but it’s been a very memorable and good experience and I think we’ve made the dream home that we want to live in for ourselves and our daughter.”

Add more value to your home with a smarter, more eco-friendly kitchen

Oras — Thu, 27 Oct 2022 07:00:00 GMT

The kitchen is the heart of the home and at the top of the list when it comes to home improvements. But what improvements are adding the most value?

Contractors and designers suggest that kitchens should be renovated every 10-15 years – or once you begin to notice significant wear to countertops, floors or appliances. Not only does this make your kitchen more comfortable and useable, it also adds value to your home. In fact, many Europeans will renovate their kitchen to increase their home’s value before selling, as statistics show that kitchen remodels deliver a solid return on investment.

Here are 3 key measures you can take to get the best value from your kitchen remodel

Go for durable and eco-friendly solutions
Get smarter
Update design and décor

1. Go for durable and eco-friendly solutions

Dedicated eco-friendly faucets are a great way to conveniently reduce your everyday water consumption – often, without you even noticing. By operating on a lower flow rate than most conventional models, they release less water per wash while still guaranteeing enough water pressure for you to proceed with your daily kitchen routine.

Additional mechanical Eco functionalities, such as Cold Start features for example, automatically set the lever starting position on cold water for simple day-by-day operations. That way, water only heats up when needed.

Further faucets with integrated Eco Buttons enable you flexibly switch between low and full water flow, which can be of great value if your main goal is to cut energy costs.

Finally, make sure to go for quality. Strikingly durable faucets from brands known for quality are a good way to signal sustainability as they will last longer and reduce waste.

2. Get smarter

The concept of a Smart Home might have been making the rounds for quite some time, as homes around the world are getting more technologically-advanced every day. The smart home appliances market is anticipated to reach $57.64 billion by 2025 – a sixfold increase in the last decade alone.

Leading this steep growth, smart products are forecast to make up a significant share of household appliances and several high-tech smart devices have already been making their way into our kitchens: fridges, microwaves, pressure cookers and even wine coolers – all packed with unique and useful functions for a well-functioning kitchen.

This also includes a new generation of smart faucets that take hygiene, comfort and safety to the next level. Touchless features are not only a great way to save water and energy, but they also ensure you don’t touch the faucet with dirty hands while you cook or bake.

VIDEO

Hybrid kitchen faucets, like the Oras Optima allow you to choose between operating the faucet via the standard lever or going all in on the touchless features.

The flexible hose of the Oras Optima comes in particularly handy for washing larger pots and other demanding kitchen tasks, while a built-in temperature display starts blinking when the water gets hot, so you can reduce the risk of burns and ensure extra safety for you and your family.

Hybrid smart kitchen faucets have many features that improve your kitchen’s overall functionality

3. Updated design and décor

Slender, elegant and modern designs like the Oras Optima or matt black faucets, for example, can bring more elegance into your kitchen and catch the eye of homeowners and homebuyers alike.

These are just a few of the many smart and sustainable kitchenware items out there – a mix of what combines useful features with incredible technology. Why not invest in products that make the kitchen safer, cleaner and easier to work in?

Safety first: Top 5 safety features in the bathroom

Oras — Thu, 13 Oct 2022 07:00:00 GMT

Having safety top of mind when picking out or upgrading your fixtures can be key for reducing the risk of injuries happening in the bathroom. By ensuring safe water temperatures, eliminating the risk of scalding, picking out a safe design and making it easy to move around, you can rest assured that your family – young and old – is a little bit safer. Follow our top 5 tips for a safe bathroom environment.

Let’s face it, the occasional scalding or slip has happened to us all, young and old; and if you’re living with children or seniors, bathroom safety measures are probably especially important to you. Creating a safe environment in the bathroom doesn’t have to be complicated, and by making it safer, it also becomes more comfortable for everyone.

1. Hot and cold – Control the temperature

Do you know that moment when the water suddenly turns steaming hot just in the middle of your shower? This is a common source of injury in many homes, and it is uncomfortable to say the least. Luckily, scalding can be prevented with the right shower. A shower thermostat will block the hot water when the cold water stops flowing, keeping the water from causing a scalding injury. An additional hot water lock can limit the water temperature to 38 °C. This way you’re guaranteed that the water is always comfortable to the touch, and there’s no risk of accidentally turning the temperature up too high. Depending on the model of the faucet, the temperature is fixed during installation or can be bypassed when in use through a separate temperature booster button that activates higher temperatures.

Oras also offers washbasin faucets with an integrated hot water lock and functionality, making it safe and easy to use for families with children.

2. Pre-set the temperature on your faucet

With a touchless faucet, you can go even further. A touchless faucet is pre-set to the desired temperature at the time of installation. So if you have kids, you can make sure they don’t risk scalding themselves with hot water by pre-setting the faucet to the temperature that fits your family.

3. Avoid burning

Another common cause of injury can be an extra hot faucet surface, leading to stinging burns. To keep every member of the family safe, make sure you go for a ThermoCool thermostat like Oras Nova that comes with a double housing design. Due to the design of the double layered housing, the surface of the thermostat is always at a comfortable temperature to touch.

4. Choose a safe design

Design can also play a major role in creating a safe bathroom environment. Whether its rounded edges or ease of use, some design features are safer than others. An ergonomic design that makes it easy to use and comfortable to grip is beneficial for both kids and seniors. Our Oras CARE line of faucets offers a range of such safety features, including design with rounded edges, easy to grip levers/handles, safe and intuitive operation of thermostats, as well as clear hot an cold water marks.

5. Make it easy to move around

Added flexibility can often help with staying safe in the bathroom. As many accidents are caused by slips or falls, installing the right interior that allows you to move around freely when using the shower or faucet can be crucial. A shower set-up with hand shower, for example, allows you to move around more easily and can help avoid uncomfortable positions and potential injuries with kids or seniors. Going for a washbasin faucet with functional hand shower, can help you perform some actions on-the-go more easily, like washing your hair or assisting another family member with cleansing.

Tip: for maximum flexibility and safety, consider upgrading your bathroom with anti-slip floor tiles, barrier-free showers, a place to sit in the shower area, and grab bars. Small improvements such as these can go a long way.

Creating a safe environment in the bathroom often starts with picking out the right fixtures that eliminate the risk of water running too hot or surfaces becoming overheated, as well as choosing design that is both smart and provides the flexibility to move around freely. Look for the features above the next time you’re planning your bathroom, and you’ll be well on your way towards safety.

The doctor has spoken: the best way to wash your hands

Oras — Thu, 15 Sep 2022 07:00:00 GMT

Over the last few years, we’ve all gotten an education on the importance of washing hands. Adrian Busen M.D. gives his best advice for how to do the task right.

Washing your hands properly is arguably the best thing you can do to prevent yourself and your family from getting sick. Adrian Busen M.D., a specialist in general medicine at Dr. Münster practice in Münster, Germany explains why this is and gives some great advice for when and how to wash your hands.

Why is it important to wash our hands?

Most people wash their hands to get rid of visible dirt, but we need to remember the invisible germs that lurk on our hands. “Washing hands on a regular basis helps us remove germs that cause illness, while preventing the spread of illness to others,” Busen M.D. explains. “It’s an important technique for safeguarding the health of the people you live and work with.”

How often should we wash our hands?

We should aim to wash our hands 6-10 times a day. “The most important times to wash include after using the toilet, after coughing or sneezing and right after we get home,” says Busen M.D. “If we know we’ve been in contact with someone who is ill, we should immediately wash our hands.”

Here are a few other guidelines:

Before, during and after preparing food
Before eating
Before and after attending to wounds
After blowing your nose
After handling animals or animal waste
After touching garbage
After handling money
After using public transportation
After working in the garden

What’s the best way to wash our hands?

Before COVID, the average person washed their hands for 6 seconds. The pandemic has perhaps changed that as people have become more aware of the importance of washing hands.

“The rule of thumb is to wash your hands for at least 20 seconds, soaping them up properly to form foam and scrubbing between the fingers, not forgetting the fingertips and the area under the fingernails,” says Busen M.D. For extra measure, if you can hum the ‘Happy birthday’ song twice in the time you’re washing your hands, you can be sure you’ve done it long enough.

It’s also important to avoid touching the faucet when you’re finished and to dry your hands with a clean towel. During flu season, it’s recommended to wash and replace the towels regularly.

Why is it important to avoid touching the faucet?

“Bacteria are collecting on our hands all day. When we turn taps on and off, these bacteria get transferred onto the faucet, and that means every time the tap is touched the bacteria are transferred back to the hands of the user,” Busen M.D. explains. “Touchless faucets are a good solution to this. Since you don’t need to touch the tap, you can avoid picking up germs after washing and stay clean and hygienic for longer.”

Touchless faucets make handwashing more hygienic and they’re not just for public places anymore. You can install one in your own home to help prevent germs from spreading between your family members. And touchless faucets also help save water as they stop running automatically during your 20-second scrub.

About Adrian Busen

M.D.Adrian Busen M.D. practices as a specialist in general medicine at the Dr. Münster practice in Münster, in the region of Westphalia, Germany. A key focus area at the Dr. Münster practice is “Promoting Health and Prevention of Disease”. Busen M.D. works in the areas of manual medicine/chirotherapy with a focus on atlas therapy (atlasReflexTh.®). He also holds the additional distinctions of DAEM/DGEM® nutritional medical practitioner and specialist in travel medicine (CRM).

Best of wellness tips for your bathroom

Oras — Mon, 12 Sep 2022 16:18:23 GMT

We don’t have the ultimate solution to all challenges of today’s busy lives. But we know that making more space for wellness in your bathroom can help you cope with it. Find out how to create your very own personal oasis of relaxation and let yourself live a healthier, more eased everyday life.

Often, all we need after a busy day is a few hours to ourselves – to forget about ever-growing to-do lists and look after ourselves. Why not let our bathrooms create that space of reflection, relaxation and wellness for us? Ever considered what small interior design tweaks can do to the overall look and feel of your bathroom? And have you ever heard about hot and cold water therapy?

We collected a few tips and tricks to make the time we spend in our bathroom count.

Add decorative elements

Just like any other room in our homes, our bathrooms are living spaces too and need some interior attention. Whether that means adding a few plants, painting an accent wall or setting up furniture and decorative elements that help you store your toiletries, there’s a lot of ways to add your personal touch and create an uncluttered look.

So don’t be shy to let your creativity flow. After all, it’s usually our bathrooms where we start and end our days. So why not make the most of it and ensure you feel comfortable and relaxed? If you’re going for more wellness, for example, how about placing candles around the bathtub or making use of special bathtub-trays that allow you to have your book, a glass of wine or both close to you while you’re taking a relaxing bath?
Go for functionality and ease-of-use to increase comfort

While finding the right décor, don’t forget about functionality. There’s nothing more frustrating than a leaking faucet or a worn-down shower head. Fixtures that work the way they are supposed to can save you a lot of stress and help you feel comfortable, healthy and homely.

Replacing an old shower head with a new one, for example, is an easy quick fix that you’ll be thankful for every time when you take your morning shower, while creating a healthier, more modern overall bathroom environment. It can also significantly increase comfort as you get to select a shower head or faucet that exactly fits your needs. A multi-jet shower head, for example, allows you to choose between different spray types to match your different moods, while a touchless or high spout faucet can provide the freedom you need to move around when performing your daily bathroom routines.
Start a new habit: A hot and cold answer to everyday stress

You may have heard about hot and cold-water therapy already. Also known as contrast water therapy, it’s designed to expose the body to alternating intervals of hot and cold water. Especially in the athlete's world, it has become a widely used treatment by professional athletes, physicians, and physiotherapists all around the world.

“Alternating hot and cold treatment, meanwhile, is perfect for stimulating the circulatory system and metabolism. Above all, I use variations in temperature to speed recovery between training sessions, tells Finnish triathlete, Kaisa Sali, considered one of the most successful long-distance triathletes in the world.

I have also found that hot-cold therapy helps relieve swelling of the feet, for example, after a long day of travel or prolonged standing. Many people use hot-cold therapy to stimulate the body in the morning, but for me, temperature variations help with relax and getting to sleep at the end of a tough day, ” Kaisa continues.

But you don’t need to be a professional athlete to bring some wellness into your everyday lives. We believe that hot and cold water therapy is for everyone.

Here are three good reasons why you should consider trying it out yourself:

Stress down your body and mind

Stress is the source of most neck, back and headaches. To many of us, it can severely impact our capacity to deal with the physical and mental challenges we face in our everyday lives.

Hot and cold water therapy can relieve muscular tension and enhances blood circulation which effectively reduces stress symptoms and helps uncloud your mind.

When ‘rise and shine’ is easier said than done

Do you have trouble getting up in the morning? Well, you’re not alone. Hot and cold water therapy helps you activate your body, kick start your blood circulation, relieve fatigue and boost your energy, giving you the best start to the day. Who knows? Suddenly you might find yourself embracing your inner early bird.

Physical restraints in everyday life

Professional athletes use water therapy to soothe and nurture muscles after hard workout sessions. But it’s not just professional athletes that need rapid recovery.

Our daily activities can put an equally tough strain on our muscles. Whether that’s caused by heavy workouts at the gym or by activities like grocery shopping.

Dedicated shower programs can help release muscle tension and reduce oedema and muscle cramps allowing you to recover after tough physical work.

Enjoy the full wellness treatment in your home

We believe that hot and cold water therapy can help everyday heroes with everyday problems and become more physically and mentally equipped to deal with the pressure.

That’s why at HANSA we designed a shower system that alternates between hot and cold water with different intervals, allowing you to choose between three dedicated shower programs RELAX, RELOAD, and RECHARGE through the simple touch of a ‘Wellfit button’ on the thermostat.

“The shower has three programmes that alternate between hot and cold water, with different volumes and duration depending on the purpose. One program helps to reduce muscle pain and speeds recovery after exercise, another relaxes the body and mind, and the third programme activates the whole body and boosts the blood circulation. The handy HANSA App gives you more programmes to choose from, or you can create your own. Personally, I’ve enjoyed using a bit longer cold water periods than the more even hot-cold balance of the basic programmes.”- Kaisa explains.

No matter whether you’re just looking for simple design tweaks, new fittings, or ways to live a healthier life, bringing some personal wellness into your own home is never a bad idea.

Want to read more about hot and cold therapy and the Oras Esteta Wellfit shower system? 

Explore the Esteta Wellfit Family and see the Esteta Wellfit it in use here

Your home deserves only safe and healthy drinking water

Oras — Mon, 29 Aug 2022 18:51:24 GMT

Improve the safety and quality of your drinking water with these simple tips you can implement in your home.

Is safe drinking water top of mind? Are you looking for ways to keep your drinking water as safe as possible? From the materials used in the faucet to how long the water has stagnated in the pipes, there are several factors that play into how safe it is to consume the water from your tap. Find out how you can attain the healthiest drinking water.

Safe drinking water is a common concern among customers, and while the EU is doing its part to improve water quality in Europe, there are several ways you can also control and upgrade the water that ends up in your cup.

A good faucet can make a difference

It might surprise you to know that the materials your faucet is made of, both on the outside and the inside, can affect your water. When the materials in the pipes, faucets and fixtures, such as lead, corrode over time, they can release small amounts of chemical substances that decrease the quality of your drinking water.

While faucets must comply with strict quality regulations to avoid such contamination, there are a few additional things you can watch out for when picking out your faucet:

Outer components

Dezincification resistant (DZR) brass or chrome-plated zinc are the main materials used on the outer parts, covers and levers of faucets. High-quality faucets are fitted with highly resistant MS63 brass, which is one of the preferred materials in the sanitary industry. Faucets made of MS63 brass are therefore a good investment thanks to the material’s extremely durable qualities and its guarantee for safe drinking water. At Oras we offer a wide range of MS63 brass faucets.

If you’re looking for a faucet with the highest water purity standards, lead-free products and faucets with nickel-free waterways are a great choice. Keep an eye out for the Oras Protec label on the products in our range, which ensures a lead content of less than 0.3% to keep levels of lead in the water supply at their lowest.

Inner components

Inner components of faucets such as cartridges, valves, aerators and pipes can contain different polymers to ensure a high level of hygiene. However, all plastic materials that are expected to contact water are approved by local certifications, such as KTW and W270 approvals – so look for these certifications in the products you consider. These certifications both ensure that the hygienic requirements defined by the German Federal Environment Office for plastics used in contact with drinking water are fulfilled.

Oras Saga Eco is a lead-free kitchen faucet with < 0,1% Pb content making it a safe choice for customers with the highest water purity standards.

Stagnated water and how to avoid it

Although drinking water is treated before it gets to your home, a low concentration of micro-organisms remains, leaving it not 100% sterile. Luckily, these are harmless and do not pose a threat to your health.

Stagnated water, however, can. When drinking water lies still in the pipes for a longer time, it enables microorganisms to develop and multiply, which can, pose a health risk.

Legionellae is one such environmental bacteria that is naturally found in drinking water in low concentrations; increased water temperature and stagnation cause it to multiply and as a result, affect the safety standards of the water.

Legionellae multiply very slowly in cold water with temperatures below 20 °C and die from approx. 70 °C. However, temperatures ranging between 25 °C and 55 °C can lead to a high concentration of Legionellae that affect the health and safety standards of the water.

Water stagnation is very common in private households, where installations haven’t been used for an extended period, as with guest toilets, holiday apartments or vacant apartments.

As a rule, ensuring a regular water flow throughout your installations is the safest approach. To make this easier, many of Oras’s smart faucets are equipped with automatic flushing features.

Automatic flushing

Many of Oras’s faucets are equipped with automatic flushing which can be managed through the Oras App. With the help of the app and a Bluetooth connection, you can set up automatic flushing, which is activated every 72 hours.

What to do about stagnant water?

+ 4 hours: If water has been left in the tap for 4 hours or more

Open the faucet and run the tap until the water feels cold over your hand

+ 3 days: If water has been left in the tap for 3 days or more

Open the faucet and run the water for several minutes to ensure the complete exchange of your drinking water in the system

+ 4 weeks: If the water has been left in the tap for 4 weeks or more

It is recommended to shut off the pipes before you are absent, then flushing the pipes when starting up again – for which you might need the help of a professional.

Tip: When you’re gone for vacation for 4 weeks or more, automatic flushing is a great option to avoid having to hire a plumber to flush the pipes after your return.

Improving the safety and quality of your drinking water starts from the moment you pick out a faucet and continues with the right maintenance through regular or automatic flushing. By following these simple yet effective tips, you can make sure that your drinking water is free of chemical substances and bacteria.

5 easy steps to save water

Oras — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 07:00:00 GMT

Find out about small changes that can already help you save huge amounts of water, without compromising on comfort or personal hygiene.

Our planet needs sustainable change on a global scale. So, what does it matter if you sort your trash at home, eat a bit less meat and save a few drops of water every day?

