Bidet seats and smart toilets have gone mainstream. TOTO's WASHLET line alone gets tens of thousands of Google searches a month. Before you buy one, it helps to know which kind fits your bathroom, and what has to be there for it to work.
Two ways to get a bidet
1. A bidet seat (like a TOTO WASHLET). It replaces the seat on the toilet you already have. It connects to the toilet's water line with a T-connector, and the electric models plug into an outlet. TOTO says WASHLETs fit most North American toilets.
2. A smart toilet (like TOTO NEOREST or G5A). The toilet and bidet are one unit. Depending on the model, you get an automatic lid, automatic flushing, a heated seat, warm-water wash and a dryer. It replaces the whole toilet.
Side by side:
- What changes: a bidet seat swaps just the seat; a smart toilet replaces the whole toilet.
- Your toilet: you keep it with a bidet seat; it goes away with a smart toilet.
- Outlet: electric bidet seats need one; smart toilets always do.
- Install: a bidet seat is close to changing a seat, plus a water hookup; a smart toilet is a full toilet replacement.
What has to be in place first
- An outlet near the toilet. TOTO calls for a GFCI (ground-fault) 120-volt outlet within about three feet of the toilet, because the WASHLET cord is about three feet long. Most older East Valley bathrooms don't have one behind the toilet. That's an electrician's job, and it should be done before install day.
- The right bowl shape. Elongated bowls measure about 18.5 inches from the seat bolts to the front; round bowls about 16.5 inches. Buy the seat that matches.
- A working shut-off valve. The seat tees into the line at the valve behind the toilet. If that valve is stuck, drips or won't close all the way, replace it first.
- The right rough-in (for a smart toilet). Measure from the wall to the center of the floor bolts. It's usually 12 inches, but check the spec sheet of the model you want before you order.
Hard water and bidets
East Valley water is hard. Bidet seats run water through small nozzles and valves, so mineral buildup is worth watching. Follow the cleaning steps in your model's manual, and if your whole house has scale problems, see water softener or salt-free conditioner?.
DIY or call a plumber?
A bidet seat on a toilet in good shape is a reasonable DIY job; TOTO describes it as much like changing a toilet seat. Call a plumber when:
- the shut-off valve or supply line is old, stuck or leaking
- the toilet rocks or leaks at the base (here's why that matters)
- you're replacing the whole toilet with a smart toilet (they're heavy, and the seal, flange and rough-in have to be right)
- it's a wall-hung model with the tank inside the wall
OX Plumbing installs the toilet or seat you bought, any brand, across Mesa and the East Valley, and hauls the old toilet away. See toilet & smart toilet installation. Our $99 service call covers the visit, the diagnosis and an upfront price.