From toilet accessories that monitor gut health to bacteria-killing garbage disposals, this year’s International Builders’ Show unveiled an array of new products aimed at the fast-growing wellness market.
Bill Darcy, CEO of the National Kitchen & Bath Association, said the use of AI and smart technology in home design isn’t a fad. “It’s going to be around for a while,” he said. “The technology and the wellness are more of an expectation. So a lot of the companies are focused on how their products are sustainable and smart, while also thinking about wellness and health and multi-generational.”
Kohler has created an entire wellness division called Kohler Health to debut its new infrared saunas, cold plunge tubs and smart toilets, which were all showcased at The New American Home this year. The company also debuted its Dekoda device, which attaches to the side of the toilet bowl and uses light-based sensors to keep track of the users’ hydration and gut health.
Yes. It monitors your pee and poo, tests the pH, and let’s you know if you’re drinking enough water, if you have a UTI, or if there’s blood in your stool. It costs less than $1,000.
Kohler Health launched its new line of wellness products with Dekoda, which attaches to toilet bowls and uses advanced optical sensors to monitor the users’ hydration and gut health. (GrowthSpotter staff)
“It’s testing things to show changes in body fluids, like if you had a grandmother living down the street and she seems fine, then all of a sudden she’s not fine. Why and what’s happening?” Darcy said. He plans on buying two units — one each for the primary and the kids’ bathroom. “I’m going to do it for myself — why not have early indications of something going wrong that you could say it’s not too late.”
Appliance manufacturers are also coming up with new technology to reduce noise and odor in the kitchen. InSinkErator’s latest line of garbage disposals incorporates antimicrobial light to kill bacteria and prevent mold in the sink drain.
Carly Kelly demonstrates InSinkErator’s new LEDefense system at the International Builders’ Show in Orlando. The system uses LED lights to kill odor-causing bacteria in garbage disposals. (GrowthSpotter staff)
Senior Products Manager Carly Kelly helped develop the LEDefense system, which can also be added to any existing InSinkErator disposals. The system uses patented LED technology from Vyv to clean the baffle and grind chamber of the disposal, and it emit a soft, purple glow.
“It kills 99% of the odor-causing bacteria, viruses and mold,” Kelly said. “And the nice thing about it is the lights are on 24/7, constantly attacking the molecules and prohibiting them from replicating. But the light also shines on the bottom of the baffle. So it prevents a buildup. The (rubber) baffle can get pretty gross with your spaghetti sauce splashing up there. And then the lights are constantly shining into the grind chamber, tackling any food left behind that can cause odor.”
Kelly said the response during the show has been fantastic. “It’s been a few years behind the scenes developing this product, so it’s been a very exciting day to finally launch,” she said.
JennAir introduced its NextGen Downdraft induction cooktops at the 2026 International Builders’ Show in Orlando. The whisper-quiet models are priced at $5,000 for a 30-inch model. (GrowthSpotter staff)
JennAir is also launching its NextGen Downdraft induction cooktop, which reduces noise and odors in the kitchen. Downdraft fans aren’t revolutionary, but Darcy said this product is different. “It’s some of the coolest technology,” he said.
For starters, the downdraft isn’t behind the cooktop – it’s right in the center, and “it works better now” and it’s whisper-quiet.
“This thing, it goes right into the coil, so like straight down — it’s amazing,” he said.
Kenmore’s latest dishwasher uses smart technology to auto-sense when the dishes are clean, a setting that reduces water and electricity. But the coolest innovation debuted this year is the EasyReach bottom rack that springs up so it’s almost level with the top rack, eliminating the need to bend down to load and unload your dishes. Priced at $1,499, it’s so new it’s not even on the company website yet.
Kenmore’s newest dishwasher offers a smart wash setting and a bottom rack that springs up to waist level. (GrowthSpotter staff)
“I think one thing we’re seeing continually, too, is just more practical technology not for the sake of technology,” Darcy said.
Tech start-ups are also introducing new products to marry AI with health and wellness. One firm, ClouzerAI developed a platform that connects to the user’s HV/AC, smart lighting, air purifier, and other systems to optimize energy efficiency, air quality, and well-being. The system has its own sleep sensor that goes under the mattress.
“The sleep sensor takes an $800 mattress and makes it smart, so you don’t have to buy a $4,000 mattress,” Alan Margolis with Clouds Inc. said. “It senses the quality of your sleep, so the REM, all of that, along with your heart rate, and then it adjusts everything automatically. It’s just constantly sensing and calibrating itself every 3 minutes or so, so you sleep very well.”
Margolis said the product is currently being used in homes and in a variety of commercial uses, like nursing homes, hospitals and hotels.
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