We believe that every drop counts. Every faucet. Every shower. Every action. That’s why we set focus on concrete actions that each one of us can take – from adopting more sustainable habits to installing water saving features that help us reduce water usage. Whether that’s in our kitchen, during our bathroom routine or under the shower. Being economic in terms of our everyday water consumption is a crucial part of any ECO-conscious mindset.

Why saving water is important

Using less water:

conserves water resources

reduces the amount of chemicals used for water treatment and purification

reduces the energy needed for pumping and distributing water

conserves vast amounts of energy needed for heating water

reduces the amount of chemicals used for wastewater treatment

reduces wastewater discharges

can lead to significant savings on your utility bills.

How to save water

Water efficiency is all about conscious consumption of resources to reduce unnecessary wastage. Still, most of us waste a lot more water than we need to. At Oras, we believe that with small changes in your daily routine you can already save huge amounts of water, without compromising on personal hygiene or your shower experience.

Whether you’re looking for simple tweaks to make your daily routine more resource-efficient or thinking of upgrading your home with the latest water-saving fixtures, here are five easy ways to save water:

1. Take shorter showers. Yes, the duration of the shower has a direct effect on water usage. An ordinary shower uses around 12 liters of water per minute. In other words, if you reduce your daily shower from 10 minutes to 5, you'll cut your water consumption with 22 thousand liters every year. For a family of four, this would save more than 87 thousand liters of water a year.

2. Change your habits. There are many ways you can reduce your water consumption without making major changes. For example, when in the shower, water often runs longer than it has to. Do you tend to turn the shower on and leave the water running, waiting for it to heat up? And do you turn the water off while soaping or shaving or do you continue letting it run? Habits like these can easily eat up major portions of your daily energy and water use.

At Oras, we know that to make changes, we need to first become aware of it. And that’s not always easy. That’s why we designed a digital hand shower with an integrated display, enabling you to track your water and energy usage in real-time to form more sustainable routines everyday life.

3. Consider low-flow showers in your home. There’s no doubt that showering is an important part of everyday life. So what if your shower used less water without you even noticing? That’s exactly what low-flow features do. By lowering the amount of water released per minute, low-flow features enable you to conveniently save small amounts of water every day. Whereas the standard hand shower uses an average of 12 liters/minute, a low-flow showerhead like Oras Apollo Eco hand shower limits the water flow to only 7 liters/minute. That's 25 liters saved for every five minutes of showering.

4. Go for touchless faucets: One of the easiest ways to help reduce your annual water consumption is by switching to smart automatic faucets. When washing your hands, the water flow stops automatically while applying soap or scrubbing. Smart integrated sensors detect your hand movements and nothing else, which means water only flows when you need it.

5. Look out for ECO features: An alternative for the touchless faucets is choosing faucets with in-built water limiters. As an example, Oras Vega faucets feature a convenient eco-button, which makes it easier than ever to save water and energy. When you need to increase the water flow, you can simply press the eco-button and simultaneously lift the lever. In the washbasin faucets, the eco-button is also a safety factor, as it limits the water temperature. This child-friendly hot water lock function prevents scalding, making it safe and easy to use for families with children.

When in the shower or washing your hands, the water often runs for longer than it has to. Yet, water is one of the most valuable resources we have. Oras products are designed to run environmentally friendly and reliably for the entire duration of their long-life cycle.

Read more about Oras’ water saving touchless faucets here.

5 simple touch-ups that upgrade your bathroom in no time

Oras — Mon, 11 Jul 2022 07:00:00 GMT

Is your bathroom a bit out of date? Has your faucet seen better days? Complete renovations are expensive, time-consuming and inconvenient. Here are five easy upgrades you can do for a fraction of the price of a full renovation.

Given the amount of time we all spend in our bathrooms, small upgrades actually can have quite an impact on our daily lives: not only does a well-designed bathroom look good, it feels good too. What’s more, a freshly upgraded bathroom is a wise investment and can increase the value of any home.

Luckily, you don’t always need to take on a full renovation project to achieve a fresh look and feel.

For you to get rolling, we gathered a list of upgrades to help you kick start upgrading your bathroom to a fraction of the price of a full renovation.

Thinking of adding touch-free technologies, sustainable materials or modern design features? Here are 5 simple upgrades that will help polish up your bathroom and create a smarter, resource-efficient design.

1. Bring in fresh design elements

Have a good look around in your bathroom. You’ll certainly find a good amount of elements that could use a touch-up. From towel racks and bathroom tissue holders to mirror cabinets, your room’s lighting concept, and small decorative elements. Refreshing old furniture with more contemporary design elements is always a good starting point.

Often, it’s the small things that can make a difference. For example, instead of fully replacing your interior setup, consider adding new handles and pulls to your existing furniture. Whether bathroom cabinets or drawers, the selection of handles is extensive and can brush up the overall appearance of any bathroom in no time. Mind that there may be differences in hole dimensions and distance between holes. Look for handles with the same holes as the old ones or prepare to make new holes.

2. Replace fixtures

Updating your existing fixtures for a more modern look requires small effort but can bring a whole new feel to your bathroom. In fact, most of the faucets installed in our homes have standard dimensions, making them easily replaceable.

Touchless faucets, for example, are a well-known picture in today’s public bathrooms as they can keep water consumption low and create a more hygienic environment. In recent years, they’ve more and more made their way into our private bathrooms offering an extensive range of elegant, modern designs for you to select from. For good reasons: By replacing your washbasin faucet with the latest touchless models, you can bring a fresh feel to your bathroom and significantly reduce your daily water consumption by 50%.

[Note: please always use a professional plumber for the installation of the faucet.]

If touchless is just not for you, there’s also a variety of modern faucets out there that can create an elegant and timeless look. Matt black faucets, for example, or outstanding design models with beautiful waterfall stream features can help you bring style and a touch of nature to your bathroom, all while maintaining a low flow rate of only 6 litres per minute.

Considering replacing your washbasin faucet but still in doubt about which one to go for? Here’s how our latest AR technology can help you find the right one.

3. Update your shower head

While you’re at it, have a look at your shower head. Perhaps, you’ll find your shower head isn’t performing the way it used to or looking worn down. Has it ever been replaced?

Luckily, upgrading your shower head is an easy, inexpensive fix that doesn’t demand much time or effort. What’s more, switching to low flow shower heads can help you save massive amounts of water and energy day by day.

Read more about how you can save water with the right water-saving shower head and browse around to find the right model for your shower here.

4. Choose the right materials

Did you know that several materials we find in nature, including cork and linoleum, are not only more sustainable but also have natural anti-bacterial properties? And that solid surfaces built out of natural quartz can help prevent the formation of bacteria and mould?

If updating worn-out surfaces is a part of your plan, opt for materials that naturally create a clean, dry and fresh look while bringing more sustainable materials into your bathroom.

5. Redesign and reorganize

Finally, why not ensure the bathroom turns into a better room altogether? Given the amount of time we spend every day brushing our teeth, showering or even flipping through a magazine — prioritise adding that extra living space that allows you to move around more easily.

For example, consider wall-hung sinks to open up space. They can be perfectly matched with small-sized, slim or even wall-mounted faucet variants, helping you create a light and airy atmosphere. Also, make use of a wall-hung towel rack to provide a good amount of storage while not cutting down on available space.

Whether these ideas have just got you started or provided further insight for a project that’s well underway — we hope you can make use of a few of our tips.

Because no matter how ambitious your renovation plans, a clean and well-designed bathroom lasts for years to come.

Best of showers

Oras — Tue, 07 Jun 2022 06:00:00 GMT

Are you looking to replace your old shower system with a more modern look or simply plan to update your shower head with the latest features on the market? Too often, we get overwhelmed by the load of choices available to us. Here’s a best-of-list of our showers to help you find the model and shower features you were looking for.

You may be looking for extra safety, eco-functions to save water or simply a modern design. Ideally, we want a mix of everything. The right enough water flow for a comfortable shower experience, an elegant modern design, and a safe shower experience for everyone in our household – old and young.

But are there any shower faucets that are the most popular ones among private homeowners? Which are the best-selling models? Which are best in price? And which are best in style? Which are best for saving resources? And which shower system is best to guarantee the highest level of safety?

Here’s our best-of-showers list to help you narrow down your choice and find the best shower for your needs.

Best for saving resources

For a quick hand shower upgrade, the Oras Apollo is a common choice among water-conscious consumers. Featuring an integrated EcoFlow Control option, it allows you to select a resource-friendly water flow and reduce water consumption by up to 50 per cent1.

If you further want to track consumption in real-time and adjust your shower routine on the go, you can update your setup with a digital hand shower. It provides you with real-time feedback via a built-in LED display and integrated light, which changes colour according to water usage when you shower for a little too long. You can flexibly adjust the time for the red light to appear in our connected Oras App.

If you’re looking to monitor your consumption over time, you can connect the hand shower to the app and become even smarter about your everyday shower routine or compare your water consumption with the community of all digital hand shower users.

Best for safety

When it comes to finding the right solution for the entire family, safety and ease-of-use should take centre stage. Here, you should have a detailed look at the entire shower system and to combine ergonomic design with intelligent safety features. For example, one of our most popular choices for families is the Oras Optima, coming with several safety features.

Avoid scalds caused by hot water

Sudden water temperature changes are a common source of injury in the bathroom, and a key concern for parents of small children as well as elderly people.

That’s why, when selecting a thermostatic faucet for your shower setup, make sure it comes with automatic temperature adjustments features, which prevent hot water from flowing, e.g., if the cold-water outlet is blocked.

Additional temperature handles equipped with a safety stop at 38°C can further limit potential accidents caused by accidentally turning the water temperature handle up too high.

Anti-scalding surfaces

Anti-scalding surfaces are another essential safety feature in the family bathroom. To ensure that surfaces are always at a comfortable temperature to touch, check if the thermostat has a double housing.

It creates a thermal separation between the brass body and the ABS cover that avoids the housing from heating up to minimise the risk of burn injuries.

Best for wellness

If you’re looking for spa-like water treatments at the touch of a button, going for the Oras Esteta Wellfit shower system can be the perfect choice.

An optional built-in Wellfit feature allows you to select between three regeneration programmes, each designed to offer hot and cold-water sprays at different intervals which you can personalise according to your preferences via the HANSA App.

Explore different spray options here.

You can easily integrate the Oras Esteta into your existing shower setup, as it features a large product range that helps you choose between a shower system with or without rain shower functionality and take your pick from hand showers for the shower and bath – with or without the innovative Wellfit feature.

Best in design

If you’re dreaming of a more unique shower design, consider faucet models with different coating options. Matt black editions, for example, are already a common feature in modern bathrooms and create an elegant look and feel.

Best-sellers

As one of our best-sellers, the Oras Nova is designed for the modern cross-generational bathroom and offers a wide collection of ergonomic, easy-to-use, and safe showers fit for every purpose.

With various models to choose from, it’s the perfect choice if you’re not sure whether to upgrade your current set-up with a new shower head or whether to give your bathroom a complete rehaul.

It can be easily integrated into your existing bathroom setup, no matter whether you’re looking for a rain shower system, a combination of bath and shower thermostats or a complete shower set.

Finding a shower that blends perfectly with the surroundings of your bathroom is one thing. But finding one that is tailored to your and your family’s needs is another. Each with their own benefits, our showers are designed to help you achieve the best match possible – no matter whether that’s saving water, increasing wellness or extra safety.

Explore our best of showers at a glance:

AR: The easy way to finding the perfect faucet for your bathroom

Oras — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 06:30:00 GMT

Which faucet works best in your bathroom? Does a matt-back faucet really suit your bathroom colour scheme? What size of faucet fits your basin and does a round or cube-shaped shower head work better in your current setup?

Find out how to use the latest AR technology to help you get a better look and feel and ultimately find the perfect faucet for your bathroom.

Using the interactive 3D platform, you can enter a virtual product world to find the perfect match for your individual bathroom and kitchen dimensions.

It’s often hard to judge from pictures whether and how our fittings eventually blend with the overall set-up of our bathrooms. Matt black showers, for example, can bring a distinct look to our bathrooms, but might not be the best choice if surrounded by a lot of dark furniture and bathroom equipment. At the same time, you may have decided on the design of a faucet but are uncertain where to place it.

Here’s how the latest Augmented Reality (AR) technology can help you visualise a variety of options and find the perfect fit.

Why you should visualise your faucet choice

We typically choose our fittings based on pictures or models we have seen in showrooms.

However, installations can look different than on pictures or change in appearance once installed onsite “in real life”.

By browsing our large portfolio and previewing your desired faucet before purchasing it, you can prevent costly mistakes and wrong decisions already in your planning phase. It allows you to get a feel of how different products fit your intended installation area and make sure your faucet matches the overall environment of your bathroom in style and functionality.

Interactive 3D views to enable smarter bathroom planning

Using the interactive 3D platform, you can enter a virtual product world to find the perfect match for your individual bathroom and kitchen dimensions.

Here’s how it works in 4 simple steps:

Select a model on the product page and enter our interactive 3D product view.
Activate the AR function and scan the QR code with your mobile device.
Use the camera of your mobile device and point to an even surface until the product appears.
You can now view the selected model from different angles and distances by using your mobile device as if it were a magnifying glass. You can, for example, check if a selected model fits your bathroom or kitchen dimensions as each product is displayed on a real scale.

With the expansion of virtual showrooms and AR technology, we can expect more and more digital tools to help us make better decisions in the future. No matter whether you’re still uncertain about the size, shape or placement of the faucet, smart AR tools can help make sure you find the perfect fit.

A step-by-step guide to finding the right shower solution

Oras — Thu, 10 Feb 2022 07:00:00 GMT

Picking the right shower solution is a crucial part of bathroom planning. With this guide, you will find a shower solution that matches your bathroom layout, personal needs, and design preference.

Not every shower fits every bathroom layout. And not every shower matches your and your family's needs. As you’re looking to find the right shower solution for your bathroom, you may be overwhelmed by a variety of models, each featuring different functions and designs.

In the process of exploring intelligent add-on features, such as water-saving technologies, we often forget to look at the basics: our bathroom set-up and our needs.

Here’s a simple step-by-step guide that helps you stay focused and find the perfect shower for you and your family.

1. Know your dimensions

First, make sure you get a clear overview of your bathroom dimensions. Consider the size and layout of your bathroom. Where will the shower go and how much space do you have? Are you looking for a walk-in shower, a combination of shower and bathtub, or a small corner shower to save space?

If you’re limited in space

Hand showers with a shower rail or a wall bracket can be installed in the smallest of spaces and can be flexibly placed at an ideal height and location.

And going for a single showerhead doesn’t mean cutting down on comfort. Many of today’s hand shower sets feature different spray options, from relaxing sensitive sprays to pulsating massage sprays.

If you have more space available

Consider going for a rain shower or shower system that allows you to add multiple shower heads to your installation.

If you’re replacing an old shower, you’d ideally want your new shower system to fit into existing installation holes. If you’re installing a new shower from scratch, you need to make sure your walls are fit for mounting the shower’s wall brackets on top.

2. Know your user

Who is going to use the shower? Looking at the needs of your household will ultimately help decide on the placement of the hand shower to ensure everyone can access it, no matter their height.

For children or elderly people, hand showers are usually a great choice, compared to fixed showerheads. As part of a shower combination or a single unit, they can accommodate users of all kinds of heights and help access hard-to-reach places (e.g., the bathtub). This is particularly handy for people with limited mobility.

3. Know the difference between thermostatic and single-lever faucets

Once you know which shower solution matches your layout and needs, make sure to get familiar with the shower faucet.

Thermostatic shower faucets:

If you live in a household with children or elderly people, thermostatic showers can be a great choice. They feature a thermostatic cartridge that monitors and automatically ensures a stable shower temperature.

All thermostatic shower faucets operate with an integrated hot water safety lock, which automatically stops water flow if there is insufficient warm or cold water to prevent unpleasant bursts at either end of the temperature range.

Single lever shower faucets:

A common feature in many traditional bathrooms, single lever showers feature an integrated cartridge that adjusts water flow and mixes hot and cold water.

The temperature can be adjusted precisely with single-lever faucets, but they may not react to pressure and temperature changes in supplied hot or cold water. That means that operating other water points (e.g., the washing machine or washbasin faucet) can easily affect the water temperature and flow of your shower. Consider that this can become an issue in households with multiple occupants, especially with children.

4. Know the features / Know your preferences

Last, get to know the special faucet features of today’s showers and ask yourself what you expect from your shower. Let’s have a look at a few features you may want to consider:

Safety functions

Do you expect your shower faucet to provide extra safety? Going for models with integrated safety features, such as THERMO COOL features, prevent the thermostat housing from heating up and help minimise the risk of burn injuries.

To prevent scalding injuries caused by hot water, make sure to invest in showers with a maximum temperature limiter. It caps the temperature at 38 °C and minimises the risk of accidentally turning the water temperature handle up. The temperature limitation of 38 °C can be unlocked by pushing a safety button.

Water-saving features

If saving water is a concern, EcoFlow Control features with an integrated flow limiter can significantly cut down your daily water consumption.

Meanwhile, modern digital showers, that are connected to Bluetooth for example, provide you with real-time feedback via a built-in LED display and App and help reduce energy and water consumption by up to 22% per year.

Wellness features

If you’re all in for the full wellness experience, showers with advanced water-therapy programmes allow you to select a variety of shower intervals and spray functions. Models designed for extra wellness, for example, let you choose between a range of dedicated RECOVER, RELOAD and RELAX programmes.

Design

If you’re dreaming of a particularly sleek shower design, consider checking out the latest bathroom trends. Matt black editions, for example, are increasingly entering modern bathrooms, creating an elegant look while also featuring the same smart features of standard models.

No matter what shower solution you select, going for flexible and easily adjustable shower fixtures is crucial for ensuring a pleasant shower experience.

That’s why, when selecting a shower solution, always check that your shower is designed for easy installment and can be adjusted to your household’s needs. This will allow you to focus on the fun stuff, such as additional features and design.

How much does taking a shower cost? Here’s how the right shower solution can help keep costs low

Oras — Thu, 09 Dec 2021 07:34:00 GMT

Looking for a way to cut the costs of newly hiked bills? Here’s why looking at your shower should be one of the first things you do.

Europe’s energy surge is driving up household bills amid rising electricity prices. As temperatures decrease and heating becomes indispensable, households have to prepare for an all-time high in water and heating costs.

Showers make up a huge share of water and energy consumption. In fact, showering for one minute consumes more energy than using the lights in a 3-person household for an entire day.

For example, an average European household requires 2.6 kWh to heat up the water to a pleasant temperature. Running five LED lamps on 8W for 16 hours, in return, only takes up to 0,656 kWh per household.

That's why cutting down on shower temperature and time is a common go-to measure to drive down water and electricity bills. Meanwhile, more and more consumers have started to explore the potentials of resource-saving shower solutions – and rightly so.

Heating water to a pleasant showering temperature is twice or more the expense of the water itself. As such, enjoying long hot showers daily can quickly drive up your utility bills: The cost of daily showering of a 4 person household can be over 4000€ a year!

