Installing a New Bidet: Complete Guide

Installing a bidet shouldn’t necessarily require a big plumbing job. Performing a basic bidet installation on an existing toilet seat can be done without too much hassle. But installing a stand-alone bidet requires some handyman skills.

If you are considering buying one for your home, you’ll naturally want to know how to install bidet. We’ll provide a step-by-step guide for two kinds of bidets: stand-alone and toilet seats. Read on to find out the preparations you need to undertake before you start working on a bidet hookup for your bathroom. 

Installing a Bidet: Why It’s a Good Idea

Bidets are not a typical bathroom fixture in the US. So why get one?

A stand-alone bidet is a perfect lavatory where you can refresh your feet during hot summer days—if taking another shower isn’t an option at that point in the day. Likewise, sprayer add-ons to your toilet fixture are a cost-effective way to keep your toilet bowl clean regularly if you prefer not to use chemical solutions.

Last but not least, a bidet installation makes lots of commercial and environmental sense as it can save the household between $180 and $350 dollars per year. Nature will be happy, too, because the average household uses 85 rolls of TP per year, or 800 rolls per individual—the equivalent of 14 trees in the lifespan of an average American. 

How to Install a Bidet: Step-by-Step

Installing an external bidet is easy, and you can do it completely on your own. However, pay attention to the part about bidet hookup on a wall frame, as this requires specific skills. On the other hand, stand-alone bidets are best done by a professional plumber, as these require unique fixes.

If you want to get informed about the process, we’ll walk you through both kinds of bidet installation.

Toilet Seat Bidet Installation

Before you purchase a bidet that you’re installing yourself, you need to know if it comes combined with a toilet seat or if it’s just the bidet on its own. If you are buying a bidet only, it needs to match the form of the toilet seat. Elongated toilet bowls require 2 inches of space, and round bowls require 3 inches of surface. Most bidets will find a standard two-piece toilet bowl with a tank.

1. Removing the Toilet Seat

The first thing to do is turn off the water coming into the tank. Turn the valve from its current flow position, then flush and listen closely to make sure no water is filling the tank. 

Remove the existing toilet seat by twisting a pair of plastic/metal nuts or fasteners off of the screws on the back of the bowl. The areas where the seat covers the ceramic part should be wiped clean as it accumulates dust and gunk over time. 

2. Detaching the Water Supply Hose

Locate the water supply hose and unscrew it. You need to replace this part with a T-connection or a T-valve that is going to add an extra connection going into the bidet. The bidet should come with a “How to install a bidet” booklet and required parts. The T-valve is one of the standard parts in the package. 

3. Mounting Plate

If the bidet is the same shape and size as the toilet seat, the mounting plate and the bidet won’t prevent the toilet seat from laying flat on the ceramic rim. Perform some checks to make sure the seat closes as it should with the bidet on. 

Locate the mounting plate in the box and lay it flat on the bowl by fastening it with the included screws and bolts. Make sure these are tight but not breaking-point tight. If you can’t tighten the nuts/fasteners with your hand, you can use a pair of Channellock pliers. 

4. T-valve Connection

Next, connect a braided hose between the bidet and the T-valve. Make sure the hose is properly connected on both ends and that the other end of the T-valve is connected to the main water source going into the tank. 

5. Final Checks

If the bidet has an electric heater, don’t plug it in the socket just yet. Turn on the water main first to make sure the tank is getting filled and there is water in the bidet. If both check out, your bidet was installed properly. 

You need to find out from the manual whether the bidet has a sensor to prevent spraying when no one is using it. If your bidet is without a sensor, turn the knob or press the button and keep an eye on the nozzle.

Stand-Alone Bidet Installation

If you decide to install this kind of bidet yourself, have ready the following:

• Two water hoses/connectors
• Two 3/8-in shut-off valves
• Tube of silicone sealant 
• Channellock pliers
• Adjustable crescent wrench 
• Drill (preferably cordless) and bits

Setting up the rough plumbing when you install a bidet requires installing a trap against sewer gasses and a vacuum breaker. These are crucial components that prevent bad smells from seeping back into your bathroom and contamination from brown water going into the water supply. 

1. Where to Place the Bidet 

You should place your bidet at least one foot from the toilet bowl and between 15–18 inches from the wall. Use a measuring tape to measure out the positioning and make marks with a pencil or tape.

Read your bidet’s footprint, i.e., dimensions, when determining its position. For reference, bidet sizes can vary in width between 14-in and 18-in. The height is usually at the same level as a standard toilet bowl. 

2. Install Plumbing 

You need to install the two 3/8-in shut-off valves according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The valves are usually placed in a horizontal line and are between 5-in and 7-in from the floor. Between the valves goes the drain outlet, which is usually 1 ½-in in diameter. 

Set the drain and faucet and use rubber washers to prevent the connection point from developing mineral sediment and/or oxidation. Practice caution when tightening the parts on the fixture because overdoing it can cause damage to both parts. 

3. Wall Frame/Floor-mount Installation

Wall-mounted bidets require installing a frame behind the drywall and tiles. This frame can be purchased separately if it doesn’t come in the same package as the bidet. 

Floor-mounted models require drilling a couple of holes in the bathroom tiles. You need to drill a hole as per the size of the bolt, then fix the bidet in position. 

In both cases, prior to fixing the bidet hookup, you need to apply silicone sealant on the bottom of the ceramic arch. 

4. Connect Hot/Cold Water and an Outpipe

The final step is to connect the braided hoses for hot and cold water to the shut-off valve and the drain pipe. If you are fixing a wall-mounted bidet, the drain line needs to connect in the wall to the 1 ½-in pipe. In floor-mount models, the drain pipe gets connected with the one into the floor, just like mounting a toilet bowl.

5. Perform Final Checks

Turn on the hot/cold valves and press the button that sets the water flowing. Try the cold water first, then the hot, then mixed to make sure everything is working alright. 

Install Bidet: DIY or Professional Installation

Should you install a bidet yourself or call a professional? If you have some technical skills and understand how basic plumbing around the toilet works, then you can go ahead and do it. Of course, installing a bidet with your own hands will save you money, however, you can’t always be sure that you’ll do it right.

If you’re asking yourself questions about how to install a bidet the right way, then maybe it’s better to leave it to the professionals. Cummings Plumbing in Tucson, AZ, has the pros for the job! We can help you with any plumbing or heating problem, including setting up your new bidet. 

You just need to give us a call for the perfect, clean bidet installation. 

Final Say on Bidet Installation

If you’ve made the decision to buy a bidet for your home, you’ll be on your way to paying off the investment by saving hundreds of dollars on toilet paper each year. 

It doesn’t take a lot of contemplating to realize that toilet seat and sprayer bidets are easier to install. However, installing a stand-alone fixture requires more work. In both cases, if you want to do it right and save yourself even more money on repairs, call an expert plumber. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What plumbing is required for a bidet?

Installing a wall-mounted or floor-mounted bidet requires connecting hot and cold water to the fixture. You need to have two connections made in the wall, plus an outpipe for a wall-mounted unit. 

How much does it cost to get a bidet installed?

The price for the job will vary depending on what kind of bidet you are installing. Be prepared to pay between $200 and $240 on average. 

Does bidet affect water bill?

The bill will be higher, but only by a little bit, as a bidet is not the same as a shower. Nevertheless, you are going to save a lot more on toilet paper than the marginal added cost of the water bill.