It's one of the first questions people ask when they start looking at smart toilet seats - and it's one of the most important, because the answer has a direct bearing on how quickly you can get up and running, and what the overall cost of ownership actually looks like. The short answer is: in most cases, no. A Washloo bidet toilet seat does not require a plumber to install. Most people with basic DIY confidence can fit one themselves in under an hour, using only the tools and fittings that come in the box.
That said, there are some important nuances, particularly around the electrical connection, that are worth understanding before you start. Washloo has put considerable effort into making their smart toilet seat installation as straightforward as possible, but a small number of bathroom setups will require a qualified tradesperson for one specific element of the job. This guide explains everything clearly, so you know exactly what to expect.
What Does Installing a Washloo Bidet Seat Actually Involve?
Installing a Washloo bidet toilet seat involves three things: removing your existing toilet seat, connecting a water supply and connecting to a power source. That's it. There is no new pipework to run through walls, no waste pipe to connect and no structural changes to the bathroom.
Here's what each step involves in practice:
Step 1: Removing Your Existing Toilet Seat
Your existing toilet seat is removed in the usual way: unscrew the two fixing bolts at the back of the pan, lift the seat off and set it aside. The Washloo bidet seat uses the same fixing points and bolts into position in the same way. This part of the installation requires no specialist knowledge whatsoever.
Step 2: Connecting the Water Supply
The Washloo requires a connection to your mains cold water supply. This is done by inserting a T-piece connector into the existing water supply hose between your toilet cistern and the wall- or floor-mounted valve. The T-piece diverts a small amount of water to the bidet seat via a flexible push-fit pipe. No soldering, no pipe cutting and no specialist plumbing tools are required.
The water supply must be at mains pressure (minimum 0.8 bar, equivalent to standard UK mains pressure). Tank-fed water supplies, such as those found in some older properties with a cold water storage tank in the loft, do not provide sufficient pressure for the bidet seat to function correctly. This is one of the few situations where a plumber may be needed; not to install the seat itself, but to assess and potentially upgrade the water supply arrangement.
Step 3: Connecting to Power
This is where the question of professional involvement most commonly arises. Washloo bidet seats are electric; they use power to heat the seat, warm the water, run the dryer and operate the electronic controls. They come supplied with a UK 3-pin plug with an integrated RCD (residual-current device), which provides a critical layer of electrical safety.
The question is where to plug it in.
The Electrical Connection: What UK Regulations Say
In the UK, bathroom electrical installations are governed by Part P of the Building Regulations and the requirements of BS 7671 (the IET Wiring Regulations). These rules exist for good reason: water and electricity are a dangerous combination, and bathrooms are divided into zones with different electrical requirements.
The key rule for bidet toilet seats is this: a standard 13-amp socket outlet cannot be installed within 3 metres of a bath or shower (Zone 2 in most bathrooms). This means that in most UK bathrooms, there is no standard plug socket available to plug the Washloo into directly.
There are two solutions to this:
Option 1: A Switched Fused Spur. The most common and recommended solution is to have a switched fused spur installed by a qualified electrician. A fused spur is a fixed connection point (it looks similar to a light switch on the wall) that connects directly to the mains wiring and provides a safe, permanent power source for the bidet seat. The Washloo's plug is removed and the unit is hardwired into the spur instead.
This is a relatively quick and inexpensive job for a Part P registered electrician. It results in a clean, permanent installation with no trailing cable and full compliance with UK wiring regulations.
Option 2: Using an Existing Shaver Socket. Some bathrooms have a shaver socket installed. These are specifically designed for bathroom use. However, shaver sockets are low-current and are not suitable for powering a full bidet toilet seat. They should not be used for this purpose.
The practical upshot: Most Washloo installations require an electrician to install a fused spur if one is not already present. This is the only element of the installation that typically requires a qualified tradesperson. The water connection and the seat fitting itself remain well within the capability of a competent DIYer.
Does the Plumbing Connection Require a Plumber?
For the vast majority of UK homes with a mains-pressure water supply, the answer is no. The T-piece connector and push-fit water pipe supplied with the Washloo are designed for straightforward DIY installation. The process involves:
- Turning off the water supply to the toilet cistern at the isolation valve (usually a small slotted screw on the supply pipe)
- Flushing the toilet to empty the cistern
- Disconnecting the existing supply hose from the bottom of the cistern
- Inserting the T-piece connector and reconnecting the hose
- Running the flexible pipe from the T-piece to the inlet on the bidet seat
This is a simple push-fit connection. No tools beyond a hand towel (to catch any residual water) are generally needed, and the risk of error is minimal.
The exception is homes with tank-fed water supplies. If you're not sure whether your water supply is mains-fed or tank-fed, a quick way to check is to look for a cold water storage tank in your loft. If one is present and your toilet is fed from it rather than directly from the mains, the pressure may be insufficient. A plumber can assess this and advise on whether a pressure boost or a supply change is appropriate.
Checking Your Toilet Is Compatible
Before ordering, there are two quick checks worth making:
Shape of the toilet pan. Washloo bidet seats are compatible with V-shaped (standard round or short) and D-shaped (elongated) toilet pans, covering around 98% of UK toilets. They are not currently compatible with square-design toilet seats. Washloo offers both V and D seat variants across their range, so it's important to match the seat shape to your pan.
Clearance at the rear. The bidet seat needs at least 38mm of clearance between the back of the seat and the toilet cistern or wall. This is to accommodate the seat's body and connection points. Most standard UK toilets provide sufficient clearance, but it's worth measuring before ordering, particularly on close-coupled toilets where the cistern sits directly against the pan.
What If I'd Prefer Someone Else to Install It?
Washloo supplies the products; finding and arranging installation is something you'll need to organise independently. If you'd prefer not to tackle the installation yourself, the most practical approach is to find a local Part P registered electrician for the fused spur and a competent local plumber for the water connection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does installing a Washloo bidet seat void my toilet's warranty? Fitting a bidet seat to your toilet pan does not typically affect the pan's warranty, as no modifications are made to the pan itself. The seat simply replaces the existing toilet seat using the same fixing bolts.
How long does installation take? For a competent DIYer with a fused spur already in place, most Washloo bidet seats can be installed in 30 to 45 minutes. If an electrician is needed to install a fused spur first, that adds time for the electrical work — typically a separate visit.
Can a Washloo be installed in a wet room? Washloo bidet seats are rated to IPX4 standards, meaning they are splash-proof. However, the electrical installation in a wet room environment must be assessed carefully by a qualified electrician to ensure compliance with UK wiring regulations.
What water pressure do I need? A minimum mains-equivalent pressure of 0.8 bar is required. Most UK properties on a mains supply will meet this comfortably. If you are unsure about your water pressure, a plumber can measure it quickly.
Will I need to turn my water off for the installation? Only briefly; the isolation valve on the toilet's supply pipe is closed for a few minutes while the T-piece connector is fitted. The rest of the bathroom's water supply is unaffected.
What if I have a problem after installation? Washloo provides a market-leading 24-month comprehensive guarantee covering parts and labour, with in-house trained technicians who can carry out repairs. In most cases, any issues are resolved within five days.
The Bottom Line
A Washloo bidet toilet seat does not require a plumber to install in the traditional sense. The water connection is a simple DIY job for most UK homes. The one element that typically requires a qualified professional is the electrical connection, specifically, the installation of a switched fused spur if one is not already present. This is a quick, inexpensive job for a Part P registered electrician and, once done, the bidet seat is fully and safely operational.
For most people, the combination of a straightforward DIY water connection and a single electrician's visit represents a very manageable installation process, and one that doesn't need to stand in the way of getting started.