How much does taking a daily warm shower cost?

Standard shower solutions use between 15-18 litres of water per minute. Assuming you shower for 10 minutes a day, for example, that quickly adds up to 150-180 litres per day. That's why showers on average make up around 66 percent of the hot water we consume at home.

The price of water is not the only cost in the utility bill. In fact, heating the water to a pleasant showering temperature is at least twice as expensive as the cost of the water itself. Accordingly, water heating can quickly drive up utility bills and accounts for roughly 10-20 percent of an average household’s energy bill.

Let’s have a look at what that could mean for your household’s utility bill.

The cost of taking a shower in Europe*

	Electricity prices per kWh**	Water prices per m³**	Cost of 1-minute cold shower	Cost of 1-minute hot shower	Cost of 10-minute hot shower	Cost of daily 10-minute hot shower per 1 person per year	Cost of daily 10-minute hot shower of 4-person household
Denmark	0,29 €	4,37 €	0,07€	0,27€	2,7€	985,5€	3942€
Finland	0,18 €	2,52 €	0,04€	0,17€	1,7€	620,5€	2482€
Norway	0,18 €	5,51 €	0,08€	0,21€	2,1€	766,5€	3066€
Germany	0,32 €	3,69 €	0,06€	0,29€	2,9€	1058,5€	4234€
Austria	0,22 €	2,85 €	0,04€	0,20€	2€	730€	2920€
Belgium	0,27 €	3,49 €	0,05€	0,25€	2,5€	912,5€	3650€

*The calculation is based on a consumption of 15l/minute and shower temperature of 39 °C with an assumed water heating efficiency of 65%
**Source: ec.europa.eu/eurostat and waternewseurope.com

Water temperature has a big impact on the amount of energy needed for showering.

To avoid unwelcome price spikes in your next water and electricity account, make sure to take control of your consumption without compromising on bathroom routine and comfort.

Keep your energy bills low with the right shower faucet

Whether you’re looking to save resources, cutting costs, or both, as energy prices continue to rise, there’s no better time to look into water-saving features. Let’s have a look at how much you can save water and costs with the right shower fixtures.

Showering for one minute consumes more energy than using the lights in a 3-person household for an entire day.

Oras Nova hand shower's EcoFlow limiter helps to save water and energy without extra effort.

Limit water flow and temperature with your thermostat

As temperatures are dropping, sacrificing the comfort of a warm shower should not be the only option available to cut down costs.

Thermostats featuring Eco-option limit water flow to 12 litres per minute, while an integrated temperature lock helps limit temperature to 38 °C.

Lower costs with low flow hand showers

According to the European Environment Agency, low-flow shower heads are among the most effective ways to limit resource consumption and can have a significant effect on your annual water bills.

Shower heads that feature EcoFlow options, for example, limit water flow to only 9 litres per minute, helping you to cut water consumed per shower by up to 50 percent.

Oras Hydractiva Digital hand shower can help save up to 22% in water and energy consumption with real-time feedback and data on long-term usage.

Track your consumption in real-time

Using a digital hand shower enables you to track your water consumption and temperature in real-time and signals when it’s time to turn off the water. You can also set goals and follow your consumption over time with the accompanying Digital Hand Shower App. This can help you reduce overall water consumption by up to 22 percent.

You often won’t be able to choose your water and energy tariffs yourself, but there may still be ways to keep track of and reduce what you are currently paying. Making use of a few small shower upgrades will help you identify the resource-intensive sources in your household and get your utility bills back on track.

How to find the right faucet for your sink

Oras — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 06:00:00 GMT

When it comes to choosing the right faucet for your sink, a seamless match is not just a matter of design – it’s crucial to ensure everything works the way it should.

When choosing a faucet, it is important to consider the shape and size of the sink.

Why faucet and sink should go hand in hand

When renovating the bathroom or kitchen, we too often forget to pay attention to critical parameters of our room.

Not properly matching your basin with your faucet can make things inconvenient – whether it's water splashing from the bathroom sink while washing hands or limited space between the faucet and the back wall of the basin.

Luckily, there is a variety of faucet models out there to ensure that every faucet can find its sink – in style and functionality.

Identify your sink model

Your faucet should blend seamlessly into your interior and match the surrounding design, but it should also fit the dimensions of your kitchen or bathroom.

From design to water flow to functionality, as you’re looking for a new faucet, paying close attention to the size and shape of your washbasin is essential for finding the right faucet model.

Wall-mounted and built-in sinks

Your washbasin can either be mounted to the wall or integrated into the bathroom or kitchen countertop.

In many bathrooms, you can find single-lever faucets or touchless faucets, only requiring one installation hole as temperature and water flow can be controlled by a convenient top- or side-operated handle.

From smaller to medium-sized models, most high-quality faucets come in various sizes. The Oras Stela line or the Oras Inspera line, for example, include a large range of faucets in different sizes, allowing you to find the perfect match for your sink and bathroom design.

Single-lever faucets require only one installation hole, making them a good fit for the majority of sink designs.

As you’ll commonly find large, built-in sinks in the kitchen, faucets with higher body sizes or faucets with turning spouts are a must. Providing extra room between spout, levers, and kitchen sink, you'll have all the flexibility you need to wash large pans and pots.

In case your kitchen is equipped with a double sink, go for a swivel spout. Kitchen faucets with an integrated pull-down spout can be a convenient extra touch, enabling you to flexibly move the spout around and reach every corner of the sink.

With a double sink in the kitchen, make sure to opt for a kitchen faucet with a swivel spout.

Freestanding vessel sinks

In many modern households, you’ll find freestanding vessel sinks dressing up the bathroom.

Be aware that diameters and shapes of bowl sinks may vary from standard sinks. Unless there’s an installation hole integrated on top of the sink, bowl sinks may require you to install a deck-mounted high body faucet or a wall-mounted faucet.

Here’s what you need to know:

Deck-mounted:

Deck-mounted faucets can be installed on top of the sink (when an installation hole is integrated to the sink) or separately behind your freestanding vessel sink, in which case going for a high-body model is crucial.

Vessel sink with an integrated installation hole

Today, many faucets are available in XL versions, such as the Oras Inspera or Oras Stela faucets design lines, providing enough room between your faucet and the washbasin to wash your hands, yet not too much to cause water splashing.

Additionally, high body faucets come with the extra benefit of completing the elegant looks of your freestanding vessel sink.

When the faucet is installed next to the vessel sink (no existing installation hole), choose a faucet with a higher XL body

If you want to stay extra flexible in your sink and faucet choice, consider models with an integrated adjustable aerator. By adjusting the water flow angle, you can prevent unwelcome water splashes – no matter the size and shape of the sink. The Oras Stela washbasin faucets are equipped with such an aerator.

With an adjustable aerator, you can flexibly adjust the faucet’s water flow to match sinks of different shapes and sizes.

Include your surrounding dimensions

Finally, make sure to browse the room and check the surrounding installations and furniture.

Considering the overall layout of your kitchen and bathroom can help you specify faucet type and faucet control, e.g., whether it should be top- or side-operated, and faucet size, e.g., if storage systems, such as cabinets installed above your washbasin, limit the space available for fixtures and other installations.

Choosing the right faucet is easier than you think. By carefully considering your room’s parameters – especially that of your sink - you’ll quickly find the perfect faucet for your kitchen or bathroom layout.

How to clean your shower head?

Oras — Mon, 06 Sep 2021 06:23:00 GMT

How to get your shower head back to as good as new.

Is your shower head not performing the way it used to, or did it lose its shine? Over time, you may find your shower head looking worn down or losing water pressure because of clog build-up accumulating in the holes.

Thankfully, you don’t always have to invest in expensive cleaning agents filled with chemicals. Most of the time, a deep clean is just enough to solve your problems and chances are high you already have all the tools and cleaning agents around your home.

Here’s how to get started.

If the water spray from the shower head is irregular or water pressure is low, it is worth cleaning the shower head.

Often, you’ll only realise that your shower head needs a proper cleanse when there’s a sudden decrease in water pressure or irregular spray patterns.

Especially when living in a region with hard water conditions, you’ll inevitably end up dealing with limescale deposits building up over time. This can lead to clogged up holes, affecting your water flow and the shine off your hand shower.

But no reason to panic. Here’re a few simple tips to get your shower head back to as good as new.

1. Choose the right cleaner

There’s no need to use aggressive cleaning products, such as bleach solutions or harsh chemicals. In fact, they may even end up damaging the surface of our fixtures.

There are many non-toxic methods that prove to be more healthy, sustainable, and effective in maintaining a long-lasting, durable shower head.

In most cases, a mix of vinegar and water or mild cleaning products (pH 6-9) are already sufficient for killing germs and will protect the surface of your shower head.

2. Protect your surfaces with the right application

Applying your cleaner to surfaces directly can lead to the cleaner entering the inner structures of your hand shower and may cause corrosion over time.

Instead, spray your cleaner on a soft cloth and wipe off your shower head, while making sure to remove all solvent residue with plenty of warm water.

3. Going for a deeper clean:

If you’re going for a deeper clean, consider the vinegar method. A 50/50 mixture of white vinegar and water is one of the most effective cleaning solutions for a clean shower head. The acids can effectively resolve limescale, minerals and other residues that accumulate over time. (Note that for the general cleaning of chrome surfaces, neutral cleaning agents are usually a better choice.)

Wipe as much debris from the holes of the shower head as you can.
If possible, remove the shower head from the hose and soak the shower head in vinegar.

Most modern shower heads are easily detachable from the shower pipe. Once you’ve screwed off the shower head, place it in a container of white vinegar and water and let it soak for a few hours.

In case you can’t remove the head from your shower, you can pour the vinegar mix in a large plastic bag and fix it over the shower head with a zip tie or a rubber band.

In either case, make sure that the handle of the hand shower is not fully soaked in the vinegar mix, but is left on the surface to avoid the cleaning solution from entering the inside body of your hand shower.

Re-attach the shower head to the shower pipe or remove the plastic bag and run hot water through the head to dislodge the debris.

To prevent serious build-up and for a simple cleaning experience, spray your shower head with a vinegar-based cleaning solution on a regular basis to avoid the build-up of limescale and reduce the breeding ground for bacteria to grow. Always make sure to thoroughly rinse the shower head after soaking it in the water-vinegar liquid.

Be careful not to use too strong detergents when cleaning the shower head.

Is it time to invest in a new shower head?

Lastly, consider how old your shower head is. Has it ever been replaced?

The warm and humid environment of our bathrooms provide the perfect conditions for corrosion over a longer period of time – and our shower heads are not an exclusion.

Sometimes there’s no way around investing in a new shower head. Luckily, upgrading your shower head is an easy, inexpensive fix that doesn’t demand much time or effort. You can browse around and find the right model for your shower here.

A regular cleanse can bring your shower head back to life, while also increasing water flow and your overall shower experience.

Adopting a regular routine will reduce time and effort for cleaning in the long run and extend the lifecycle of the shower head.

What makes the price difference in low-budget and high-quality fixtures?

Oras — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 05:28:00 GMT

Whether it’s about upgrading your kitchen faucet for more advanced functionality or replacing your existing bathroom faucet with a more durable model, choosing the right faucet at the right price can be challenging.

High quality, reliability, durability and recommendations from professionals, family and friends are the main drivers for choosing a faucet.

But even when taking all these factors into account, at the end of the day, we’re left with the final call on price.

As you’re trying to navigate through a wide range of price categories, here’s what to keep in mind to understand the price difference.

Why the price difference in faucets?

Once you start researching, you’ll notice that there can be huge price differences between faucet types.

Whether you’re looking for a low-budget fixture, mid-range or premium faucet, the price can be driven by many variables, such as body material, special technology and features, and the finishing coating of the faucet.

Knowing about the quality differences of the materials and finishes is key to finding the right faucet for your budget. But it’s also about understanding the steps included in the product development and production process as well as ensuring the availability of spare parts for your faucet to ensure long-lasting quality.

Here’s what determines the price of faucets.

The value of product development and testing

Planning and designing high-quality products usually takes time. From designing to simulating production on a computer to its final casting, the development of a new faucet usually undergoes multiple rounds of testing and adjustments until it's perfected.

This requires valuable resources and time spent on research and development, product optimisation, testing technology and final quality control.

The design and development of the faucet is a crucial and time-consuming step to ensure quality and durability of a faucet.

Here are the two major planning and testing processes that are decisive for guaranteeing a smoothly running and trouble-free kitchen and bathroom faucet

Design and development: During the design process, several regulations and standards have to be met, which are critical for the faucet’s later performance. As such, a large share of research and development is dedicated to lowering the sound level of the faucet – making up one of the most noticeable differences between low-budget and high-quality faucets.

At Oras, we, for example, specialise in guaranteeing the lowest noise class for faucets, testing its sound level in a separate laboratory made of a floating concrete room.

For more unique product lines, price can also be influenced by the careful design, manual processing and material choice of the faucet.

Assembly and quality control: When it comes to the assembly and final quality check, each faucet must be treated differently depending on its components and functions.

Special components and electronics, which are processed in more advanced water fixtures, are installed inside the faucet during assembly and often assembled by hand. As a final step, careful inspection and quality control are conducted manually to ensure high-quality functionality in every product.

The value of internal components

Oras cartridges are made of high quality and durable materials to ensure long life-time.

Apart from resources spent on the development, production and quality assurance, the choice of material also plays a critical role – especially when it comes to the inner components of your faucet, such as the cartridge.

Referred to as the soul of the faucet, regulating water flow and temperature, cartridge is a critical component for providing you with the right amount of water at the desired temperature. To ensure high quality and a long, hassle-free lifetime, all our main volume faucets are equipped with cartridges that are produced in-house.

Using ceramic disk valves made from aluminium oxide, the third hardest substance in the world, makes Oras cartridges extremely durable. Alternatives, such as metal-based cartridges, ball or compression valves, may come at a lower price but are also more susceptible to leakages.

It’s not only high-quality inner components, but also the availability of spare parts that are decisive to prolong the lifetime of the faucet (to up to 20 years) and minimise costs spent on maintenance in the long run.

That’s why, before choosing a faucet, always pay close attention to the technology, materials used and availability of spare parts.

The value of the right body and finish

Lastly, price can vary depending on the body material and finishing coating of your faucet.

Body material

Most faucet bodies are made of brass or stainless steel, which are nickel-plated before receiving a finishing coating.

Brass: Brass can be a reliable, middle-range choice as it’s extremely resistant to corrosion and leakages.
Stainless steel: Stainless steel bodies are commonly used for mid-range to high range faucets and usually come at a higher price.

Finishing coating

Another factor determining the price of faucet is its final coating. As the most common finishes, chrome-plated or polished brass are both highly durable and come at a reasonable price.

Brushed nickel can easily move you up the price ladder. With a soft metallic look, it’s one of the most durable finishes, and particularly resistant to fingerprints and water spots.

Ceramic coatings, such as matt black coatings, are the newest design trend and suitable for a more luxurious feel. But they also come with a price, going through a thorough 5-step coating process for a more durable finish. You can find out more about black-coated faucets here.

Whether you’re going for advanced or basic options, it’s never a bad idea to understand the variables determining the price difference in your faucet choice to take an informed decision.

As you’re navigating through the different price categories, checking for reliable production, quality management and long-lasting functionality can help you get the quality you need.

The 6 must-haves for a perfect kitchen workstation

Hansa — Mon, 24 May 2021 06:00:00 GMT

Great kitchens come with a practical and efficient workspace. Here are our must-haves.

We spend an average of 61 minutes per day in the kitchen. And while that’s half the amount of time our parents spent chopping and cooking, it still calls for a well-designed and practical kitchen.

If you, like many of us, have spent the past year perfecting your breadmaking skills or trying out that French recipe that had been stuck on your fridge door for so long – you are likely aware that a comfortable, spacious and fully equipped kitchen is at the heart of it all.

In case your kitchen lacks space, good organisation is ever more important.

If, on the contrary, your kitchen feels too empty, you might consider adding a kitchen island. If you do, we recommend not to place it too far from the rest of the kitchen.

And while there's no one kitchen solution that fits every one of us, let’s explore the 5 must-haves for the perfect kitchen workspace that will make you enjoy cooking even more – whether you’re just making space or adding new features and functionalities to your setup.

A perfect kitchen workstation should have easy access to water.

Easy access to water - consider the location of your water station. Having easy access to water is key for a functional kitchen station. From washing dishes and hands to rinsing vegetables to filling pots with water, your sink should be within perfect reach.

Plenty of workspace – even if your kitchen is small, make sure to save enough space on your kitchen countertop for a proper workstation: it’s crucial. You don’t want to have pots, pans and cutting boards crammed together with your food. This means decluttering your space and avoiding having too many objects lying around. Maybe consider investing in a hanging cabinet for that extra storage space, to ensure your workstation is clear?

Smart Hybrid Kitchen Faucet – as you’ll want your space to be practical and efficient, we believe hybrid faucets pack all you need into one easy-to-use fixture. Hybrid kitchen faucets combine the benefits of touchless kitchen faucets with the traditional setup of manual levers. This improves hygiene and overall functionality in our kitchens. You can reduce the contact of dirty hands with faucet and surfaces and consequently minimise the risk of stains or bacteria sticking to your appliances – All while being able to regulate water flow and temperature with the levers.

Hybrid kitchen faucets combine the benefits of touchless kitchen faucets with the traditional setup of manual levers.

Plug sockets – there’s nothing more annoying than having long cables lying around or having to move to a separate area of the kitchen simply to plug in a mixer. Make sure your workspace has enough plug sockets for you to carry out your cooking session as comfortably as possible.

Enough light – while we all agree that diffused light gets you in the mood for a relaxing evening, you will want your workspace to be bright enough for you to see what you’re chopping. So, invest in that extra source of light, be it a spotlight or a standing lamp, it’s up to you.

A big wooden cutting board – wooden elements always add a simple touch of style to any room and for your kitchen workstation, we recommend investing in a large cutting board (enough to cover a significant chunk of your workspace) made of sturdy wood. It will look great and provide you with a practical and easy-to-clean surface that will always come in handy.

From hybrid faucets to spotlights, there are a few items we think should be on your checklist if you’re revisiting your kitchen layout or building a new kitchen altogether. Keep in mind that a comfortable, clutter-free workstation is a fantastic feature – whether we’re stuck at home, or simply have guests over.

How to choose the right water-saving shower head

Oras — Tue, 11 May 2021 09:52:28 GMT

Are you considering an eco-friendly shower head to reduce water consumption in your bathroom? You’ve come to the right place. We’ve compiled a list of models that could match your needs and bathroom design.

Did you know that in an average European household, showering accounts for over a third of water use? The average shower consumes 45 litres of water, with a flow rate of 11 litres per minute [1]. As we become more aware of the challenges of a changing climate and strive to live more sustainably, water conservation has become a priority for many of us.

