How to Select a Bidet | Ask This Old House

In this video, This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey talks with host Kevin O'Connor about non electric and electric toilet-bidet combination options.
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Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey teaches host Kevin O’Connor what to know about bidet retrofit seats as an affordable alternative to expensive combination units.
Where to find it?
Richard discusses options available to retrofit a toilet into a bidet.
Richard first talks about non electric bidet options. This bidet attachment uses the current toilet seat and connects to a water source. It has a t-valve installed at the water connection to the tank and utilizes dual nozzles.
Next, Richard talks about electric bidet options available. These require an outlet within four feet of the toilet to plug into. The first design he mentions is slim and replaces the current toilet seat. It uses a special t-valve to attach two hoses, the flush hose and the bidet hose, to the toilet.
The second electric design Richard considers to be as close as you can get to the bidet toilet combo without replacing your toilet. It has a similar install to the previous seat. The major difference is it’s remote controlled, much like a bidet toilet. It’s functions include: opening and closing the lid and seat. It also includes a front and rear bidet and uses a stainless steel nozzle. It has a dryer, nightlight, and adjustable temperature for the seat and water.
Products and resources from this episode
Toilet-Bidet combination manufacturer: Bio Bidet [biobidet.com/]
Bio Bidet Bliss BB2000 [amzn.to/498xJyh] about $500
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From the makers of This Old House, America’s first and most trusted home improvement show, Ask This Old House answers the steady stream of home improvement questions asked by viewers across the United States. Covering topics from landscaping to electrical to HVAC and plumbing to painting and more. Ask This Old House features the experts from This Old House, including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor. ASK This Old House helps you protect and preserve your greatest investment-your home.
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How to Select a Bidet | Ask This Old House
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[@WestExplainsBest]

I thought this was going to be crappy segment, but their expertise flushed away my doubts and put a lid on my complaints almost immediately. Props to them for highlighting what could be a tankless task.

[@scotttovey]

😂🤣😂

[@vrea77]

Nicely done

[@arunere]

Well done sir! Urine a class of your own.

[@richardcabrera1583]

Hardy har har

[@XzTS-Roostro]

@@arunere Get out, both of y'all

[@Snarkbar]

Richard is the smartest person on ToH. If he's recommending something, then it's definitely worth looking at.

[@TheR15C]

That dude really is so smart. He doesn’t look at a script, doesn’t need to say ‘um’ mid conversation to allow his mind time to catch up and just chock full of knowledge

[@johntilson2535]

I bought considerably lower cost retrofit bidets for both of my toilets and plumbed them for both hot and cold water. Which after a while, myself and other members of my household, never felt the need for warm water. The only drawback? Never wanting to 'relieve myself' anywhere there was no bidet fitted toilet! Consequently, my 'bathroom ablutions' quickly found themselves as part of my daily morning rituals! 🤣

[@ilovefunnyamv2nd]

The worst part about owning a bidet, is every other toilet not only looks disgusting, but you feel disgusting after using it. Ah the old days when we used them and only thought how dirty the toilet was...

[@dryroasted99]

I installed two of the more affordable bidets in our house. My family have become so accustomed to them that now they don't want to use a bathroom without one.

[@lidar37]

😂The end reminds me of the movie "No Time for Sergeants" saluting toilet scene!😂

[@leonardhandzlik6008]

Andy Griffith. Great movie.

[@ron.v]

Either you saw a re-run or you're giving away your age.

[@lidar37]

@@ron.v Would you believe both?!☺️ It was released in May of 1958. I'm only a little bit older than that.

[@ron.v]

@@lidar37 Me too. I was a kid when I saw the movie with my older brother. We thought it was a great movie.

[@tacojohnhg8181]

I got one about 5 years ago like the cheaper one here. Mine was $30. Now I hate using any other toilet. And it's not that cold really, even in the winter, especially if you turn it on very slowly. The other features are nice-to-haves, and you can absolutely find the middle and upper range ones here for much cheaper than the prices they said. I use probably 1/4 of the TP a month that I used to use as well since 99% of the time you're just using it to dry yourself off

[@charlesdebarber2997]

Added a retrofit bidet early last year. Best $25 we ever spent.

[@Charlesb88]

When Richard say “keep In good hygiene”, he mean “No more skidmarks”.😊

[@ilovefunnyamv2nd]

No more endless wipe

[@samjones1954]

A funny story... Guitar extraordinaire Wady Watchel was in Europe. He went into the hotel washroom and was heard screaming. They ran in to find him standing in front of the toilet with the bidet stream hitting him in the chest.... he hit the wrong button for flush...lol

[@thenetimp]

I'm surprised, usually the bidet have a weight sensor switch in the seat to prevent that.

