4 ms·

I had to run a new electrical outlet for mine; plumbing a new line for it wouldn’t have been any more difficult.

Frost1x 7y ago
This is the one issue that's stopped me. Most these attachments connect to the toilet's water supply, which is fine, except most toilet water supplies only provide cold (i.e. whatever the ambient water temperature happens to be) water which to me, is far from ideal in a bidet (it's fine for normal use though). Running hot water there is a significant undertaking if done correctly, so most options come with a small reservoir to heat up water from the regular toilet supply. That heat isn't magical, it needs energy from somewhere meaning you need to run power there someway. There are dangerous improvised solutions like running a power cable yourself. There's additional consideration electricians put in when installing power in restrooms due to all the water and grounding dangers from metal plumbing. Running cables neglects all that thought and reintroduces an electrocution hazard if not handled very carefully. That leaves me with battery options which I haven't looked to much into but I find that's likely not ideal to swap batteries around all the time. If it can operate off something like a deep cycle marine battery (which seems appropriate), then it might be viable.
- polynomial 7y ago
  How has no one else pointed this out!
- bryanlarsen 7y ago
  Most bathrooms have a light switch close to the toilet. Replace it with something like https://www.homedepot.com/p/Leviton-Decora-15-Amp-Tamper-Resistant-Combo-Switch-and-Outlet-White-R62-T5625-0WS/202027001 https://www.homedepot.com/p/Leviton-Decora-15-Amp-Tamper-Res.... The Toto bidet's have a fairly long cord.
  - mindslight 7y ago
    Do NOT use that particular outlet. You want one with GFCI instead. You will probably have to install a larger box to put it side by side with the existing switch. (Or really just install another single box closer to where you want it, and fish)
    - Scoundreller 7y ago
      You can get single-gang GFCI light switches: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Leviton-15-Amp-125-Volt-Combo-Self-Test-Tamper-Resistant-GFCI-Outlet-and-Switch-White-R92-GFSW1-0KW/206000203 https://www.homedepot.com/p/Leviton-15-Amp-125-Volt-Combo-Se... Couldn't find them in Canada though. Had to buy from USA. Now my toothbrush can charge for more than 5 minutes a day (the lamp had a socket on it, but again, wouldn't want to use that for a bidet!)
- LyndsySimon 7y ago
  I worked as an electrician for a couple of years, so I had no issue running power. It’s a very quick job though, so paying someone isn’t going to cost much.
- mordechai9000 7y ago
  I think hot water mixing valves are standard for toilet lines in modern construction. It mixes in enough hot water to prevent condensation from occurring on the tank or the bowl. The water wouldn't be shower warm, but judging by other comments here it's less of an issue than one might think. I guess you might not have this if you live somewhere like west Texas. In my old rental, the mixing valve malfunctioned and condensation was causing damage to the floor. In my current house, it mixes in too much hot water. If you flush a few times in a row, you can feel the warmth off the toilet bowl. It needs to be replaced, because it doesn't have an adjustment screw.
  - Symbiote 7y ago
    I've never heard of that. It looks like something from North America (any other Europeans heard of it?), and it sounds appropriately wasteful :-) Searching for the condensation problem in Britain, plumbers suggest using an insulated cistern (tank).
    - mordechai9000 7y ago
      I did not know that. Insulation sounds like a good idea. I did find a site specific to the UK (https://www.diydoctor.org.uk/projects/condensationcisterns.htm https://www.diydoctor.org.uk/projects/condensationcisterns.h...) that calls it an anti-sweat valve and says it's available in the US. :) I've never heard of an insulated toilet tank over here. I wouldn't be surprised if they start showing up, though. My current house was built in the 80s, when the region was flush with oil money. I get the impression that building anything energy efficient was seen as a political statement, aside from the added cost to the builder.
    - jacobsenscott 7y ago
      I've never seen a hot water line to a toilet in the US. If people are doing it they only started doing it very recently - maybe for bidet options or something.
- geggam 7y ago
  Living in AZ all summer long you have heated water for cold. The metal tanks sitting on top of mountains are great water heaters. During the winter its a bit colder but still nothing like the well water back in the midwest. Well water bidet would cause hypothermia to your anus
- wan23 7y ago
  Some have a line that you can run to the sink's hot water line, if that's close enough to your toilet.
- Scoundreller 7y ago
  > That heat isn't magical, it needs energy from somewhere meaning you need to run power there someway. Well, if you have a reservoir before the bidet, it'll get from ambient water temperature to ambient air temperature if it sits long enough. How many litres does a bidet use at a time? Nowhere to slot a 2L reservoir? Getting the water to 22C should be far more tolerable than the 5-8C many of us are used to in winter.