[1] Amphiro (2014) The Effectiveness of Real-time Feedback: The Influence of Demographics, Attitudes, and Personality Traits

The average shower consumes 45 litres of water

How can we become more aware and reduce water consumption when taking a shower? One option is to reduce shower time. But what if there was a way to cut our water consumption, without compromising on the comfort of a relaxing shower? The good news is that it’s all about efficiency.

The importance of good habits

Cutting shower time is about saving energy as water-heating is the second-largest energy expense within households, accounting for up to 18% of our utility bills.

When it comes to reducing energy consumption, forming good water-use habits is key. For that, we need to pay attention and track our shower behaviour.

Most of us are not aware of how long we shower or what temperature we usually set per default. That’s why we recommend shower heads that restrict the flow and temperature of your showers and help you track your consumption to form better habits.

What is a low-flow shower head?

Shower systems are measured by flow (the number of litres they deliver per minute). The latest and most advanced water-saving technologies can restrict the volume of water that flows through the shower, keeping the amount of water released down to a minimum.

Oras' low-flow hand showers are specifically designed to reduce water consumption and can cut water flow by half, without impacting the comfort of your shower.

Find the right shower head for your shower habits

Whatever your habits, we can help you find the right shower set for your family – one that matches your water-saving ambitions and your lifestyle needs. Let’s have a look at the designs and functions available.

1. Oras Apollo 1-Spray Eco

With only 6.6 litres of water flow per minute, this hand shower can help you save water dramatically while still providing a comforting shower experience.

2. Oras Apollo 3-spray models

With a clean, geometric shape, the Oras Apollo can match any bathroom design.

It comes with three spray options. You can select your preferred spray type easily by using a handy switch.

With a flow rate of online 9 litres per minute, the EcoFlow spray option allows you to cut water flow in half, compared to the usual 18 litres per minute.

With Oras Apollo hand showers, you can choose between different design option.

You can choose between the Oras Apollo shower set, including wall bracket and shower hose, or customise your existing shower set with a distinctive style variant, such as the Oras Apollo Style hand shower. Whether you choose the shower set or just the hand shower, you can choose between two design styles: Soft-cube or round design.

3. The digital hand shower

The latest addition to Oras’s line of shower heads, this smart digital hand shower comes with a water-powered display that tracks your real-time water consumption. A simple LED light will change colour according to your usage, turning red when you shower for a little too long. The fixture is also equipped with Bluetooth technology, which allows you to track your water usage on the Oras Digital Hand Shower App.

Saving water and energy shouldn’t come at the expense of a well-deserved, relaxing shower at the end of the day. Low-flow fixtures are a great investment, helping you reduce water consumption without giving up comfort.

Smart homes, smart kitchens – what’s making kitchens smarter in 2021?

Oras — Thu, 22 Apr 2021 06:00:00 GMT

As our homes are getting smarter, and so are our kitchens. From fridges to faucets – here are the clever appliances that are taking over our kitchens in 2021.

The concept of a Smart Home might have been making the rounds for quite some time, as homes around the world are getting smarter every day. The smart home appliances market is anticipated to reach $57.64 billion by 2025 – a sixfold increase in the last decade alone.

Leading this steep growth, smart products are forecast to make up a significant share of household appliances. And according to leading tech support brand TechBuddy, smart kitchens will be gaining considerable traction in 2021 – over a century after the fridge was first invented.

“There are so many possibilities for tech to improve daily cuisine, taking the simplicity of food storage and preparation to the next level,” TechBuddy writes in an article on what we can expect from the smart home appliances market in 2021.

With new devices coming to the market regularly, several high-tech smart devices have already been making their way into our kitchens: fridges, faucets, microwaves, pressure cookers and even wine coolers – all packed with unique and useful functions for a well-functioning kitchen.

Let’s have a more detailed look at what’s making kitchens smarter in 2021:

Fridges – Smart refrigerators are among the most popular kitchen appliances. And they’re packed with incredible features. Did you know you can see what’s inside your fridge with your smartphone, to know exactly what to buy for dinner? The incorporated touchscreen also lets you adjust the temperature, use the water dispenser and so on.
Faucets – New generation automatic faucets take hygiene, comfort and safety to the next level. The touchless features ensure you don’t touch the faucet with dirty hands while you cook or bake. No need to get the faucet filthy when your hands are caked with bread dough or when you’ve been handing raw meat or fish.

Our Smart kitchen faucets are touchless hybrids. They have a flexible spout with two spray options, help improve kitchen hygiene and are equipped with a temperature display that starts blinking when the water temperature is too high. You can also choose a model with a Smart dishwasher valve that closes automatically after 4 or 12 hours. Its manual levers makes hot and cold water access easier and comes in handy for washing larger pots and other demanding kitchen tasks.

Oras Optima Hybrid smart kitchen faucet has many features that improve your kitchen’s overall functionality

Ovens – Designed for those of us who keep struggling with our cooking and just want to serve a decent meal. Among other features, smart ovens are equipped with an incorporated camera that detects exactly what you’re cooking to select the best method and determine the correct time and temperature.
Wine Coolers – Not only can a smart wine cooler set the right temperature for your evening glass of wine, but it can also recommend other types of wine based on your tastes. It can even figure out which kind of cheese to best pair your drink with. We think this is beyond smart!

We just picked a few of the many smart kitchenware items out there – a mix of what combines useful features with incredible technology! Why not invest in products that make the kitchen safer, cleaner and easier to work in, help plan your shopping, or that pick your next Chardonnay?

How to save water and energy in the shower

Oras — Wed, 14 Apr 2021 06:00:00 GMT

Shorter showers are one of the most efficient ways to save water in the bathroom. They can help you save energy too. Here’s how a few good habits and investing in smart technology can cut water consumption and your energy bill.

Every time we shower, we consume up to 80 litres of water. Oras’ new digital hand shower can help you change your shower habits..

According to research done in Europe, the average shower consumes 45 litres with an average flow rate 11 litres per minute.[1] Although shower lengths vary from country to country, as do flow rates of various shower heads, showering is a huge source of water consumption. It also uses a significant amount of energy. To put things into perspective – assuming most of us enjoy hot showers – we use more energy showering for one minute than leaving the lights on in our homes.

[1] Amphiro (2014) The Effectiveness of Real-time Feedback: The Influence of Demographics, Attitudes, and Personality Traits

One minute in a warm shower is equivalent to one full day of the
electricity used for lighting in a three-person household.

Investing in a water-saving shower head can help you save significant amount of water and energy.

Good habits are key to saving water and energy

But there are ways to make better use of resources and avoid wasting water and using too much electricity without compromising comfort. And it’s all about good habits: shaving minutes off your shower time can help, as can installing a water-saving shower head.

Installing a water-saving shower head can help you form more sustainable showering habits

The European Environmental Agency suggests water-saving shower heads as a practical and effective way to cut both water and energy use.

Yet water-saving shower heads come in many shapes and forms – so how can you make sure you’re picking the right one? Oras is introducing a smart digital hand shower that can be installed on any shower system in less than a minute and helps you understand how sustainable your showering routine is in real time.

Digital hand showers aren’t a common feature in homes just yet. You might be wondering how the device works, how it can make your shower time more sustainable, or how it can benefit your wallet. We have the answers!

Here’s why a smart water-saving hand shower is an item worth investing in:

Real-time tracking – the hand shower will help you save both water and energy by tracking your real-time consumption and water temperature. This can help you reduce your overall water consumption by up to 22%.

How does the feature work? A large display shows the number of litres you’re using together with the real-time water temperature, and a handy LED light will change colour as you shower (from green to red), signalling when it’s time for you to turn off the water.

Bluetooth connection – whether you’re keen on setting goals for a more sustainable shower time or just curious to track your consumption, the hand shower is equipped with Bluetooth connectivity which will connect the device to the Digital Hand Shower App where you’ll find all the numbers you need.
Forget batteries – the smart shower head not only saves electricity by reducing the consumption of hot water, but it’s also fully powered by the water flow. This means you’ll never have to worry about replacing batteries for the water and energy-saving features to work.
Great comfort – smart water-saving shower heads might be saving you water, but you’ll hardly notice. Equipped with a large shower head and giving a gentle rain spray, you won’t be giving up the comfort of a pleasant hot shower as you start your day.

If you’re worried about not keeping your new year’s resolution of living a more sustainable 2021 – a few small habit changes and updating your shower head will help you get back on track. At least when it comes to cutting water wastage and saving energy!

Top 8 reasons black faucets are here to stay

Oras — Mon, 22 Mar 2021 07:00:00 GMT

As with many interior design trends, we often wonder how long they are able to stick around. Yet, when it comes to black, its classy and elegant appeal sticks over the long run — whether it’s for your next chair, sofa or faucet.

Every year, colours go in and out of fashion, maintaining a relatively short shelf life. Yet the appeal and elegance of black remain timeless. It’s a colour that holds character, creates ambience and will always look and feel valuable.

We choose to wear black on a night out, or even for a stroll in the city; we collect black furnishings to give character to our living rooms; and we pick dark-hued appliances to add a touch of sophistication.

Yet, when it comes to our bathrooms and kitchens, are black faucets outshining chrome? It seems like the trend is proving popular: according to interior design bloggers at Lusso, sales for black faucets increased twelvefold in 2019 compared to chrome-plated fixtures.

We believe that, for classic and contemporary homes alike, dark fixtures can give bathrooms and kitchens that boost they need, a touch of elegance and refinement.

And black fixtures are having more than just a moment — they are here to stay. Let us tell you why.

Black is the new neutral -– While a lighter palette and white-on-white interiors might have for long been considered aesthetically neutral, designers believe darker tones in our kitchens and bathrooms keep things neutral while still adding character.
It is highly adaptable – Whether the faucets are paired with marble surfaces, a monochrome palette or a colourful interior, black easily matches its surroundings. This makes it a highly adaptable colour that can easily fit any space.
It’s timeless – Black will stick around, as it has for decades. It’s a colour we hardly get sick of, so investing in a black faucet is a worthwhile investment you make for life.
It’s aesthetically pleasing – Not only can black stand the test of time, but there is little doubt the colour looks good, especially when contrasted with lighter hues. Black-filled rooms might be heavy on the eye, but black details make for sleek and classy accents.
It adds character – If you are thinking your white-tiled bathroom looks a little bland, black tapware can add that extra touch of character and instantly transform the room into a unique space.
It looks valuable – We all enjoy adding a touch of refinement and class to our homes without breaking our budget — and black can easily deliver just that.
Forget fingerprint marks – As we all enjoy tidy and clean homes, we know how annoying fingerprint marks on chrome-plated fixtures can get. Thanks to an electroplated finish, fingerprints on matt black faucets stay invisible for a little longer — and bear in mind this applies to faucets with matt black finishes only.
Strong coating is king – While this might not apply to all black fixtures on the market, Oras/HANSA matt black faucets include meticulous nano-coating, which helps protect the faucet’s surface from dirt and scratches. Make sure to check out our checklist on what to look out for in a black faucet!

So, whether you are looking to upgrade your bathroom and kitchen, or just add a touch of class and sophistication, black faucets might just make the cut – timelessly.

Leaks, squeaks and drips: is it time repair or replace your faucet?

Oras — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 13:57:00 GMT

Does your washbasin or ktitchen faucet suddenly squeak, or does it keep leaking despite multiple efforts to fix it? If you’re in doubt on whether a simple fix will solve the problem, or if your faucet needs replacing – we put together a simple guide to help you save time, money and water.

While most fixtures are built to last, not everything always goes according to plan. Your kitchen or lavatory faucet might start leaking, squeaking or showing signs of tear. It’s expected, yet we might not always be sure what to do. Call in a professional and get it repaired, or replace the fixture altogether?

And if, like many of us, you are concerned about the environmental impact of replacing your faucet instead of repairing it, bear in mind that a faucet dripping as little as 10 times an hour will waste hundreds of litres of water per month.

A single dripping faucet can waste as much as 20,000 litres of water every year: a substantial amount and a serious environmental concern. And, above all, leaking faucets will be heavy on your wallet too.

A single dripping faucet can waste as much as 20,000 litres of water every year

So, where to start? First, let’s assess whether your faucet is damaged in the first place. Here is what you should be looking out for:

Leaks or dripping– Leaks can be a common plumbing problem, but if you notice your faucet is constantly dripping, then you have a damaged faucet. Constant dripping is usually caused by broken cartridge or valve.
Squeaks – If your faucet’s handle squeaks when you turn the water on, there could be damages that need urgent repair. Sometimes a squeaky handle needs a little grease applied. But if that doesn’t work, it’s time to call a plumber.
Spits – Faucets that function normally should release a consistent stream of water, but if yours has an irregular water flow, there could be some damages. Spitting is usually caused by some sort of internal damage done to the faucet.

When to repair?

Now, if you are experiencing any of the above, let’s look at when the faucet can be repaired. This will spare you from having to invest in an entirely new fixture.

Frequent dripping or leaking – Leaking and dripping faucets can be repaired. However, given the complexity of the task, we recommend reaching out to a professional to fix a dripping or leaking faucet. Leaks from the faucet body and seams might require the sealing rings to be replaced, while dripping faucets require changing the cartridge – and both tasks need the expertise of a professional.
Squeaky faucet – Squeaky faucets don’t usually require a replacement. A simple repair will do. Most of the time, removing the appropriate parts and greasing them thoroughly will solve the issue.

When to replace?

Now let’s look at when it’s best to replace your faucet.

Here are a few things to consider:

Age – We use lavatory and kitchen faucets so frequently that, over time, any fixture is bound to show signs of age. So, if you’ve had the same faucet for years, it might be time for a new one.
Frequent issues – Given the amount of time we use our faucets, quick repairs won’t always do the job. So, if your fixture keeps giving you problems, consider a replacement that will save you from worrying about imminent malfunctions or potential water damages (and from spending money on constant repairs.)
Efficiency – Is your faucet not working as it should? Or maybe wasting too much water because it doesn’t include modern water-saving features? Then consider investing in a high-quality faucet that will help you conserve water, keep your bills down and be more sustainable.
Hygiene – If you believe, on top of all, that your faucet collects too much bacteria and is proving difficult to clean, it may be time to switch to a SMART touchless faucet. Many homeowners are increasingly replacing their manual faucets with SMART touchless faucets as a way to reduce contact with harmful germs and bacterial lingering near their faucet.
A noisy faucet - If the water flowing through your faucet is particularly noisy, it might be due to the fixture not being of the highest quality. We therefore suggest replacing the faucet with a high quality one where the noise class is 1, which ensures that the water flowing through it does not make any unwanted sounds.

Remember that if you opt for a replacement, make sure to recycle your old fixture. Most faucets are built out of recyclable parts and can be delivered to recycling centres that will ensure the fixture won’t go straight into landfill.

If your faucet is dripping or simply showing signs of age, it’s right for you to assess whether a quick fix will do, or if the fixture needs to be replaced. And with sustainability in mind, remember that a dripping faucet does the environment no good, wasting litres of precious water every day. With a growing number of water-saving technologies and SMART automatic faucets making their way into people’s homes, options for a greener bathroom and kitchen when your fixture needs replacing are within reach.

Considering black faucets? Here’s how to pick the right one

Oras — Tue, 23 Feb 2021 05:27:57 GMT

Adding a touch of elegance to any space, black boasts a timeless appeal. But how can you be sure to pick the right black bathroom or kitchen faucet that stands the test of time? We’ve compiled a simple checklist.

Oras Vega matte black bathroom faucet has a scratch-resistant surface and convenient eco button for increased safety and sustainability.

Is black coming back? It might have never left. A deep and elegant colour that, when coupled with lighter hues, can add a touch of class to any room — an interior design trend fit for any space that keeps on living.

And the colour is increasingly making its way into bathrooms and kitchens in all corners of the world, with design blogs across Australia and New Zealand reporting a rising interest in matte black faucets. While in Europe, UK-based interior design experts at Lusso Stone noticed a substantial increase in searches for black faucets in recent years. A demand they expect will keep rising.

“We are confident that interest in matte black faucets will continue,” says Mike Manders, Lusso Stone’s managing director. “We believe this is because black fixtures can easily complement a wide number of trending looks.”

So if you, like many others, are looking to shake up the aesthetic of your bathrooms and kitchens through alternatives to chrome-plated fixtures – be it your shower, kitchen or bathroom faucets – we believe there are a few things you ought to know before picking your next black faucet.

Matte black automatic faucet is ideal choice for increasing bathroom hygiene and saving on water bills.

Here is an easy checklist for what to look for:

Thick, solid coating – The thicker the coating, the better: this will shape the fixture’s resistance to abrasion, chemicals and scratches. Such coating requires a thorough 5-step process – from sand-blasting all the way to air drying – that ensures the faucet can stand the test of time.
A carefree surface – Black faucets that go through such a meticulous coating process won’t have you worry about the surface accidentally scratching or corroding from irritants, including soaps and detergents. So, check with your installer whether the fixture is coated in the correct way or if it will end up requiring constant care.
Smooth touch – While resilient coating can prevent the fixture from wearing out prematurely, you will want to make sure your new shower and faucets feel good when you use them. So, try them out and see whether the surface is smooth and silky enough for daily use. (Remember, a family of four turns on the water up to 200 times a day, so there is nothing we should be compromising on.)
A colour that lasts – Keep an eye out for colour fastness: this measures the strength of the colour finish. You will want to pick fixtures with high colour fastness, meaning they resist long-term to fading or running. Consider reaching out to manufacturers and rely on brands that invest in good quality.
Check your water spaces – Chances are you will want to install multiple black faucets and showers in your home to keep the look consistent. To avoid any disappointment, we suggest checking your water spaces with the installer beforehand (kitchen, bathroom and shower) to know if you can install the same faucet line throughout. Sometimes, even a simple scroll through the manufacturer’s website can provide all the answers.
A sustainable and hygienic pick – While selecting the right brand is essential to ensure your new black faucet is built to last, going touchless might take things that extra mile. Not only do automatic faucets reduce water wastage by up to 50%, reduced contact makes the fixture a highly hygienic choice.

If you are looking to upgrade your bathroom and kitchen with a matte black faucet and shower, make sure to look out for the right one. You will not want to replace a scratched, worn-out fixture two years down the line.

Want find black faucets that will endure in your home?

Improving the Cocoon: 5 touch-ups to boost bathroom hygiene

Oras — Mon, 25 Jan 2021 07:26:00 GMT

In 2020 over 6 in 10 Europeans planned to renovate their bathrooms. Whether it’s by adding touch-free technologies or anti-bacterial surfaces, here are 5 simple upgrades that will help ensure your bathroom meets new standards of hygiene in the COVID era and beyond.

Every day, we spend a considerable amount of time in our bathrooms. In fact, it is estimated that, on average, we spend over two years in the bathroom — where over the course of a lifetime men shave for approximately 60 days and women enjoy showering for as many as 200 days.

And in the first half of 2020, as the world was stuck indoors under tight lockdown restrictions, interest in upgrading bathrooms spiked. Interior design company Houzz registered a 63% increase in the number of homeowners looking to renovate their bathrooms, compared to the same time in 2019.