[@samjones1954]

The very new and expensive ones do. Mine does not.@@thenetimp

[@dawnbowie352]

For those with IBS, UC or Crohn's Disease, a bidet toilet is such a great investment in better health. Wonderful and timely segment, gentlemen! 👍

[@dizzolve]

great subject no one talks about. Thx

[@oldtwinsna8347]

Richard is an expert in all things about toilets.

[@GeorgeWashingtonLaserMusket]

I'm a big fan. I got a hot/cold water mechanical unit. You had to tap into the sink and run the line for hot. I'd have it "rinse" it's self for 15-30 seconds before I used it and blamo warm water for cleaning. But I do want one with drying.

[@RanknResourceful]

I love my bidet. Never going back.

[@johnporter5828]

We have been using a hand held shower head bidet for 10 years. Works perfect - $25.

[@ilovefunnyamv2nd]

Amazing, that basic underseat bidet cost me less than $30 during the pandemic when everyone was pulling shivs for a roll of TP. (I maybe exaggerate, but the price rewlly was that low) honestly i prefer that style even if the water is cold. If the water lines are in the interior and you havent been running cold water recently it decently warm anyways, and i prefer the pressure. The fancier models with a heated tank and electric pump are more luxurious but gentle, as in you cant get higher pressure even if you want it.

[@emtffzartman666]

From personal experience the only thing I do not like about the ones you add on that is just the lid replacement is it makes the "opening" or seating space less. We had one on an oval bowl ADA style toilet and it made it feel smaller than a normal round toilet.

[@Pure_KodiakWILD_Power]

Toh is on bidet time lately 😂

[@ron.v]

Smart move. I live in the southeastern part of the U.S. where cold water is refreshing year 'round. That makes the cheapest version a real bargain. Smartest move I've made in toilet accoutrements.

[@bettymaverick1098]

The movie "No Time for Sergeants" could of used the the automatic rising one with Andy Griffith in it..

[@wilsonxyz92]

Remember early covid? TP hoarding? Michael Jackson? BIIIDETTT

[@AndreHair37]

I think this would be a great way to keep your septic systems bulk down by using less paper. Not too sure about the cold water one though. Hmmmmm, am I going to have that cold stream running as long is it needs to be efficient?

[@mq9167]

You forgot the basic hand held sprayer version. They are about 50 bucks and it's just like your kitchen sink handheld sprayer. I first saw these on my vacation to Thailand. They don't use toilet paper only the sprayer if your lucky. Otherwise there is a bucket of water and a pan to splash yourself in less luxurious accommodations.

[@squidboy0769]

If you use both sides of the TP you can save a lot of money too.

[@MAL1GNANT]

mf ew

[@jermelpurse3018]

First, I have to say I am never going back to a regular toilet seat. Second, they only showed three varieties here there are many many more. I purchased one no remote, heated water heated seat, electric. No drying. Anyone who comes over my house and sits on the immediately warm toilet seat loves it. Nothing like getting up in the winter having to go into a cold bathroom And being greeted by a warm toilet seat. One thing you should be careful of make sure you have any electrical outlet in your bathroom or you may have to run it down the floor into your basement.

[@jermelpurse3018]

Mine was under $250 had nearly all the features except the remote.

[@LaserFur]

I think the $300 ones are the best. no one wants 45F water sprayed on them. I really like mine and have had it for many years. I will note that I don't use the dry function since a single piece of paper is faster.

[@dtemp132]

They use so little water, as long as no one’s used it in the last half hour, all the water used for your bum is sitting in the pipes at room temperature.

[@thenetimp]

I live in Japan, and I have to say that the $300 unit is no where near as complete for functions as the units here for the same price. I paid ~USD$250 for one much better than that. You can in the US get similar models, better than the $300 one you show here.

[@guspaz]

There isn't the same kind of scale here for bidets, and some of the pioneers of the industry like Toto charge far more in North America, where Toto is an ultra-luxury brand. Toto MSRP is 2-3x for the same product in North America. The Toto Neorest WX2 costs more than a Toyota Corolla automobile, and the Neorest RS2 costs $2265 USD in Japan or $6083 USD in the USA.

[@tMatt5M]

Bidet all day!

[@brianmoore581]

I went to Japan and saw their crazy toilets. I wonder, would it be difficult to hook up something like that here in America?

