Around the time the pandemic began, our family realized we needed a new kitchen. While we had temporary replacements, our 1980s kitchen continued to crumble around us, and now, a few months into our DIY smart home renovation, we've come full circle.

Moen has long been known for its faucets, but its U by Moen sub-brand has grown into a major player in plumbing system-based smart home devices. The company's smart faucets not only adjust the water flow in kitchen and bathroom sinks, but also can be controlled by voice by incorporating motion sensors and pairing with Alexa or Google Assistant.

The motion sensor has become a popular faucet feature that allows users to turn water on and off with a simple wave of the hand, but not to change the temperature hands-free. So my new U by Moen faucet has features worthy of its hefty $450 price tag.

Through a nearby smart speaker, the Amazon Echo (4th generation), I can ask Alexa to turn the water flowing from the faucet hot or cold. I can also ask the assistant to set a specific water temperature if that value is within the capabilities of my plumbing.

The party tricks don't stop there. Alexa can also give me instructions on the exact amount of water to use, from a tablespoon to a cup. The companion app also allows you to combine temperature and volume with custom presets, which has already come in handy for filling 32-ounce water bottles.

With this feature, Alexa will tell you to wait for the water to start and stop. When the indicator light on the spout comes on, that means the water is at the required temperature, and I wave my hand hard over the sensor and the required amount comes out in a little bit.

Of course, these clever capabilities are not available right out of the box. Like most faucets, my U by Moen smart faucet arrived disassembled. Fortunately, we had some basic plumbing knowledge and were able to install the fittings in about 30 minutes.

The only physical setup difference between the dumb faucet and the smart faucet is that the smart faucet requires a battery pack, which we are encouraged to install in a cabinet under the sink.

Since hardwiring is not possible, Moen thoughtfully provided the required 6 D batteries, and the manual states that they should last for two years as long as there is a strong 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi signal at the sink location.

The smart faucet can also be installed by a plumber at any time. Even if the smart feature is not used, the faucet functions just like a regular faucet, allowing the user to manually adjust the temperature and switch from water flow to spray.

In fact, we waited several weeks to turn on the intelligence of the U by Moen faucet. Once ready, it took a few minutes to connect the faucet to Wi-Fi and activate our Moen account on the Alexa app. From a software standpoint, I think it is fair to say that this is one of the easiest smart home devices I have ever set up. This was a major point for this faucet in my mind.

If you've been following this series, you know that I've skipped the other smart kitchen appliances. You also know that I decided on a smart thermostat for under $100 and explained how taking the DIY route can save you thousands of dollars when designing a smart home system. So what am I doing with a $450 smart faucet?

For one thing, faucets are something we use all the time. We cook our food, tend to our plants, hydrate ourselves (and our dogs), and wash our hands with water from the kitchen sink. Given that we handle raw meat on the barbecue, we were prepared to loosen our purse strings for the sanitary benefits of a motion-sensor faucet. But when I stumbled upon a voice-activated one that offered convenience that suited our lifestyle, I felt like my dream of a smart home fit for the 21st century had come true.

Expensive faucets are absolutely unnecessary. Despite the smart features, we habitually use manual controls. But when our hands are full or we just want to use it automatically, having the option of motion sensors and voice control is revolutionary.

And more than that, after a fiasco with a broken lever on an old faucet, we thought a smart faucet was a wise investment. Proper use should reduce wear and tear on the faucet fittings. Also, with accurate water dispensing capabilities, your water bill will be lower.

Do you agree with smart faucets? Tell us why (or why not) in the comments. Be sure to check out my guide to the best smart home devices and best inexpensive smart home devices) for more gadget recommendations. And as always, if there's anything you'd like to see covered in Connected Spaces, please email me at [email protected].