Given the amount of time we all spend in this often-overlooked room, many figured it was time for an upgrade: because not only does a well-designed bathroom look good, it feels good too. And others may simply see it as a wise investment — a freshly renovated bathroom will increase the value of any home.

So, why wait? For you to get rolling, we gathered a list of upgrades to help you kick start your renovation efforts — whether it’s something you had in the works for a while, or you’re struck by sudden inspiration.

1. Add functional features

While we all dream of installing our very own hot tub, the coronavirus pandemic has got people turning to functional fixtures for their newly renovated bathrooms, especially hands-free technologies.

We know that touchless faucets, for example, can cut water consumption by half and reduce the spread of germs and bacteria. With 80% of the most common infectious diseases being transmitted by touch, installing hands-free fixtures in your new bathroom is a sensible start.

Touchless faucets can cut water consumption by half and reduce the spread of germs and bacteria

2. Get some air

There is no doubt the past few months has us all paying more attention to the quality of the air we breathe. And, as we stubbornly keep windows open in our offices and living rooms, bathrooms can make use of a fresh breeze as well.

So, whether this means adding a window or a vent fan, it might depend on the home. But make sure to add features that ensure regular ventilation is an easy task.

3. Opt for anti-bacterial materials

Did you know that a number of materials we find in nature, including cork and linoleum, have natural anti-bacterial properties? And that solid surfaces built out of natural quartz can help prevent the formation of bacteria and mould?

If updating worn-out surfaces is a part of your plan (as we think it should be), opt for materials that naturally keep germs at bay without requiring constant sanitising.

4. Avoid wet floors

This might sound minor, yet wet floors happen to be hotbeds for bacteria (though not necessarily airborne viruses like coronavirus.)

To keep things on the safe side, here is what you can do to keep your floors dry: hang your towels close to the sink by adding hooks or racks close by and install splash guards on the bathtub or shower to prevent the floor from getting wet.

5. Add living space

Last but not least, why not ensure the bathroom turns into a better room altogether?
Given the amount of time we spend brushing our teeth, showering or even flipping through a magazine (a study found that over half its respondents enjoy reading in the bathroom) — prioritise adding that extra living space that allows you to move around more easily and make that read worthwhile.

Whether these ideas have just got you started or provided further insight for a project that’s well underway — we hope you can make use of a few of our tips.

Because while the end of the pandemic may be in sight, we are certain that a clean and well-designed bathroom will last for years to come.

Sustainability in the bathroom: Our top 6 tips for a greener bathroom

Oras — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 07:27:00 GMT

As we consume more water in our bathrooms than anywhere else in the home, here are 6 simple sustainability tips— from taking shorter showers to switching to soap bars.

Many of us believe that adopting sustainable solutions means higher price tags. We get it: organic and eco-friendly alternatives are often more expensive than their regular, less sustainable counterparts.

Well, actually, there is much we can do to sustain our planet that requires minimum effort and little money, especially in the bathroom. Not only is it the room that sees the greatest consumption of water in any home, the use of electricity is particularly high, and tons of unnecessary plastic goes to waste every year.

We are not suggesting a complete overhaul. No costly renovations, nor fancy gadgets. Just a few adjustments to lifestyle choices and extra attention to what we pick on our next shopping trip can make all the difference.

Touchless faucets automatically turn of the water, when it is no longer needed.

Here are 6 easy tips for how to turn your bathroom greener:

Less power in your shower – Just 5 minutes under the shower can consume up to 75 litres of water, roughly equivalent to the amount a family of 3 drinks every week. And while reducing the length of our showers will save water, by simply installing a low-flow showerhead, consumption can drop by 10 litres per minute without compromising shower time! We think that’s a pretty good deal.

Turn off the faucet – Every time we brush our teeth, let’s make sure the washbasin faucet is turned off. There is no need for water to keep flowing while we brush — in fact, we can save up to 24 litres per day by simply turning off the faucet. That is equivalent to the amount each of us should be drinking over the course of a week.

And in case you are afraid of forgetting, touchless faucets can automatically do it for you. So why not switch?

Reduce use of electricity – Keep in mind that hot showers not only consume water, but electricity too (assuming we all prefer washing under hot water). And your bathroom is most likely filled with energy-consuming devices — so whether your electricity source is renewable or not, why waste unnecessarily?

For example, unplug your devices when not in use (hairdryers, straighteners, electric razors and toothbrushes); install energy-saving lightbulbs and make sure you pick bulbs resistant to humid environments to avoid having to replace them often; don’t keep the exhaust fan on, just use it for the time it takes to ventilate: maybe 5 minutes and not half-an-hour.

Give up liquid soap – Around the world, we dispose of 1.4 billion discardable soap bottles every year (and this excludes shampoos and conditioners). So why not opt for a good old soap bar, which is virtually free from any plastic packaging? Both are equally effective towards removing bacteria and dirt — and soap bars are, quite often, on the cheaper side too.

Skip the drip – Did you know that a dripping faucet can waste enough water in one day to fill up a bath? That is roughly 80 litres. So apart from making sure lavatory faucets are properly turned off, we recommend investing in high-quality fixtures that are easy for plumbers to repair when needed.

Switch to bamboo toothbrushes – Regular plastic toothbrushes produce an incredible amount of waste. To put things in perspective, over 1 billion are thrown away in the United States each year. An easy and widely available alternative is bamboo toothbrushes — they brush just as well and don’t generate plastic waste.

The planet’s wellbeing is at stake and we must all do our bit — and maybe our tips won’t save us from a climate catastrophe, but they can surely get us started.

Building durability into every faucet: How Oras faucets are made?

Oras — Mon, 28 Dec 2020 07:30:00 GMT

See how quality materials, expert craftsmanship and extensive testing make all the difference.

In today’s world, more frequent handwashing has become our new normal – as a simple hygienic measure to help keep us healthy. This increase in handwashing means faucets need to handle tougher everyday wear and tear, and the durability of faucets is perhaps more important than ever.

Brass plays a major role in the durability of faucets

Brass is an important component to faucets and not just any brass. Due to the varying levels of acidity in tap water, dezincification-resistant ensures the long-lasting durability of every faucet – no matter its destination.

“An average of 3,000 faucets are manufactured at the Rauma, Finland plant every day. One per cent of these are spot-checked before being packaged and shipped around the world.”

Marko Sundholm

Oras' Nordic Sales Manager

A great faucet starts with great design and meticulous planning

From the final computer-simulated design and the casted prototypes, the approved product design heads into production – made of a mix of automated and manual processes.

Faucet production steps

Core building

Casting

Sawing

Machining

Grinding

Polishing

Chrome plating

Assembly

Testing

Every step of the production line offers a chance to produce an end-product designed and built for longevity.

Core building

The core refers to the waterways within the faucet. During casting, the core is made using fine sand and a hardening agent heated in a core box.

The cores inside the mould ready for casting

Casting

A casting of the faucet bodies is made from our special dezincification-resistant brass bars. The shell moulds are dipped into a water and graphite solution with an employee – referred to as a “caster” – placing the core inside the moulds after removing any loose sand.

The moulds are then sealed and placed in the blazing hot casting furnace, through which three tons of molten brass flow into the shell moulds.

Dezincification resistant brass bars

Sawing

Once the casts have been removed and cooled, the core is removed from the faucet bodies by whirling it in a mill equipped with metal balls. Cooled faucet bodies are then sawed apart, with unnecessary parts also being removed.

Machining, grinding and polishing

Placed on a conveyor belt, the faucet bodies move through automated machining, grinding and polishing processes – resulting in a smooth exterior. Each faucet is then checked by hand to ensure they meet the highest standards – fixing any minor tweaks manually.

“Product surfaces need to be flawless before chrome-plating, as chrome is a ruthless material. It does not cover, but rather highlights, even the smallest of errors.”

Chrome plating

The final stage of production involves chrome plating, leaving each faucet with a hard, shiny and wear-resistant surface. A step which requires extra care, says Marko Sundholm.

This is done while ensuring that faucet bodies are not touched with bare hands – so that fingerprints do not show up on the surface.

Completing the puzzle

Faucets are also built with plastic and composite parts, with the visible components being chrome plated. Working with plastic parts can be more of a challenge than brass as they are plated with a copper layer, then a nickel layer to protect the surface from thermal expansion, and finally chrome.

Chrome plating takes roughly two hours and includes soaking and washing the faucets up to 40 times. After chrome plating, any markings such as the brand logo are added by laser, and the faucets are thoroughly inspected and assembled.

Testing

Each faucet must meet a variety of requirements before it can enter the market. For example, to test the sound level, faucets are placed in a sound-proof, floating concrete room to ensure they do not exceed a certain volume. The last step in this process is the spot check. Of the approximately 3,000 faucets that are made every day in our factory in Rauma, we carry out random checks on 1%.

Now, our durable and expertly crafted faucets are ready to be packaged and shipped to sellers and on to their final destination – into homes, hospitals, schools and other buildings across the world.

The top water-saving faucets of 2020

Oras — Wed, 16 Dec 2020 07:45:00 GMT

Shorter showers are just one way to reduce water waste in our homes. And with technology helping us to cut consumption by up to half, here is how these top-selling faucets can help you cut water waste in 2021.

Did you know that just 2.5% of the water on earth is drinkable? Water is a resource that life depends on, and that can’t be taken for granted.

But how can we do our bit to cut water waste in our day-to-day routine? The EU drafted a blueprint for long-term, integrated water management, which includes the use of water-saving devices, alongside improved education on the subject and awareness campaigns.

The EU believes that efficient use of our resources could be improved by nearly 40% through technological improvements alone, with devices able to reduce wastage by up to 50%.

To make things easier, we compiled a list of our top-selling faucets of 2020, equipped with water-saving features — from touchless sensors to flow-control systems.

1. Oras Electra washbasin faucet for bathroom

For the modern bathroom, this touchless faucet is equipped with an autofocus infrared sensor (PSD) that can seamlessly detect moving hands and will only run water when it’s needed — cutting consumption by up to 50%. It also comes with a temperature control handle for adjustable temperature, and its replaceable batteries can comfortably last over 3 years.

With Oras Electra touchless faucet you can save up to 50% of water.

And when you want to check your water consumption or if you want to keep track of your battery life, built-in Bluetooth will refer all useful information to the Oras App and allow you to customise the faucet’s functions according to your needs. You can even set the faucet’s after flow time to a duration that minimises your water use.

2. Oras Vega bathroom washbasin faucet with Bidetta hand shower

The Oras Vega washbasin faucet comes with a handy bidet shower and is complete with our smart eco-button, which limits temperature and flow rate, keeping water and energy waste at a minimum. It also doubles as a safety button, making it a top choice for families with children.

Oras Vega washbasin faucet is equipped with an Eco button, which not only saves water but also prevents scalding accidents.

3. Oras Optima kitchen faucets

The elegant and hybrid Oras Optima kitchen faucet comes with both easy-grip levers for hot and cold water and touchless functions, which prevent unnecessary water waste by activating only when hands are within the recognition range. What’s more, the faucet’s temperature display will help you keep an eye on your energy bill and prevent piping hot water from burning your hands. The fixture is available in two models: one with a highly flexible spout and the other with a lower, chrome-plated spout.

Oras Optima kitchen faucet has a touchless function, which makes hand washing in the kitchen easier and more hygienic than ever before.

4. Oras Nova shower set

As we consume hundreds of litres of water each time we shower, the Oras Nova shower set is designed to prevent water waste through a set of eco-friendly components and features. Among these, the Oras Apollo hand shower with EcoFlow spray limits water flow to just 9 litres per minute, ensuring your showers are comfortable and eco-friendly at once.

Oras Nova shower set has many eco features that help you save water without compromising on comfort.

While saving water often comes down to habits and behaviour, our extensive range of technological solutions for kitchens and bathrooms can play its part in the fight against water wastage. Touchless faucets in the bathroom can prevent water from going to waste, and advanced functions in showers can reduce water flow without compromising comfort.

How to cut your water waste at the source

Oras — Tue, 24 Nov 2020 06:30:00 GMT

How smart faucets can help you save water in the bathroom

Bathrooms are the rooms where we use – and waste – the most water. Take the simple act of brushing your teeth – if you leave your bathroom faucet running, that’s 19 litres of water. Every time. And showering? Add another 12 litres of water for every minute.

Bathrooms are the rooms where we use – and waste – the most water.

However, by making some simple changes – such as switching to a touchless faucet and changing some bad water habits – you can cut your overall usage in half. Here are some tips for how to conserve water from bathroom showers and faucets and save money on your water bill every month.

1. Do a water audit

If you check your rates notice, this may show your household’s daily water consumption. You can also call your water supplier – they may have an online tool or app you can use to track. They may also recommend checking your water meter at the same time every month and tracking your usage manually.

By checking your water consumption on a semi-regular basis you can quickly detect any water wastage or unexplained increases in water use, such as a leak. By making yourself more aware of how much water you use, the chances are you will pay more attention every time you turn on a faucet – and learn to turn it off sooner rather than later.

2. A bath or shower? Which one uses more water?

If you tend to shower for less than 10 minutes, you’ll generally save more water by sticking to a shower instead of a having a bath. However, if you love showers that are longer than 10 minutes, you may actually save more water by taking a bath.

Either way, you can be smart about how much water you use: when having a bath, put the plug in the moment you start running the shower faucet – by the time the tub is filled, it won’t matter if the water ran cold to begin with. And if you’re showering, you could simply swap shower gel for soap – with the latter requiring less time to wash off.

Cutting your shower by one second is worth 1.5 hours of battery life on a 13-inch Mac Book Air

You could also take it further by cutting your shower a little, or by running your bath for a shorter period of time. You could also install water-saving hand showers, showerheads that help limit water flow. Even cutting your shower by one second is worth 1.5 hours of battery life on a 13-inch Mac Book Air.*

3. Install smart faucets

Overall, one of the easiest ways to help reduce your annual water consumption – up to 50% – is by switching to smart automatic faucets. While reducing water usage tends to fall on the user, smart fittings – mixers and faucets – take on a lot of the responsibility by doing the work for you.

For example, you can set our smart washbasin faucets to suit your individual requirements. Just link your faucet to the Oras app and control functions such as flow rate and afterflow. The faucet will only run water for as long as you need – no more, no less – so you can reduce water consumption without interrupting your daily bathroom routine.

At Oras, we conducted an analysis in an office building in Finland where all bathroom faucets were changed to touchless faucets. We found that touchless faucets offered roughly 25.5% in water savings and about 9.7% in energy savings.

Want to find out more about how your family can save water?

* Chair of Information Systems and Energy Efficient Systems, University of Bamberg

** According to British Columbia Centre for Disease Control

How to prepare your bathroom for cold and flu season

Oras — Fri, 13 Nov 2020 14:08:00 GMT

A guide to preventing harmful microbes from invading your faucet, washbasin, shower and your entire bathroom area.

With cold and flu season in full swing and infectious diseases in the air, bathroom hygiene is an essential step in keeping our families safe and healthy.

Bathroom hygiene is an essential step in keeping our families safe and healthy.

Though the bathroom can be the least favourite room to maintain, cleaning it doesn’t have to be a difficult or unpleasant a job. In fact, a few simple tips in your regular cleaning schedule can keep your bathroom environment healthy and safe – minimising infections and illnesses.

Bathroom Cleaning Checklist

Door handles and light switch

Towels

Bathmat

Shower curtain

Toilet and bidet

Showerhead

Faucet and washbasin

We’ve compiled an easy-to-follow checklist with simple changes you can start today.

Door handles and light switch

Throughout the day, your bathroom door handle and light switch are touched by everyone in your household countless times. A recent survey found that roughly 10% of respondents never clean their door handles. We suggest disinfecting the interior and exterior door handles after every use. This is a great habit to get in to, especially at this time of year. The same applies to your bathroom light switch.

Towels

Moisture-holding towels can contain yeast, mould and, in some cases, harmful bacteria. Proper towel care through more frequent towel replacement and laundering at the correct temperature can help decrease the spread of illness in your household.

During the colder months of the year, wash your body towels after every third or fourth use and after every use if someone is sick or has a chronic skin condition. Wash your face and hand towels after every use if possible, and as an extra precaution, make sure everyone in your household has their own towels.

A study in hospital protocols found that to keep towels bacteria-free and fresh, launder towels at a minimum temperature of 60° Celsius. Replace bathroom towels every two years or sooner if they start to fray or smell damp even after a washing.

To keep towels bacteria-free and fresh, launder towels at a minimum temperature of 60° Celsius.

Bathmats

The same care needs to go into your bathmats as they also retain moisture and are in constant contact with your bathroom floor. If you have a full house, wash your bathmat once a week and replace it every six months. If your household is only you or one other person, bathmats can go roughly two to three weeks between washes. They can be washed alongside bathroom towels but remember that rubber-backed bathmats must be air-dried and not put in the dryer.

Shower curtain

Shower curtains also need regular monthly cleaning to prevent soap residue and mold build-up. There are many different shower curtain materials, so always check directions before washing. Fabric shower curtains can usually be washed with towels while plastic shower curtains need a more gentle, lower temperature cycle and no dryer.

Toilet and bidet

Cold and flu viruses can live on surfaces for up to nine days, depending on temperature and humidity. This makes the toilet, bidet and the area around them, critical areas in need of regular deep cleaning.

Clean the inside of the bowls with disinfecting cleaning agents – don’t forget to wear rubber gloves and remember to let everything sit for about five minutes after cleaning before you flush. Toilet scrubbing brushes should typically be replaced every six months if made out of plastic.

To clean the toilet and bidet handles, use a disinfectant spray and let sit for at least five minutes before wiping down.

Do this whole cleaning process once a week or every other week and increase to two and three times a week during cold and flu season.

Start a new habit

To stop the spread of airborne germs from inside your toilet bowl, close the lid when flushing

The bathroom faucet: a key contributor to better health

The most important part of our bathroom that needs to be cleaned thoroughly and frequently is the faucet. We touch the faucet handle with dirty hands meaning that it can carry up to 600 times more microorganisms than a toilet handle, for example.

Cleaning the inside and the outside of your faucet will keep your hands clean and your faucet germ-free. Once a month, clean the inside of your faucet by unscrewing the head from the faucet (known as the aerator) and cleaning out any build-up of grime.

The aerator can be found at the tip of the spout and should be cleaned monthly.

Once a week, clean the outside of your faucet and washbasin by wiping down all edges and curves, and any hard-to-reach spots.

How to clean your aerator

Step 1: Turn the faucet off

Step 2: Remove the aerator with a small tool or with your fingers. Please note that some models require a special tool for removing the aerator.

Step 3: Brush it with a small brush such as an old toothbrush

Step 4: Put the aerator back in place

Better hygiene with touchless faucets

Another way to reduce your risk of spreading germs in your home is by using a touchless faucet in your bathroom. The switch to a touchless faucet can effectively enhance surface hygiene compared to a manually operated faucet — simply because contact with surfaces is reduced to a minimum.

