Bidet installation

Three bidet types — which to choose

Classic floor-standing bidet

A separate "bowl" next to the toilet, with a mixer and hot and cold supply. The European standard and also common in Israeli premium apartments.

• Size: 35–40 cm wide, 55–65 cm long. Needs space.
• Hookups: hot water + cold water + 40–50 mm drain.
• Pros: comfort, aesthetics, longevity (porcelain lasts 30+ years).
• Cons: space, cost, install complexity.

Electronic seat (smart toilet)

A seat with bidet functions, installed over a regular toilet. Toto Washlet, Geberit AquaClean, Grohe Sensia.

• Form: standard seat + water tank + electronics.
• Hookups: cold water only + 220 V outlet near the toilet.
• Pros: functions (water heating, drying, deodorizing, night light), no layout change required.
• Cons: electronics (fail in 7–12 years), price ILS 3,000–15,000.

Bidet shower (handheld)

A handheld sprayer on a wall holder next to the toilet, connected to a mixer (hot+cold).

• Components: thermostatic mixer, handheld sprayer, 1.5 m hose, holder.
• Hookups: hot + cold (cold usually present at the toilet, hot needs to be added).
• Pros: compact, inexpensive, easy to replace.
• Cons: not automatic, requires habit, risk of spraying.

What a classic bidet needs

• Space: at least 80 cm from the toilet.
• Cold supply: 1/2" pipe, 20 cm above the floor.
• Hot supply: 1/2" pipe, 20 cm above the floor.
• Drain: 40–50 mm pipe, 10–15 cm above the floor.
• Fasteners: floor anchors + mounting studs (included).
• Bidet mixer: with aerator (standard) or fountain-style (classic).

Classic bidet installation steps

1. Check hookups. If missing — chase walls, run hot+cold+drain. +2–4 days, +ILS 2,000–5,000.
2. Shut off water.
3. Marking. Bidet sits 15–25 cm from the toilet (center-to-center no less than 75 cm).
4. Drill anchor holes in the floor.
5. Install floor studs.
6. Assemble the mixer on the bidet (usually before placing it).
7. Connect flex supplies (hot and cold) to the mixer.
8. Connect the drain — bidet outlet to the sewer via flex pipe/eccentric.
9. Lower the bidet onto the studs, secure with nuts and rubber washers.
10. Connect the supplies to the angle valves.
11. Turn water on and test.
12. Adjust temperature and flow.
13. Seal the base with sanitary silicone.

Smart seat installation steps

1. Check for a 220 V outlet near the toilet (no more than 1.5 m away). If missing — electrician +ILS 300–600.
2. Remove the old seat.
3. Check the toilet shape. Most electronic seats fit standard dimensions, but there are "round" and "elongated" variants. Measure.
4. Shut off water, drain the tank.
5. Install a T-fitting on the supply line between the angle valve and the tank (to feed the seat).
6. Mount the seat bracket on the toilet.
7. Connect the hose from the T-fitting to the seat.
8. Plug in the electronics.
9. Setup — temperature, pressure, nozzle position.
10. Function test — all modes (male bidet, female bidet, drying, seat heating).

Bidet shower installation steps

1. Choose the layout. Option A — off the sink mixer with a diverter. Option B — a separate thermostatic mixer on the wall by the toilet.
2. Shut off water.
3. Option A: swap the sink mixer for a model with a shower outlet, connect the hose, mount the holder on the wall next to the toilet.
4. Option B: chase the wall, run hot+cold to the mixer location, install the built-in mixer, connect shower and holder.
5. Test — pressure, temperature, no leaks.

How much it costs in Israel

Classic bidet

• Budget bidet — ILS 500–1,000
• Mid-range — ILS 1,000–2,500
• Premium (Villeroy, Duravit) — ILS 2,500–6,000
• Mixer — ILS 300–1,500
• Installation labor (hookups ready) — ILS 500–900
• From scratch (hookups + install) — ILS 2,500–5,000
• With chasing and tile — ILS 4,500–9,000

Smart seat

• Toto Washlet budget — ILS 2,500–4,500
• Mid-range — ILS 4,500–8,000
• Premium (Toto S7, Geberit AquaClean) — ILS 10,000–18,000
• Installation labor — ILS 400–700
• With outlet install (electrician) — +ILS 300–600

Bidet shower

• Head + hose + holder kit — ILS 100–400
• Thermostatic mixer (Option B) — ILS 400–1,500
• Labor — Option A (off the sink) — ILS 200–400
• Labor — Option B (dedicated built-in) — ILS 800–1,800

Which option to pick

• Classic bidet — if the bathroom is at least 6 m², budget ILS 5,000+, and aesthetics/comfort matter.
• Smart seat — small bathroom, no room for a standalone bidet, 220 V outlet present. A compromise between price and function.
• Bidet shower — tight budget (up to ILS 2,000 total), comfortable with manual operation, or as a stopgap before a big renovation.

Typical mistakes

• Forgot hot water. Bidet installed with cold only. The user washes with icy water in winter — full rework.
• Wrong hookup heights. The bidet covers the valves, or the mixer hose doesn't reach. Measure per the bidet's spec sheet.
• Wrong toilet position. The bidet sits flush against the toilet, uncomfortable to use. Center-to-center at least 75 cm.
• Electronic seat without a circuit breaker. Seats draw 1–1.5 kW when heating water. A dedicated breaker on its own group is needed, otherwise it trips under active use.
• Bidet shower with no hose retraction. The hose lies on the floor, collects dirt, gets stepped on by staff/kids — leaks.
• Bought a premium seat that doesn't match the toilet. Japanese seats need specific porcelain geometry. Check compatibility.

Is hot water to the bidet worth it

Short answer — yes, always.

A bidet without hot water is useless 8 months of the year. Even in Israel, winter cold-water temperatures drop to 12–15°C, and washing with that is unpleasant and unhealthy. Add hot water at renovation time — +10–20 minutes of work and +ILS 200 in materials. Retrofitting later = opening up tile = ILS 3,000+.