[@oldtwinsna8347]

Only difficult part is the electrical outlet if there isn't one in the room and for that matter on the wall on other side. Also note that instant heat types will activate the heating coil with 1500 watts of power so need to be careful if that circuit is being shared.

[@guspaz]

They're mostly Toto Washlet in Japan. They sell them here, though they charge more. Most toilets are compatible with the add-on Washlet seats, and you only need a power outlet within 4 feet of the Washlet's power cord.

[@CoolSteve77]

No demonstrations? 😂

[@volvo09]

0:54 that thing looks like a water damage flood waiting to happen!

[@RoastBeefSandwich]

I had one like that model. It started leaking after about 3 years. It was just a slow dribble of water. Still a significant amount of water in a month's time but definitely no damage. The water just filled the toilet bowl.

[@volvo09]

@@RoastBeefSandwich at least it didn't leak outside. I was worried about the piece that hangs off the side leaking onto the floor.

[@RoastBeefSandwich]

@@volvo09 Ah, I see. I guess since mine leaked from the spray nozzle I just assumed that's what you were talking about. These things are like $20 on Amazon or eBay so I doubt they're built with much quality - I'm sure it's possible for it to catastrophically fail in that fashion.

[@scotttovey]

@@RoastBeefSandwich Are they made so that you can replace a gasket or soak it in white vinegar to remove chlorine deposit buildup?

[@RoastBeefSandwich]

@@scotttovey You cannot disassemble the unit without destroying it, so it's not serviceable - but you could probably soak the affected areas in vinegar to break up deposits or replace gaskets that are easily accessible.

[@WannaBeHocker]

Was hoping that Richard was gonna get sprayed!

[@allentoyokawa9068]

Japan used full featured toilets for decades

[@allentoyokawa9068]

@Navy1977 not really lol

[@comcfi]

That is a blatant falsehood

[@scotttovey]

@Navy1977 "What is a blatant falsehood?" Is blatant not blatant enough for you? Then I thought, are we using that word wrong? So I searched the dictionary and found this entry: From English explanatory dictionary (synonyms) blatant ˈbleɪtənt adj. 1 obvious, flagrant, palpable, obtrusive, arrant, shameless, unashamed, brazen, overt, glaring: Those hooligans have shown a blatant disregard for the law. 2 noisy, clamorous, loud, bellowing, strident, vociferous, rowdy, boisterous, obstreperous, uproarious: The blatant radical faction insists on making itself heard.

[@scotttovey]

@Navy1977 " Butt, since you are obviously so helpful, insightful and clever, do you know what they are talking about? What's the falsehood? Which comment? The original post? A response? Thanks for all the help. I know you must be very busy with important matters" I believe they are speaking of your statement. "As does much of the rest of the world." Much of the rest of the world is still classified as developing markets. While the first world nations do have plumbing, plumbing is not commonly used in third world countries and backwoods villages. While one may expect that the past 40 years would have seen a growth in those markets to where plumbing is commonly used, the fact of the matter is; it didn't happen. Part of the reason for that lack of development are the solutions provided by liberals and leftists that typically come with more problems and no solutions.

[@scotttovey]

@Navy1977 "Perhaps. I believe I'll wait to hear what they are referring to. I did clarify my remark "Most of South America, Europe, India, South Korea? So maybe not much of the rest of the world...butt...certainly many places with lots of people." Perhaps they are just being contrarians that go about making allegations that they have no intentions or ability to substantiate. Perhaps, they don't even know what they meant by what they posted. You may have to get out your coconut cream pie filling cannon; and force them to disclose their meaning.

[@comcfi]

I am 650 lbs can this be located near my bed lift

[@MAL1GNANT]

negawatt

[@guspaz]

They can be located anywhere you can install a toilet that has a pressurized water supply. However, most of the full seat types have weight limits that would not be able to accommodate you. 350-400 lbs is common, some might be tested to 500 lbs, but I don't think you'll find any at 650 lbs. However, the basic add-on type (like the cheap one that he showed at the beginning) use your existing toilet seat, which may work within your constraints. However they will also lack features that you may find useful, like adjusting the position with the remote control during use.

[@m007mm]

If I eat 100% carnivore, I don't even have to wipe my bum! 😊

[@tonytango6676]

I cannot imagine cold water in my nether regions. Shiver. And I’m Canadian.

[@LaserFur]

That is why the $300 ones are better. I am near Canada so my water is also cold.