A touchless faucet can significantly improve hygiene at home.

And, if you don’t have to touch the faucet, your weekly cleaning just got a whole lot faster and easier. To keep your faucet in great condition, just remember to put any disinfectant on your cleaning cloth, rather than the faucet itself, and finish with a dry clean cloth. Read our instruction on how to clean you faucet correctly here.

We hope these simple tips help keep your bathroom clean and safe – ready for cold and flu season.

How Hybrid faucets can solve all your kitchen needs

Oras — Tue, 22 Sep 2020 05:01:00 GMT

Ok, it won’t cook for you, but it will give you touchless and manual functionality along with precise temperature control all in one kitchen faucet.

Hybrid kitchen faucets can be operated both manually and through the touchless sensor.

This situation may be familiar: you’re making a meal, hands covered in grease, the children between your legs with the dog chasing after them, and now you need to stir the sauce – preferably with clean hands. It’s precisely for this and many other types of situations that a touchless faucet for the kitchen offers the best solution.

They've long been in use in public buildings, but touchless faucets are becoming more and more popular in private homes and are suitable for any household – from families to elderly to single. Through a touchless sensor, you get on-demand water at a pre-set temperature that shuts off automatically when you take your hands away. It also saves water and, most importantly, reduces the spread of harmful bacteria via surface contact.

“Our hybrid faucet has made kitchen life much more convenient – and we saved kitchen water consumption by 17%.”

- The Henriksson Family, Ingarö, Sweden

But what about those occasions you need to run the water for an extended duration? For instance, when filling up the sink or a large pot of water, or when your children have been painting – on themselves? Having to constantly hold your hands, or someone else’s, by the sensor can be a frustrating and inefficient way to go about it. In those cases, the tried and true lever faucet still proves its usefulness. And, since the touchless option is generally set at a warmer temperature, it also comes in handy for a cool glass of water to drink.

Oras Optima kitchen faucet has two lever – one for hot and other for cold water. When using the touchless function, the water temperature can be pre-set to a temperature suitable for washing hands.

A kitchen faucet that brings the best of both worlds

In those cases, and many others, a hybrid kitchen faucet with sensor offers the best of both worlds – the benefits of touchless with the practicality of single lever – and gives users the perfect solution for any dilemma in the kitchen, be it food or human-related.

A hybrid kitchen faucet with sensor offers the best of both worlds – the benefits of touchless with the practicality of single lever

Oras Optima hybrid kitchen faucets come in two designs, one with a highly flexible spout and two spray option, or as a lower spout version. They're simple to install, and households can choose between a plug-in power supply or a battery-operated version. The batteries last 3-5 years and are easily replaced without the need for a professional.

Each design features separate cold and hot water levers, a touchless function and a digital temperature display that warns by blinking when the water becomes hot. The high-swivel spout also offers extra room under the faucet for those needing a little more flexibility in the kitchen.

Smart faucets are growing in popularity. Why should I switch?

Oras — Mon, 17 Aug 2020 05:30:00 GMT

Automatic and touchless faucets are prevalent in public places, and now more and more people are having them installed in their homes. Find out what’s behind the movement to smart faucets and whether they’re right for you.

Did you know that 80% of the most common infectious diseases are transmitted by touch? This is causing a health concern among workplaces, schools, hospitals and other public places, and many have turned to smart faucets because they improve hygiene and help beat the spread of germs.

Smart appliances are a growing trend

But smart faucets aren’t just for public places anymore. For the past several years, connected homes have been a growing trend that shows no signs of slowing down. Research shows that the smart home market is expected to grow by approximately 15% annually through 2023.[1] In other words, connected, smart home appliances and applications are exploding in popularity.

Smart kitchen faucets increase convenience

Eco-friendly without compromise

One of the biggest drivers toward smart appliances is their eco-friendliness. For example, you can save up to 50% of your annual water consumption by switching to smart faucets. You can also save energy on heated water. And you can do both without sacrificing comfort or convenience.

Think about the convenience of not having to touch the faucet lever when you’ve been working with raw meat or your hands are covered in sticky bread dough. Smart dishwasher valves are also available, which close automatically, decreasing the risk water of damage caused by an open valve. That’s comforting!

You can save up to 50% water by switching to smart faucets.

When safety comes first

Parents with small children are particularly interested in the safety aspect of smart faucets, but we all benefit from a reduced risk of hot-water burns. Smart faucets allow you to pre-set the temperature to the right level and prevent kids from accidentally turning the water too hot.

Oras Esteta Wellfit comes with wellness programmes which can be managed with Oras App

Smart showers are also popular – especially from a safety point of view. Oras Esteta Wellfit even comes with wellness programmes, so you can treat yourself to a luxurious shower experience.

The first smart faucets on the market

Oras manufactured the first touchless faucets. Designed to promote hygiene and safety, our faucets limit the spread of germs by 85% and reduce hot-water accidents because the small temperature control handle on the side of the faucet is harder for children to reach. Built with patented state-of-the-art sensors, they can be installed easily without help from an electrician, and they are easy to set up, use and adjust. Battery life lasts 3-5 years and battery changes are simple.

Automatic monitoring and control

Most of our smart faucets can be controlled using the Oras App based on Bluetooth technology. The app provides a wide range of features and functions for monitoring and controlling your faucet, including:

Automatic flushing – so you can ensure the right flow of water through your pipes when you’re away
Adjustment of sensor sensitivity – so you can decide exactly when your water should turn on
After flow time – so you can decide how long the water should continue once you’re finished
Battery level – so you can be prepared when it’s time to swap batteries

Smart faucets are big success amongst our customers – 99% of customers are satisfied. So, once you switch to smart, you stick to smart.

[1] https://www.marketwatch.com/press-release/global-smart-homes-market-advanced-technologies-growth-opportunities-by-2018-2023-2019-02-28

How touchless faucets can help save water

Oras — Tue, 28 Jul 2020 05:30:00 GMT

Water scarcity is a global issue. So, what can we do about it?

We all need and use water – a lot. However, with countries like Greece, Italy and Spain facing high water stress, in addition to the global fight against climate change, water scarcity has become an ever-growing concern. So, the question is: how can we limit our water consumption as much as possible without disrupting our quality of life?

Why water conservation is important

To begin with, if you’re wondering: Why should you bother keeping an eye on how much water you run from a faucet? And how much of a difference can you really make if you cut your shower down a few minutes? The answer is more than you think.

Running hot water, especially, requires electricity. Using less hot water helps save energy.
Using less water also reduces pressure on our sewage and drainage systems, leading to reduced maintenance costs – and giving our municipalities and governments money to spend elsewhere.
Water conservation helps prolong the lifespan of lakes and rivers, improving our environment and ensuring our continued access to green, healthy living spaces.

Lastly, and on a smaller scale – though equally important – is the money you’ll save yourself. So, what are you waiting for?

What can I do?

For starters, we must all be more aware of how often we turn on a faucet, and how long we spend lazily – or hurriedly – having a shower. For instance, the average family of four turns on their water 200 times a day.

A family of four turns on their water 200 times every day

Add that to the fact we waste a colossal 420 liters of water a week just when we brush our teeth – by leaving the faucet running – and you can see how deep the issue runs.

When you wash dishes, fill up a sink instead of letting the water run.

With this in mind, there are plenty of ways to cut down your water consumption. It just requires changing some habits, which, of course, is easier said than done.

When you brush your teeth, remember to turn off the tap in between rinses.
No need to run the water before stepping in the shower. Just hop in and enjoy the momentary coldness. (This can also build your immune system and boost your mood.)
When you wash dishes, fill up a sink instead of letting the water run. If you use a dishwasher, make sure it’s fully loaded before you start it up.
Place a bottle of water in the fridge in the morning so you have fresh drinking water throughout the day. That way, you’ll avoid having to let the water run to get it cold.
Fill your washing machine completely before doing a load. And skip the pre-wash phase. It’s rarely necessary.

However … we know that making these changes can be a team effort. Which is where our smart faucets and showers come into play.

The smart way to save water

By switching to a touchless faucet, you’ll never have to worry about wasting water. With in-built sensors ensuring water only runs when you need it, you can cut wastage up to 50% without a second thought. All in addition to cutting down how often you touch certain surfaces – and your risk of catching an infection.

Smart faucet can help you save up to 50% water

Additional smart features also allow you to adjust the temperature, helping you save energy in an instant.

As for water flow, we’ve got that covered, too. Our faucets come with built-in flow limiters, meaning you’ll have to make a concentrated effort to increase the flow.

So, together, let’s make a difference. Let’s choose smart.

A smart, eco-friendly kitchen can add value to your home

Oras — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 06:30:00 GMT

The kitchen is the heart of the home and at the top of the list when it comes to home improvements. But, in 2020, which improvements are adding the most value?

Contractors and designers suggest that kitchens should be renovated every 10-15 years – or once you begin to notice significant wear to countertops, floors or appliances. Not only does this make your kitchen more comfortable and useable, it also can add value to your home. In fact, many Europeans will renovate their kitchen to increase their home’s value before selling, as statistics show that kitchen remodels deliver a solid return on investment.

In 2020, there are three main drivers for ensuring you get the best value from your kitchen remodel:

The quest for durable and eco-friendly solutions
The value of smart kitchens
Updated design and décor

ALESSI Sense by Oras kitchen faucet with a smart control pad is a sustainable alternative for kitchens

1. The quest for durable and eco-friendly solutions

Energy and water savings are top of mind for Europeans, especially as more government policies and initiatives support eco-friendly solutions. As 61% of European consumers are concerned about the environment, estate agents recommend installing energy-efficient appliances along with water-efficient faucets, such as the ALESSI Sense by Oras. It’s an electronic faucet that is opened by pressing gently on top of it and it automatically shuts off the water after six seconds. By pressing on top of the faucet for one second will let the water run for no longer than one minute. If more water is needed, you can use the temperature control handle for cold or hot water. The faucet can always be closed by pushing the Smart press pad cover. At the same time, strikingly durable faucets from brands known for quality are a good way to signal sustainability as they will last longer and reduce waste.

2. The value of smart kitchens

Research shows that across Europe, smart kitchens are gaining popularity. 67% of Italians and 66% of Spaniards are most likely to invest in a home with a smart kitchen. According to a 2018 report in Business Review, “Nearly half of Europeans (42%) would be willing to pay up to 50,000 euros more for a smart kitchen.” This means appliances and faucets with smart features, such as the Oras Optima 2729F. It has touchless function, a temperature display that starts blinking when the water gets hot and a smart dishwasher valve that reduces the risk of water damage.

Oras Optima 2729F is a prime example of a smart faucet, including touchless function, a temperature display and smart dishwasher valve.

Updated design and décor

Inevitably, the patterns and materials used in any kitchen will go out of style. New flooring and countertops will immediately refresh a kitchen and make it look modern. Replacing an old, leaky faucet with a new design can be the icing on the cake. Designer faucets like the ALESSI Swan by Oras and black-finished faucets are on trend today, while other distinct styles such as cubistic, romantic and modern styles like the Oras Inspera also catch the eye of homeowners and homebuyers alike.

Don’t be fooled by these myths about touchless faucets

Oras — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 08:56:00 GMT

As families all over the world focus on hand-washing and hygiene, the benefits of touchless faucets are becoming clearer. Avoiding contact with the faucet helps avoid contact with the germs that are collecting on this high-traffic touchpoint. This keeps hands cleaner and families healthier.

But many homeowners have only experienced touchless faucets in public places – and may be unaware of how easy they are to own and maintain. Read these five myths about touchless faucets and find out how they can save water and make life in your kitchen and bathroom even better.

Myth #1: Touchless faucets require frequent battery changes

Smart faucets require lithium batteries which last 3 to 5 years. A blinking red light on Oras touchless faucets lets you know when it’s time for a battery change, which you can easily do yourself within minutes. You can check the battery life status in the Oras App, which comes with touchless faucets. Information about batteries is also included in the faucet guide and, and you can always get in touch with customer service if you need help.

Myth #2: The temperature cannot be adjusted on touchless faucets

Some touchless models are available without temperature control – these are specifically for public places. However, many Oras smart faucets have a small lever on the side that allows for easy temperature adjustments.

Many Oras smart faucets have a small lever on the side that allows for easy temperature adjustments.

Myth #3: Touchless faucets are only for public places

More and more schools, daycares and offices are installing smart faucets, not only because they promote hygiene but also because they reduce water consumption and save energy used for warm water. This is creating demand for private home use as well. Oras offer a wide range of smart faucets, in a variety of attractive designs, that are easy to install and perfect for home use.

Oras touchless faucets come in a variety of different designs

Myth #4: Touchless faucets are expensive

Smart faucets are available in a wide range of prices – some starting at just a few hundred euros. Considering the money you can save from reducing your water and energy consumption, the faucet pays for itself after only a short while.

Myth #5: Touchless faucets often have sensor malfunctions

Our patented PSD (Position Sensitive Detector) technology in the sensor ensures that the faucet responds exactly to your hand movements. The sensor reliably detects the position of your hands, regardless of how dirty they are or whether the lights are on. You can adjust the sensitivity of the sensors via the Oras App, and if the sensor’s battery dies, it can easily be replaced. (See myth #1.)

The patented PSD (Position Sensitive Detector) technology in the sensor ensures that the faucet responds exactly to your hand movements.

5 easy ways to find the right faucet for the kitchen, bathroom or any sink

Oras — Wed, 27 May 2020 07:00:00 GMT

Whether you’re renovating your home or you just need to replace an old faucet, there are a few questions you can ask to help identify the right model.

It may be tempting to choose a nice-looking faucet out of a catalogue. But, unfortunately, looks aren’t everything when it comes to choosing the right faucet for your whole family.

By asking yourself five simple questions, you can be sure to choose the faucet that meets all your needs, so that it will be a long time before you need to replace it again.

Who will be using the faucet?
Where will the faucet be located?
What type of sink do you have?
How important is sustainability?
What’s your budget?

Oras Vega features a convenient eco button that limits water temperature to prevent scalding, a common concern for families.

1. Who will be using the faucet?

Start by considering the needs of your family. Do you have small children or grandparents living with you? Does anyone have special needs? If so, safety and usability may be high priorities. The shape and colour of the faucet can make it easier to control for those with reduced eyesight, small hands or underveloped motor skills.

The Oras Optima for example, have an easy-grip black lever and an eco-button for not only limiting water flow for increased sustainability but also water temperature to prevent scalding, a common concern for families. Similarly, Oras Vega features this convenient eco-button. The lock can be bypassed by pushing the button when there’s need for hotter water or more water flow. Specially designed for the elderly, the Oras Care product families feature ergonomic design and clear hot and cold markings for people with limited eyesight.

Automatic or touchless faucets are a good option for both children and the elderly as they can help prevent any germs lingering on faucet controls from sticking to hands. This improves health and hygiene in the home and keeps everyone a little safer.

When choosing a faucet for kitchen or bathroom, consider whether or not a dishwasher valve is needed.

2. Where will the faucet be located?

If the faucet will be in the kitchen, whether you have a dishwasher is important. If you do, you will need a model with a dishwasher valve. Also, consider whether you need to wash large pots and pans by hand. If so, you will need a higher spout.

Kitchen faucets with dishwasher valve, click here

If the faucet is for the bathroom, again, consider whether you need a washing machine valve. If the faucet is for the utility or laundry room, what tasks will you use it for? If you wash large machinery or equipment, you will need a higher spout. If you use the room for changing or bathing your baby, perhaps a washbasin faucet with a Oras Bidetta hand shower is a good idea.

Washbasin faucets with integrated washing machine valve or electronic dishwasher valve, click here

In all three cases, it’s important to consider how much space is above and behind the basin. Is there a cabinet just above? How close is the wall? These variables could place limits on the height or type of faucet control you can choose.

Oras Inspera washbasin faucet combined with a vessel sink with integrated faucet installation hole.

3. What type of sink do you have?

If your new faucet is part of a renovation project, you may be choosing the basin together with the faucet. If you are replacing your faucet, the type of basin you have should guide your faucet choice. Does the sink sit on top of the countertop (a vessel sink) or is it integrated? Is it attached to the wall? Whichever type of sink you have, the key is to balance the proportion of the faucet to the sink.

Vessel sink with higher body faucet Oras Inspera 3001F.

If it is a vessel sink, you will need a faucet with a higher body, such as the Oras Inspera 3001F. A wall-mounted faucet could also be a good option for the vessel sink, providing the right installation conditions behind the wall. (Check with an installer to be sure.) If the sink is integrated, this opens up for many more options as shorter bodies work just as well.

Integrated sink with small Oras Inspera washbasin faucet.

Also, consider how much space is between the faucet hole and the wall. You may need to choose a faucet with a limited turning angle so that nothing will get in the way of controlling your faucet.

4. How important is sustainability?

A recent study shows that 61% of European consumers are concerned about the state of the environment. The further north you go, the more this concern turns into water-saving awareness. An average of 63% of people in the Nordics consider themselves to be eco-conscious, which reflects in their preference for sanitary fittings.

Touchless faucets can save up to 50% in water consumption compared to traditional lever faucets.

Anyone can save water by choosing the right faucet. Touchless faucets drastically reduce water and energy consumption as the water only runs when needed. In fact, SMART faucets can reduce water wastage by up to 50%.

All Oras faucets come with the possibility to add water flow limitations. Just ask your installer to take care of this during installation.

5. What’s your budget?

Many people believe that SMART faucets are more expensive than manual faucets, but this isn’t always the case, with a range of SMART faucets available at different price points. And, if you offset the water savings, the cost comes down.

Try to determine where you are budget-wise. Are you looking for something low-budget, mid-range or premium? There are plenty of excellent faucets in each category and this can help guide your search from the outset.

The best way to clean your faucet and keep it as good as new

Oras — Thu, 14 May 2020 12:31:00 GMT

Today we are all more focused on keeping our kitchens and bathrooms clean. While you aim to get rid of germs and microbes, it pays to understand how to clean effectively without accidentally damaging the faucet surface or functionality.

How often do you think about cleaning your faucets and washbasins? Probably more now than you ever did before. Keeping your kitchen and bathroom surfaces sparkling clean can help you fight germs and illness. But doing it with harsh cleaners can also cause damage to your faucets. Here are a few simple guidelines for how to keep your faucets clean while helping them stay shiny and beautiful for longer.

1. Start with the right cleaner

These days, we may find ourselves reaching for the strongest, germ-killing cleaner we can get our hands on. A milder cleaning agent (pH 6-9) is sufficient for killing common germs and will still protect your faucets.

2. Spray the cloth, not the faucet

Applying the cleaner directly allows it to get into the seams of the faucet where rinsing is impossible. This could cause the faucet to corrode over time. Spraying the cleaner onto the cloth instead is a safer way to clean that will prolong the life of your faucet.

3. Clean all the nooks and crannies

Get all the way around the base and in all the nooks and crannies – and don’t forget the aerator. For most models, you can remove it with a small tool or with your fingers. Brush it with a toothbrush and put the aerator back in place.

