In France, 1710, there was the first recorded reference to an item, that we now call the bidet. Intended to assist in personal hygiene, the bidet was used to clean more private areas of the body, between weekly baths. Bidets were kept in the bedroom, with the chamber pot, until the 1900s when modern plumbing made it more practical to install it in the bathroom, in close proximity to the toilet. Nowadays, throughout Europe, bidets are an integral part of the bathroom. (In Italy, it is reported that approximately 90% of the population owns a bidet.)
There are obvious hygienic reasons as to why, you should want to own and use a bidet, and that is a blog post itself. However, this blog post will talk you through installing your chosen bidet:
To install a bidet you need the following:
- Hot and cold water pipes
- A waste pipe
- A bidet and all the necessary nuts and bolts
- Socket set/wrenches
- Spirit level
- Sealant
- Screwdriver
You should start by installing the hot and cold water pipes and the waste pipe; this job should be handled by a professional to prevent leaks and potential problems. The bidet is traditionally installed next to a cistern so keep that in mind when designing your bathroom; make sure you have space for your bidet and that the floor and wall are level (if wall attached).
Before you get them installed you should make sure the basin, bidet, cistern and bath you’re purchasing are all the same material and colour. If you purchased your bath, basin and cistern before the bidet then you should contact either your supplier or the manufacturer of the product to either ask for the specific colour or to purchase a bidet from their range.
Step 1 – Turn off the water, then start by assembling the bidet – attach the faucets and drain fittings.
Step 2 – Check the alignment of the pipes, make sure the bidet will fit where you want it and that all pipes will connect fine.
Step 3 – Use the spirit level to make sure the floor you are using is flat.
Step 4 – Measure up where the bidet is going to be installed, mark the holes in the floor and wall where the bolts will go, also mark the outline of the bidet so you know where to place it in Step 6.
Step 5 – Drill pilot holes into the floor.
Step 6 – Place the bidet, make sure you measure up with the guides you made and that the holes in the bidet match the holes you drilled in the floor.
Step 7 – Insert and tighten the hold-down bolts, use the spirit level to make sure that you have installed the bidet correctly and that it’s not at an angle.
Step 8 – Place the caps over the bolts, and apply sealant to the base of the bidet.
Step 9 – Connect the hot and cold water supply tubes, the shut-off valve and drain.
Step 10 – Turn on the water and test for leaks or flaws etc.
Bidets are extremely practical; they’re more hygienic and offer benefits to all users. In addition, bidets are versatile and can be used for cleaning items, such as clothes. Installing a bidet now may seem less challenging – however if you do not feel comfortable in following the above steps, we advise that you contact a local plumber, in the first instance.
Tags: bidet, european, how, hygiene, install, taps, to, water
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