[@ginacirelli1581]

I guess it depends on where and how far the water goes through your home before it gets to the toilet. Mine goes through the basement first, so it's not bad at all. (I am in Northeastern Vermont near the Canadian border.)

[@ajudd4u]

#bidetgang

[@samjones1954]

you missed the most important point....no hemorrhoids ever again.

[@samjones1954]

lol get a bedet and throw away the Prep H. you can get the cheap ones that handle hot water too. You really want one with hot and cold water. @Navy1977

[@volvo09]

Yep, a clean dry bottom keeps sores away. Learned that as a teen when I thought I had a disease because i kept scratching my you know what region... moisture and bacteria makes open sores that you'll itch and make worse, they won't go away until the area is clean and kept dry for some time, and no scratching... You just start the whole process over again and make it worse each time.

[@shay_box]

​@@volvo09hemorrhoids are not sores...

[@poppajretired410]

People change their toilet seats every five +/- years so a $900 toilet seat seems ridiculous. I have the basic $50 dual jet version and it does the job just fine. The cold water is not actually that cold on your bottom. In fact it feels refreshing.

[@dirediredude]

I'd imagine all of these manufacturers offer replacement seats if industry standards don't already fit.

[@poppajretired410]

@@dirediredude Easy to find out. Just google the parts manual for the high dollar bidet mentioned and see if a new seat is available and it’s cost.

[@robertmailhos8159]

That first one is a cheaper than the one that Richard installed in the other video of the $2700 dollar bidet

[@pqrstsma2011]

i have the same one, got it for $24 a few years ago; still working well

[@robertmailhos8159]

@@pqrstsma2011 That sounds awesome 😎

[@RegularJoes]

Toto Neorest NX1, you'll never 💩 the same

[@jean-marcdumas-perrin5324]

👍⭐⭐⭐👏

[@JOHNJ0HN9111]

you say $2000 is alot to spend for a toilet... but how much toilet paper do spend in a year??? thats the question.. are you saving money on buying a bidet toilet vs toilet paper???

[@samjones1954]

I paid $75 cnd for a cold/hot one from Amazon and I have all the above savings.. over 6 years now..

[@unploog]

Think about it. If someone had some chocolate on their hands and wiped it off with just some dry toilet paper, would you still shake their hand? You're really trusting just a bit of paper to get yourself clean down there? I hope not.

[@cejkwo100]

@@unploogvery good point

[@samjones1954]

You might be inclined to lick their hand over shaking it. lol@@unploog

[@ilovefunnyamv2nd]

I still use TP, but only a few squares to mostly dry off. The cheap model paid for itself well within a year in the savings

[@allentoyokawa9068]

Good for hemorrhoids

[@johnames6430]

it's disgusting that all of you don't wash, you will never go back once you have one. Trust me.

[@ginacirelli1581]

Exactly. Nobody cleans up a mudslide with newspaper.

[@SebastianPerezG]

US discovering the bidet in 21 century ... , you do not need those fancy gadgets, buy the real one appliance , the one that is next to the toilet.

[@LaserFur]

I would if I could find one with a heater.

[@guspaz]

Installing a porcelain bidet in North America would cost far more than any electronic one since it would require extensive bathroom remodeling (since bathrooms lack the space or the hookups for them), and it'd be very difficult to convince anybody to use them. Far easier to spend a fraction the cost on a toilet seat bidet and just be cleaned while you sit there.

[@ShamPain808]

Simple: which one sprays the strongest

[@ilovefunnyamv2nd]

The cheap models, its just straight water pressure (and of course the dial adjusts from closed to fully open) Those other units thst have to go through a tank and heater dont have the oomph

[@ADro-sd7lc]

.

[@frankieboy2494]

Stop using tissue paper. Wash your as😂😂😂s America.

[@jacobdean1454]

Step 1. Don’t get a bidet

[@jmollo55]

eenie meanie miny mo and it sprays your butt hole

[@briantorsell]

Step One: Don't

[@MattBox2]

L take. Keep wiping dry and smearing it around, stinky butt.

[@shay_box]

Are you brain dead?

[@Ray-fd7ut]

First.

[@cp37373]

You were third.

[@johnlebzelter4208]

@Ray-fd7ut Do you think you made your parents proud now? No one cares!! You’re embarrassing yourself. You won’t get a little trophy.

[@Ray-fd7ut]

@Navy1977 Thanks Bro. I appreciate that.

[@Ray-fd7ut]

@Navy1977 Nice. All the best.

[@RegularJoes]

Congrats! Are you 7 or 8 years old?