4. Rinse and dry thoroughly

Rinse with plenty of lukewarm water making sure to remove all the residue from the cleaning agent. Finish by wiping the faucet dry with a soft cloth. This is important to prevent the resurgence of bacteria.

TIP: Don’t forget high-touch surfaces

Doorknobs

Light switches

Refrigerator and microwave doors

Drawer handles

Any cooking or eating surface

Toilet handles

As long as you are cleaning your faucets and washbasins, don’t forget all the other high-touch surfaces your family leaves a million fingerprints on every day. We suggest cleaning bathroom surfaces last to slow the spread of germs.

Make a daily habit out of cleaning faucets

It may seem like a big job on paper, but when you make a daily habit out of cleaning your faucets and surfaces, the chore becomes much quicker and easier. And it can go a long way towards creating a cleaner, safer home.

How often do I need to do this?

For safety’s sake, we recommend cleaning the surfaces every day and the aerators once a month. To create a routine, try cleaning the faucets every evening while washing up or first thing in the morning while coffee is brewing.

Do I need to wear gloves?

Gloves are recommended but if you don’t have any, just be sure to wash your hands before and after you clean.

If I use gloves, do I need to wash them afterward?

If you are planning to reuse them, yes. But use separate gloves for the bathroom and the dishes. Once you’re done cleaning:

Wash your gloved hands with soap and water
Dry them
Pull the gloves off and store them
Wash your bare hands

Touchless faucets can help beat the spread of germs

With so many germs forming on and around the faucet, automatic or SMART faucets are a good solution for keeping surfaces cleaner and preventing illness. And they can help save water, too. Browse our selection of SMART faucets for inspiration.

How touchless faucets can help beat the spread of germs

Oras — Mon, 20 Apr 2020 08:19:46 GMT

We use and rely on faucets every day. But, as much as we keep them clean, they can still be a breeding ground for germs and viruses. To improve our health and safety, something needs to change.

We use our faucets countless times a day – whether we’re washing dishes, filling up a water bottle, cleaning our hands, or doing any of the other seemingly mundane tasks we require them for.

What we’ve only just started to become aware of, however, is how many germs can form on and around a faucet – not just those in public spaces, but right at home – and the health challenges posed by this.

It sounds scary – and it can be – but it makes sense. You can’t wash dirty hands without physically touching a manual faucet, and chances are we wipe them down with cloths that aren’t fully clean. So, it’s understandable for germs to form – and grow. But how many can be a surprise.

While studies vary, the overall result is the same: that our kitchen and bathroom faucets harbour a huge number of germs. Indeed, according to this 2004 study from the International Journal of Food Microbiology, a traditional faucet generally contains 127,000 bacteria per cm2.

And, given the average family of four turns on their faucets 200 times a day, that’s a lot of exposure to potentially harmful environments.

A family of four turns on their water

200 times every day.

So, how can you reduce your risk of catching an infection without disrupting your daily life? While making things easier?

Get a handle on germs – with touchless faucets

That’s where touchless faucets come in.

The most common migration routes for microbes spreading contact infections are from hands and surfaces – making good hand hygiene absolutely vital.

It’s why, at Oras, we’re so focused on creating solutions that stop the issue at the root. By eliminating the need for any contact. And no contact means a reduction in germs.

A vast amount, as it happens. According to a study carried out by WANDER Nordic Water and Materials Institute, switching to a touchless faucet could reduce the incidence of microbes by as much as 98% compared to a manually operated faucet. Similarly, a 2008 study from the institute comparing new generation electronic and manual faucets in a hospital setting found there to be fewer microbial biomass in the electronic faucets’ aerators.

Switching from a manual to a touchless faucet

can stop 98% of bacteria from forming

Sustainable change made smart

At Oras, we’ve spent decades designing touchless, smart faucets that can improve your safety while making your life simpler – and more sustainable.

Because there are other things to consider aside from ensuring your hands are as clean as possible. Take the act of switching off a faucet, for example. You might use a paper towel to push down the handle. But what about the water that’s wasted in the process? Or the germs spread further around as a consequence of every extra bit of contact?

With patented Position Sensitive Detector sensors in all our touchless faucets, keep your hands clean – and fight back against germs – without ever having to worry about using more water than you need.

For clean hands and a clear mind.

Interview with the doctor: How to wash your hands properly

Oras — Sat, 07 Mar 2020 10:10:00 GMT

Touching door handles, using your smartphone, or simply shaking hands the good old fashioned way – every day, all day, we come in contact with the most widely varied forms of bacteria, viruses and germs. And what we have actually known for a very long time is that washing our hands provides protection against infections. Dr. med. Adrian Busen tells us how to keep our hands properly clean, and why touchless faucets mean better hygiene.

As soon as the user’s hands come near the touchless faucet, water starts flowing automatically. In this situation, too, the sensor reliably identifies the position of the hands.

Why do we actually need to wash our hands regularly?

Primarily to get rid of the visible dirt, but above all not to spread everywhere we go all the germs which are not visible, and so safeguard our own health and that of other people too.

How often and when should we wash our hands?

Every time after going to the toilet, after coughing or sneezing, after being in contact with people who are ill, and, as a rule, always as the first thing we do when we get home. In other words, essentially after we have put the key away – and, incidentally, the key also ought to be cleaned every now and then.

How should I actually wash my hands properly?

The main issue here is the thoroughness. In other words, do not simply hold your hands under the tap, but soap them properly to form foam. Surface of one hand against the other, then the space between the fingers, and, in particular, not forgetting the fingertips and the area under the fingernails.

Why are touchless faucets more hygienic when it comes to washing our hands?

Bacteria collect on our hands every day, sometimes more and sometimes less. When we turn taps on and off, these bacteria get transferred onto the faucet, and that means every time the tap is touched the bacteria are transferred back again onto the hands of the user. However, since touchless faucets do not need any direct skin contact, fewer germs can get transferred. That means the fittings stay clean - and hygienic - for longer.

Which germs get transferred onto our hands as an everyday event?

Without getting too particular here, or overly specific with regard to diseases:

Coughing or wiping your nose causes germs to be conveyed out of the respiratory tract. Skin-to-skin contact also transfers a lot of surface germs.

So the best thing is not to sneeze or cough into our hands?

Exactly. If it can be avoided, not into your bare hand but into a handkerchief or into your elbow joint.

About Dr. Med. Adrian Busen

Dr. Med. Adrian Busen practices as a specialist in general medicine at the Dr. Münster

practice in Münster, in the region of Westphalia. A key focus of atte

ntion here is the issue of “Promoting Health and Prevention of Disease”. Dr. Med. Busen works in the areas of manual medicine / chirotherapy with the focus on atlas therapy (atlasReflexTh.^®), as well as holding the additional distinctions of DAEM / DGEM^®nutritional medical practitioner and specialist in travel medicine (CRM).

From brass bars into faucets: this is how Oras faucets are made

Oras — Mon, 09 Dec 2019 07:57:00 GMT

The production of Oras faucets is a complicated process with multiple stages, most of which are carried out manually. The level of quality is controlled at every stage. We joined Nordic sales manager Marko Sundholm for a visit around the Oras plant in Rauma, where some 3,000 faucets are produced every day.

Nordic Sales manager at Oras, Marko Sundholm, explain the faucet manufacturing process

The production of Oras faucets is partly automated, while most work stages are still carried out by hand. Briefly put, the work stages are core building, casting, sawing, machining, grinding, polishing, chrome-plating, assembly and testing. However, a lot of work has already been done before these: a new product has been designed and its production has been simulated on a computer, after which casting has been tested and adjusted until it is perfected. Oras makes all the tools, shell moulds and core boxes required during casting.

Casting starts from brass bars and cores

The most important ingredient in faucet production is brass, from which the faucet body is made by means of casting. The core is a central part of the production process, as it forms water channels in the faucet body during casting. A solid core is made from fine sand and a hardening agent by heating in a core box.

The core is made from fine sand and it forms the waterways for the faucet body during casting

Pallet loads of brass bars are delivered to the plant’s foundry. The bars are made of special brass which withstands dezincification.

Brass bars used in Oras faucets are made of special, dezincification resistant brass

“Unlike in, say, Central Europe, tap water is acidic in the Nordic countries and corrodes water pipes. Even though it is safe to use every day, it is chemically aggressive. This is why normal brass is not good for us,” says Marko Sundholm, Nordic Sales Manager.

During casting, the shell mould is dipped into a water and graphite solution. The caster (the person responsible for casting) places the cores inside the mould and removes any loose sand from the shell mould using compressed air.

The cores are placed inside the mould.

The mould is sealed and placed in the blazing hot casting chamber of the casting furnace. Three tons of molten brass flow from the casting furnace into shell moulds. The core maintains waterways open inside the mould, to which technical components are installed and through which water flows through the faucet.

Molten brass flows into the shell moulds

After brief cooling, the caster uses tongs to move the cast to cool down. Next, the core is removed from inside the faucet body by whirling it in a mill equipped with metal balls.

Faucets are sawn and ground to their final shape

Cooled faucet bodies delivered from the foundry are separated from each other by sawing, and any parts that were necessary during casting but not included in complete faucets are removed. At Oras, the sawing process includes both automated and manual steps.

Brass faucet bodies ready for further processing

“We have increased the level of automation during this work stage, but some difficult components make this a tricky process,” Sundholm says.

Faucet bodies are then placed on a conveyor belt, which moves them through automated machining, grinding and polishing processes. The initially produced rough surface is made smooth during a complicated grinding process. The ground metal surface is polished flawless. Finally, employees inspect the level of quality visually and by hand. Small batches of special products may be ground and polished manually. Minor repairs may also be carried out by hand.

Small batches of special products and repairs are still done by hand to ensure flawless result.

“Any brass left over from the sawing and machining stages does not end up as waste. Instead, the precious raw material is recovered to the production. Sawing waste is melted in the casting furnace and cast again. Machining chips are returned to the brass supplier that uses them in the production of new bars. The bars delivered to us contain only a small amount of new brass,” Sundholm says.

Chrome plating allows no errors

Finally, faucets are chrome-plated. Chrome makes the surface hard, shiny and wear-resistant.

After polishing, faucet bodies should no longer be touched by bare hands to avoid having finger prints in the chrome-plating.

“Product surfaces need to be flawless before chrome-plating, as chrome is a ruthless material. It does not cover, but rather highlights, even the smallest of errors,” says Sundholm. All visible plastic and composite parts are also chrome-plated. Plastic and composite parts are made at Oras’ plastic production department.

A line of chrome plated faucet parts.

Plastic is a more challenging material to plate with chrome than brass: “Plastic needs to be made electrically conductive to make chrome-plating possible. Plastic parts are plated with a copper layer and then with a nickel layer to form a flexible layer underneath the plating to protect the surface from thermal expansion,” Sundholm explains.

Chrome-plating takes roughly two hours, during which products undergo different soaking and washing stages 40 times. After chrome-plating, products are inspected before assembly. Any markings, such as the brand logo, are added at this stage. Currently, products are mainly marked by using a laser.

Technical components are installed inside the faucet body

Oras makes the components installed inside the faucet body itself. These regulate the water flow and temperature, among other things.

“The soul of a lever faucet is called a cartridge, and it has remained identical and unchanged in all Oras models since 1982. The cartridge regulates the water flow and temperature to give the correct amount of water at the desired temperature. Cartridges are made in Rauma. Every component is marked to make them traceable,” Sundholm says.

The soul of a single-lever faucet: The cartridge

Many different regulations and standards need to be addressed in the design process. According to Sundholm, lowering the sound level down to an acceptable level is the most time-consuming part of research and development. “The sound level is tested in a separate laboratory, in a floating concrete room, which is fully silent,” he says.

Components and any electronics that are significant, especially in more advanced water fixtures, are installed inside faucets during assembly. Oras faucets are assembled by hand and automatically, while the final inspection and quality control are always manual processes.

“An average of 3,000 faucets are manufactured at the Rauma plant every day. One per cent of completed faucets undergo spot checks. Finally, faucets are packaged in their sales packaging, ready for shipping round the world,” Sundholm says.

And here is the end result: Oras Safira washbasin faucet.

Reasons to drink (more) water and when to drink it

Oras — Tue, 16 Jul 2019 05:50:00 GMT

Water is not only healthy to drink (as it contains no additives or added sugars) it also has a positive effect on your body and well-being. Drinking water can help you to get rid of headaches, be a helping hand for your immune system and can also make traveling more comfortable – and that is just to name a few benefits of drinking water regularly.

Get rid of pains

Why not try a big glass of water instead of taking painkillers when you have a headache? If you’re not good at drinking water throughout the day the headache might stem from dehydration. Painkillers are also hard on the stomach and you might end up with a tummy ache instead.

Moreover, if you are looking to have night out partying, remember to drink lots of water before going to sleep, it might just save you from a hangover as those often come from dehydration – and no, tequila shots are not hydrating.

Help your immune system

Your mucous membranes are full of antibodies which are fighting bacteria you might inhale, eat or drink. The mucous membranes will dry out if you don’t drink plenty of water and will then not be able to fight all the nasty infections you might encounter on your way e.g. a cold, a sore throat or a cough. Why not start and finish your day with a big glass of hydrating water?

Make traveling more comfortable

It’s not only time difference that takes its toll on your body when traveling. It’s also the dry air in the airplane cabin that sucks the water right out of you – it has a big impact on your dehydration, partly because the air we breathe onboard airplanes contains less oxygen compared to when you walk around outside.

Drink a glass of water before you board your flight and then one glass per hour you are up in the air. Steer clear of drinks containing alcohol and caffeine as this will only contribute to further dehydration.

Makes your skin and hair glow

Body lotion might hydrate your skin on the outside, but it’s the water that you drink that really does wonders. Skin cells that are well hydrated keeps your skin soft, moisturized and healthy looking.

Another added benefit of a well hydrated inner is that the sweat we produce during demanding exercise stimulates the oil producing glands in our scalp. The oil produced helps our hair and scalp to stay healthy and in good condition.

Boost your muscles

As a cherry on the top – the human body consist of a large amount of water, so if you want to have nice looking and firm muscles, drinking water helps with that!

Looking for more tips to increase your wellbeing? Have a look at this:

Designer Kirsi Svärd reveals the formula behind the ultimate faucet design

Oras — Mon, 20 May 2019 08:31:00 GMT

For 75 years, Oras has set the bar for high-quality design that utilizes advanced technology to develop user-friendly and sustainable faucet solutions. One of Finland’s leading designers, Kirsi Svärd, reveals the secrets behind Oras’ design classics and provides a sneak peek into the future of faucet designs.

Finland is renowned worldwide for its outstanding and unique design character. From Iittala, Marimekko and Moomin to Nokia, Finnish design combines distinct aesthetics and well-considered functionality. According to Kirsi Svärd, this is at the very core of Oras’ design values. She is one of Finland’s modern leading industrial designers, and designer of the Oras Optima and Oras Cubista series. She roughly summarizes her design philosophy as “UX = functionality + style”.

–Successful industrial design is innovative with close consideration to the context and environment the product will be used in. One of the fascinating parts of industrial design is how to respond to the target group’s needs while still support the brand’s distinctiveness and differentiation. Another concern is manufacturability. It’s like trying to fit an exciting puzzle!

Two of Kirsi’s most characteristic designs for Oras, the Optima and Cubista series, were both designed with the contemporary bathroom and kitchen in mind. While Oras Cubista’s clean design and geometrical shapes were inspired by the 20^th century art movement Cubism, Oras Optima is influenced by the functionality of professional kitchens with features such as digital display, touchless control panel and two different flow alternatives. Still, they belong to the same design tradition, and Kirsi describes how the initial key words for both designs were modern, but classic, minimalistic, strong and long lasting. These are key words to Oras’ entire product portfolio and design philosophy. Some would argue that these are important elements in the Finnish design heritage, dating back to Alvar Aalto’s days.

–The Finnish roots are shown in the minimalistic and rational style and product solutions. “Bells and whistles” and “bling bling” simply don’t appeal to us. However, we avoid getting too plain, and always keep our senses open for global trends and influences.

Kirsi believes Oras will use their experience of combining a profound understanding of user needs, interior design trends and technology to keep develop brand new branches of product and service concepts in the future. The use of electronics in their faucets is an example.

–Electronics in Oras’ faucets will always be for real use, to serve purposes such as improved hygiene or sustainability in terms of water and energy saving. It will never be just as gadgets, never for the purpose of the technology itself, says Kirsi.

At the ISH fair in Frankfurt in March, Oras Group introduced a number of ground-breaking and futuristic faucet designs developed in collaboration with Alessi’s young design talents. These prototypes represent what the future of faucet design might look like, and give proof that functionality and aesthetics will always remain a fundamental combination for the iconic brand.

Concept Kadinsky

By designer Simone Bonanni

Image credit: propp.it

This sophisticated faucet fits perfectly into the modern home with an innovative thin and elegant water spout and flexible water hose. It comes in five different natural materials and features touchless sensor control and lateral temperature pre-setting for sustainable water and energy consumption.

Lingotto

By designer Giulio Lacchetti

This decorative faucet is like a sculpture with a round, symmetrical form which integrates harmoniously into any modern living landscape.

The water flow is activated by moving the fitting form from its initial oval shape to a vertical position.

The temperature and intensity of the water flow can be adjusted by touching the body of the fitting.

Image credit: propp.it

Water machine

By designer Alessandro Stable

This futuristic faucet features a ground-breaking aesthetics with an elegant and puristic design language. It has an easy-to-use and refined digital control system on the fitting, and the option to select between 1-jet or multi-jet water flow.

Image credit: propp.it

A beautiful and functional home adapts to the lives of its inhabitants: four tips for the kitchen and bathroom

Oras — Thu, 03 Jan 2019 09:21:02 GMT

The most successful solutions seem obvious when introduced. For instance, faucets with an attractive, functional and ecological design have found their way into countless homes. Functional and timeless solutions in the kitchen and bathroom can make life easier in various situations. Changing faucets is a simple operation, and an easy way to update the home in tune with the changing needs of its inhabitants.

Oras faucets are functional, beautiful and ecological. Their reliable quality and carefully considered design stand the test of time, so they may never need to be replaced. However, if there comes a time when the faucet needs to be updated, it is good to know that a modern and functional faucet helps to save both water and time. It also makes it easier to manage the daily life of the entire family and to keep the home clean. Moreover, changing faucets is an easy way to give your kitchen or bathroom a fresh new look and bring it up to date. Here are some examples of how different faucet solutions adapt to different situations in life:

1. Practical and safe options for families with children

A touchless faucet is a safe and easy solution for children learning to wash their own hands. The water temperature can be adjusted to a level that is safe for the child’s sensitive skin. Furthermore, children can wash the dirt off their little hands using a suitable water pressure even if they can't reach very high. There are several eye-catching designs to suit all tastes: touch-free options are available in several Oras product families, such as Oras Inspera, Oras Optima, Oras Cubista and Oras Electra.