This is the one issue that's stopped me. Most these attachments connect to the toilet's water supply, which is fine, except most toilet water supplies only provide cold (i.e. whatever the ambient water temperature happens to be) water which to me, is far from ideal in a bidet (it's fine for normal use though). Running hot water there is a significant undertaking if done correctly, so most options come with a small reservoir to heat up water from the regular toilet supply. That heat isn't magical, it needs energy from somewhere meaning you need to run power there someway. There are dangerous improvised solutions like running a power cable yourself. There's additional consideration electricians put in when installing power in restrooms due to all the water and grounding dangers from metal plumbing. Running cables neglects all that thought and reintroduces an electrocution hazard if not handled very carefully. That leaves me with battery options which I haven't looked to much into but I find that's likely not ideal to swap batteries around all the time. If it can operate off something like a deep cycle marine battery (which seems appropriate), then it might be viable.

polynomial 7y ago
How has no one else pointed this out!
bryanlarsen 7y ago
Most bathrooms have a light switch close to the toilet. Replace it with something like https://www.homedepot.com/p/Leviton-Decora-15-Amp-Tamper-Resistant-Combo-Switch-and-Outlet-White-R62-T5625-0WS/202027001 https://www.homedepot.com/p/Leviton-Decora-15-Amp-Tamper-Res.... The Toto bidet's have a fairly long cord.
- mindslight 7y ago
  Do NOT use that particular outlet. You want one with GFCI instead. You will probably have to install a larger box to put it side by side with the existing switch. (Or really just install another single box closer to where you want it, and fish)
  - Scoundreller 7y ago
    You can get single-gang GFCI light switches: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Leviton-15-Amp-125-Volt-Combo-Self-Test-Tamper-Resistant-GFCI-Outlet-and-Switch-White-R92-GFSW1-0KW/206000203 https://www.homedepot.com/p/Leviton-15-Amp-125-Volt-Combo-Se... Couldn't find them in Canada though. Had to buy from USA. Now my toothbrush can charge for more than 5 minutes a day (the lamp had a socket on it, but again, wouldn't want to use that for a bidet!)
LyndsySimon 7y ago
I worked as an electrician for a couple of years, so I had no issue running power. It’s a very quick job though, so paying someone isn’t going to cost much.
mordechai9000 7y ago
I think hot water mixing valves are standard for toilet lines in modern construction. It mixes in enough hot water to prevent condensation from occurring on the tank or the bowl. The water wouldn't be shower warm, but judging by other comments here it's less of an issue than one might think. I guess you might not have this if you live somewhere like west Texas. In my old rental, the mixing valve malfunctioned and condensation was causing damage to the floor. In my current house, it mixes in too much hot water. If you flush a few times in a row, you can feel the warmth off the toilet bowl. It needs to be replaced, because it doesn't have an adjustment screw.
- Symbiote 7y ago
  I've never heard of that. It looks like something from North America (any other Europeans heard of it?), and it sounds appropriately wasteful :-) Searching for the condensation problem in Britain, plumbers suggest using an insulated cistern (tank).
  - mordechai9000 7y ago
    I did not know that. Insulation sounds like a good idea. I did find a site specific to the UK (https://www.diydoctor.org.uk/projects/condensationcisterns.htm https://www.diydoctor.org.uk/projects/condensationcisterns.h...) that calls it an anti-sweat valve and says it's available in the US. :) I've never heard of an insulated toilet tank over here. I wouldn't be surprised if they start showing up, though. My current house was built in the 80s, when the region was flush with oil money. I get the impression that building anything energy efficient was seen as a political statement, aside from the added cost to the builder.
  - jacobsenscott 7y ago
    I've never seen a hot water line to a toilet in the US. If people are doing it they only started doing it very recently - maybe for bidet options or something.
geggam 7y ago
Living in AZ all summer long you have heated water for cold. The metal tanks sitting on top of mountains are great water heaters. During the winter its a bit colder but still nothing like the well water back in the midwest. Well water bidet would cause hypothermia to your anus
wan23 7y ago
Some have a line that you can run to the sink's hot water line, if that's close enough to your toilet.
Scoundreller 7y ago
> That heat isn't magical, it needs energy from somewhere meaning you need to run power there someway. Well, if you have a reservoir before the bidet, it'll get from ambient water temperature to ambient air temperature if it sits long enough. How many litres does a bidet use at a time? Nowhere to slot a 2L reservoir? Getting the water to 22C should be far more tolerable than the 5-8C many of us are used to in winter.