The Oras Bidetta hand shower, originally designed for intimate hygiene, can also be used to wash an infant or pet. The hand shower is a typically Finnish washing feature that has many uses, such as washing clothes by hand, filling large containers with water and rinsing muddy shoes. The Oras Bidetta hand shower is available in a touchless version, where the water runs by pressing the trigger without needing to turn on the faucet at the washbasin.

2. Faucets to save water and energy

Did you know that we use 155 litres of water per day on average? For example, a five-minute shower uses approximately 60 litres of water. Especially in families with teenagers, the next person may well have to wait even longer than five minutes for their turn to use the shower. In such situations, a water-saving faucet and shower can truly make a difference.

A touchless faucet reduces the consumption of water and energy, as the water is always the right temperature and it only runs when needed. Water and energy make up a significant part of the cost of living in a single-family house, but their consumption is also an important environmental concern for all of us.

3. A functional and beautiful faucet is an aesthetic choice

The appearance of the faucet is particularly important for home decorators. However, there is no need to compromise on practicality either. A stylish faucet that is resistant to wear and has an ageless design is a must in an open-concept kitchen, for instance. Oras offers several individual styles that can add a touch of luxury to your kitchen or bathroom.

Faucet solutions with smart functions can be easy on the eye as well. The Oras Esteta Wellfit shower and the Oras Optima kitchen faucet are two examples of solutions that combine stunning looks with smart technology.

4. Technology makes things easier at an advanced age

Oras also offers a variety of products for the elderly and people with disabilities, who can manage household chores more independently with the help of technology. For example, a touchless faucet and a washing machine valve that is easy to both open and close can make life much easier for people whose hands have lost some of their strength. Furthermore, a faucet that turns off automatically eliminates the risk of water being left running.

Thinking about upgrading your home? Here’s 3 inspiring trends to consider

Oras — Thu, 15 Nov 2018 06:20:00 GMT

Are you moving into a new house or just want to make some refreshing changes to your home? There’s a lot of decorating tips out there and many interior trends to consider. However, don’t feel overwhelmed. Interior upgrades can be fun, and small and easy changes can make a big difference!

1. Combine design and functionality

First and foremost, your home should reflect your personal taste and lifestyle. Functional design is becoming more and more popular, and with good reason. You shouldn’t have to compromise on design or functionality when decorating your home. When choosing solutions for your smart home, you should start with considering where you spend most of your time.

For many households, the kitchen is where the magic happens. This is the space where it’s important to combine functionality with design. Most faucets have standard dimensions, making them easily replaceable. Choosing a faucet with a pull-down spout with different spray options and a smart dishwasher valve, your efforts in the kitchen can be made fun and efficient. So why not invest in a new high-quality faucet, that becomes a functional masterpiece while meeting the practical needs of a modern lifestyle at the same time.

2. Creative sustainability

You shouldn’t just be thinking of trends and aesthetics when upgrading your home. According to Interior Zine’s trend predictions for 2019, making sustainable choices for your home is no longer just a preference, it’s also becoming a responsibility. However, being sustainable shouldn’t compromise on design. The same goes for our choice of faucets.

The new Oras Inspera collection offers elegantly shaped touchless faucets for your bathroom, giving you an eco-friendly option that saves both water and energy. Combining both design and sustainability, the Oras Inspera collection includes faucets featuring a fascinating Mikado®* spray. The spray makes artwork out of your water flow, while saving water at the same time.

3. Personalize your home

All tastes are different, and 2019 is all about embracing your own individual style when making interior choices for your home. Don’t be afraid to mix different styles, different materials and different colors – making your home your own. It may be a paradox; a trend to not following a specific trend - but were all for it! That’s why the new Oras Inspera collection, offers a wide variety of sizes, performance and comfort levels, ensuring that there’s a solution for every taste and every room - granting you more possibilities when planning your home.

In other words; embrace your own personal style and don’t compromise on functionality when choosing design. And finally, make sustainability a priority!

*Please note that the Mikado® spray provides a very low water flow of just 1.20 l/min

Oras Bidetta – a Finnish National Treasure

Oras — Wed, 17 Oct 2018 06:26:00 GMT

Back in 1968, a Finnish engineer at Oras got a marvelous idea to develop a hand shower for bathrooms to help people in their everyday life.

Today, practically every Finn knows what a Bidetta hand shower is and for which purpose it is used. It could be said that many Finns could not live without it! Did you know that there are more Bidetta hand showers in Finland than there are saunas? And there are over 2 million saunas in a country with a population of 5,3million? Do the math.

The versatile Oras Bidetta

Tourists usually wonder, for what purpose the small shower hanging on the wall next to the toilet is meant for whereas for Finns it is such a must-have item that one does not pay any attention to it – unless it is missing.

Oras Bidetta hand shower is a product that can be used in as many ways as there are people. In Finland, most people use it for taking care of intimate hygiene when sitting on the toilet. Others use the handy small hand shower to help them cleaning up the bathroom, washing muddy shoes after a rainy day, filling up flower vases and water buckets – and even to wash their hair in the wash basin.

The standard Bidetta hand shower can be used by first opening the water flow in the washbasin faucet, taking the hand shower in hand and by pulling the trigger on the hand shower, which directs the water flow from the washbasin faucet to the hand shower.

50 years and still going strong

What happened during the past 50 years to make this product such a necessity in modern day Finnish homes? Let’s go back in time to find out.

In 1960’s, the Bidetta hand shower was just a peculiar product for Finns. A significant change happened 50 years ago, when Oras launched the Oras Bidetta hand shower – a revolutionary product that would change Finnish bathrooms and hygiene standards forever. The first version of the Bidetta hand shower was introduced to the Finnish market in 1968. It is still a bit unclear, who actually designed this innovative product, but the story goes that the idea for this innovation came from USA where a new kitchen faucet with a separate brush had been introduced to the market. “Why not use this innovation in the bathroom as well?” – the Finnish engineer must have been thinking.

The first ever Bidetta hand shower used a slightly different technology to the one we know today although the idea and purpose has remained the same. The 1960’s model was not an immediate success due to clumsiness of the design and user experience: not only did you have to twist the hot and cold water handles of the faucet to get right temperature water, you also had to push a separate diverter on the faucet – all this while sitting on the toilet.

New decade – new technology

In 1970’s, all changed when Oras developed the first single-lever faucet – a faucet where the water temperature could be adjusted with one lever. Thanks to this innovation, the Bidetta technology - as we know it today - was born.

From a technological point of view, a significant breakthrough was the addition of a small part, ejector, which enabled water to flow from the faucet to the hand shower and vice versa. At that time, also the official name, Oras Bidetta, was invented. This more advanced ejector-technology used still in today’s Bidettas was patented in 1979.

A Finnish marketing success story

Next started the TV advertising and other marketing promotion around the Bidetta. In a country where there were only two TV channels at the time, almost all Finns saw the funny and colorful ads. Oras took a brave but humorous approach, using naked people washing their private parts on the toilet – how else could you show for which purpose the product was made! The Bidetta Man with mustache is still a popular internet sensation which comes up every now and then in different medias and social media interactions – almost 50 years after the original advertisement was published.

After the TV campaign, the sales of Oras Bidetta sky-rocketed and soon the hand shower was already a standard feature in all Finnish homes. Quite a marketing success story, don’t you think?

Oras Bidetta in 2018

Still today, the basic models of Oras Bidetta hand shower use to large extent the same technology as back in the 70s. Naturally, since Oras is known for advanced and smart faucet solutions, also Oras Bidetta has got a 21st century variant – Oras Smart Bidetta. The advanced version of the hand shower can be used remotely, meaning that in places where the toilet is located further away from the washbasin, you don’t have get up from the toilet and lift the lever of the faucet - you can just take the hand shower, pull the trigger and the water start to flow automatically from the hand shower. An even temperature is secured with a separate thermostat.

Over the years, Oras Bidetta has truly become one of the most important Finnish innovations for the bathroom – a Finnish national treasure.

To see how Oras Bidetta has evolved over the years, check our lookbook with pictures of Bidetta from 1968 to today.

Oras Esteta Wellfit put to the test by triathletes Kaisa Sali and Michelle Vesterby

Oras — Thu, 20 Sep 2018 08:29:00 GMT

Our brand new shower system Oras Esteta Wellfit provides the possibility to enjoy the renowned hot and cold water therapy in your own home. Hot and cold water therapy is well-known for its medical benefits, and is widely used by physiotherapists, physicians and athletes to sooth sore muscles and increase blood circulation.

We asked triathletes Michelle Vesterby (Denmark) and Kaisa Sali (Finland) to try Oras Esteta Wellfit for a period. This is what they said.

–Do you have any prior experience with hot and cold water treatment?

Kaisa Sali: Yes, I’ve been using a variety of hot and cold treatments ever since I began doing sports. I have tried hot and cold-water immersion in pools, massaging muscles with ice blocks, swimming in cold lakes and mountain rivers. But let me tell you, it is much more comfortable to use it at home.

Michelle Vesterby: When I'm at training camp in La Santa, I always use hot and cold water treatment as an active part of the restitution. It makes me feel healthier and gives me better muscle restitution.

–What was your first impression of Oras Esteta Wellfit when you tried it?

KS: That it was really comfortable! Usually, the cold flush is quite uncomfortable but not with the Esteta Wellfit. And I like the size and shape of the shower head, which gives the feeling of standing in summer rain.

MV: For me, it provided a feeling of luxury, that I treated myself to something special. It also gave me the feeling of taking responsibility for my restitution. The design is great.

–Do you experience any benefits from using Oras Esteta Wellfit?

MV: Absolutely! I experienced the effect immediately after the first time. It gives faster restitution, which gives me the opportunity to exercise more and harder, and a general feeling of well-being. It is very convenient to have this treatment available at home, as it becomes a part of the everyday training regime.

KS: Yes. Hot and cold treatment is perfect for stimulating the circulatory system and metabolism. It aids with recovery from hard training sessions, reduces swollen legs after travelling and relaxes body and mind before going to bed. The Esteta Wellfit is a really practical device to enjoy hot and cold water therapy at home.

–Are there any design features you would like to highlight?

MV: Well, first, it is very easy to use, and I'm not a very technical person. And the hand shower with the different spray-types is just great. But the best thing is the shower head! I just love it! It is total wellness with loads of water pouring down. I never want to leave the shower.

KS: Yes, the size of both the hand shower and the shower head. And it really is very easy to operate.

–We have to ask, is Oras Esteta Wellfit a product you would recommend?

KS: Definitely! I would recommend it to everyone who likes to take care of their wellbeing, not only professional athletes.

MV: Oh yes! Everyone with an active lifestyle, and people who just appreciate well-being. Every professional athlete should have one. And hedonists and people who wants to treat themselves to something extra.

About the athletes

Kaisa Sali is a Finnish professional triathlete. She was born in 1981 and has achieved numerous victories and achievements throughout a long athletic career. She recently won Ironman Switzerland, last year she placed 5th in Ironman World Championship in Kona and has placed top five in most competitions she has participated in worldwide. For more information on Kaisa Sali, please see: http://kaisasali.com/en/

Michelle Vesterby is a Danish triathlete with an impressive track record throughout her career. She holds a 4th place in the 2015 Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii. This makes her the highest ranked female Dane in early modern days of the competition. For more information on Michelle Vesterby, please see: https://michellevesterby.com/

About Oras Esteta Wellfit

Oras Esteta Wellfit is developed in close cooperation with medical personnel. Several studies have shown that hot and cold water therapy releases muscle tensions and provides quicker recovery after physical activity as it reduces edema and muscle cramps and is widely recognized for its pain-relieving effect.

The Oras Esteta Wellfit shower faucet has three preset programs, each carefully designed to respond to a specific user need and affect the body in a different way.

These programs are:

RECOVER, which eases sore muscles and provides rapid recovery after physical activity;
RELAX, designed to ease your body and reduce stress symptoms for both body and mind;
RELOAD, which helps you activate your body and boost the feeling of energy.

All three programs start with short intervals of hot and cold water to gently help the body adapt to temperature changes. The desired program is selected by pressing a button for either one, two or three seconds.

Oras Esteta Wellfit is now available from most Oras dealers. For more information on the entire concept range, see: wellfit.oras.com.

A hot and cold answer to everyday stress

Oras — Thu, 13 Sep 2018 06:43:00 GMT

Weekdays... With ever-growing to-do lists and sky-rocketing stress levels, stress-neck, sore feet and muscles are never far away.

Alright, we are not going to pretend we have the final solution to the everyday pressure most of us feel. But we have some great news for everyday heroes with everyday problems, that lets you be more physically and mentally equipped to deal with the pressure. Have you ever heard about hot and cold water therapy?

Hot and cold water therapy, also known as contrast water therapy, is a widely used treatment by professional athletes, physicians and physiotherapists all around the world. The treatment entails exposing the body to alternatively hot and cold water at varying intervals. With the new Oras Esteta Wellfit it is now easy to enjoy the treatment in your own home. We will give you some good reasons why this is a good idea:

Stress down your body and mind

Stress, the source of most neck, back and headaches. To many of us, it’s the true villain in our everyday story. Don't worry! Hot and cold water therapy relieves muscular tension and enhances blood circulation, effectively reducing stress symptoms and unclouding your mind. With a simple push of a button, you can activate the RELAX program on your Esteta Wellfit shower and enjoy a shower program designed to ease a tense body and reduce stress symptoms from both body and mind.

When ‘rise and shine’ is easier said than done

Do you have trouble getting up in the morning? Well, you’re not alone. Try starting out with the RELOAD program! There is no better way to kick-start your day. Hot and cold water therapy helps you activate your body, kick starts your blood circulation, relieves fatigue and boosts your energy. In addition, morning showers wash away toxins, giving you the best start to the day. Who knows? Suddenly you might find yourself embracing your inner early bird.

Physical restraints in everyday life

Professional athletes use water therapy to soothe and nurture muscles after hard workout sessions. But it’s not just professional athletes that need rapid recovery. All of us in our everyday life put a strain on our muscles. That being through heavy workouts at the gym or in everyday activities like grocery shopping. With the RECOVER program on your Esteta Wellfit you have a shower program that releases muscle tension, reduces edema and muscle cramps providing quicker recovery after tough physical work. Hot and cold water therapy is also widely recognized for its pain-relieving effect.

There you go, a few examples of how hot and cold water treatment can affect your everyday life in a positive way. The great news is that this advanced shower system with the Oras Esteta Wellfit is now available to normal people as well, and not only professionals. Mondays are still Mondays, and the alarm clock is still annoying. But getting through it all is made much easier.

Interested in more info on hot and cold therapy and the Oras Esteta Wellfit shower system? Click here for more!

Triathlonist Kaisa Sali – Hot-cold water therapy stimulates, relaxes, and helps recovery

Oras — Wed, 05 Sep 2018 07:47:00 GMT

I’ve been using a variety of hot and cold treatments ever since I began doing sports. From my childhood footballing days, for instance, I remember how much a highly fragrant liniment warmed up the muscles, and how much a cold wrap made by my mother eased the pain of yet another twisted ankle.

Nowadays, I use both hot and cold treatments several times a week. I use cold treatment especially after the hardest training sessions, or if I have some minor injury. Cold lowers the body temperature, helping to reduce inflammation and soft tissue injury. Hot treatments, on the other hand, help relax stiff muscles. And there’s no better cure for back pain, for example “witch’s arrow”, as the Finns call it.

Alternating hot and cold treatment, meanwhile, is perfect for stimulating the circulatory system and metabolism. Above all, I use variations in temperature to speed recovery between training sessions. I have also found that hot-cold therapy helps relieve swelling of the feet, for example, after a long day of travel or prolonged standing. Many people use hot-cold therapy to stimulate the body in the morning, but for me, temperature variations help with relax and getting to sleep at the end of a tough day.

Especially when travelling, hot-cold therapy takes a bit of imagination and experimentation. I have used many sources of cold, such as snow, mountain streams, and even packets of frozen vegetables from the freezer. For heat, the most interesting source for me is a super-strong liniment that I stocked up on in Poland. Once I put a generous layer of it on my sore back before a long competition, and as a result my skin burned in the sun so badly that the lines of my competition outfit were still clearly visible a year later.

Since I’m so fond of hot-cold treatments, I really like the Oras Esteta Wellfit shower. The shower has three programmes that alternate between hot and cold water, with different volumes and duration depending on the purpose. One program helps to reduce muscle pain and speeds recovery after exercise, another relaxes the body and mind, and the third programme activates the whole body and boosts the blood circulation. The handy Oras App gives you more programmes to choose from, or you can create your own. Personally, I’ve enjoyed using a bit longer cold water periods than the more even hot-cold balance of the basic programmes.

- Kaisa Sali

Keep your faucet sparkling clean

Oras — Tue, 28 Aug 2018 06:23:00 GMT

Whether it is in the bathroom or a kitchen, a clean faucet is important to the overall freshness perception of the room. But cleaning is also maintenance. Make sure you clean it right, and the faucet will stay fresh for ages. Here's how:

In general, the same rules apply to cleaning faucet surfaces as to cleaning the painted surfaces on other domestic appliances.

Use the right detergent

There's a jungle out there! When standing in your local store, in front of the detergent shelf, there are hundreds of different detergents to choose from. Which brand you prefer is up to you, but make sure you use a neutral or mild alkaline (pH 6-9) liquid solvent when cleaning your faucets.

Clean your faucet – step-by-step

Familiarize yourself with the cleaning instructions supplied with your faucet. Before you start cleaning, you should always read the solvent instructions. Different manufacturers use different cleaning agents in their products. To get the wanted result you should follow product's instructions. Make it a habit to use gloves to protect your hands.

Step 1: Dampen a sponge or soft cloth with the solvent solution. Never use a spray bottle to apply solvent to your faucet!

Step 2: Wipe the faucet thoroughly.

Step 3: Rinse with plenty of clean lukewarm water. Make sure you remove all solvent residue.

Step 4: Finish by wiping the faucet dry with a soft cloth.

Don’t forget the aerator

It is easy to forget, but you should also clean the aerator on a regular basis for optimal water flow from the faucet. If you wonder, the aerator can be found from the tip of the spout where the water comes out. Here's how to clean it (and it's quite easy):

Step 1: Turn the faucet off

Step 2: Remove the aerator either with a small tool or with your fingers. Please note that some models require a special tool for removing the aerator.

Step 3: Brush it with a small brush, for instance a toothbrush

Step 4: Put the aerator in place.

That's it! Enjoy your clean faucets!

Watch the video: Faucet cleaning ABC – washbasin faucet

Step 1: Use a soft cloth or a sponge

Step 2: Use a neutral or mild alkaline (pH 6-9) liquid detergent

Step 3: Dampen the cloth or a soft sponge with the solvent

Never use a spray bottle to apply detergent to your faucet!

Step 4: Rinse with plenty of lukewarm water and dry thoroughly with a dry cloth