Winter weather comes with an additional level of unpleasantness that goes beyond feeling cold.
If the weather gets too cold, your pipes could freeze, affecting your ability to use the bathroom. The freezing could affect certain appliances or fixtures in your home as well.
New bidet owners might wonder if the freezing could affect their bidet as well?
Some bidets can freeze, although this depends on the type of bidet you are using. While the bidet itself may not freeze, if your pipes freeze, that might affect the working of the bidet, depending on how you connect your bidet to a water source.
However, cold weather comes with its own set of problems for bidet owners, such as very cold water that makes using a bidet unpleasant.
Here is your guide to using and maintaining your bidet during winter, as well as tips to prevent common problems, such as freezing functions and unpleasantly cold water.
Can A Bidet Freeze?
It’s hard to answer the question if bidets can freeze because there are so many different types of bidets.
Bidet attachments and bidet seats probably won’t freeze because they are not connected to the outdoors (and presumably, you have heating in your bathroom).
However, that doesn’t mean that you won’t run into problems while trying to use your bidet in cold weather.
Other bidets can freeze during the winter. Built-in bidets that come attached to your toilet will freeze if your toilet freezes.
Stand-alone bidets could also freeze if it gets very cold outside. If you know that your toilet sometimes freezes in the winter and you have one of these types of bidets, it’s best to take precautions to prevent your bidet from turning into an iced appliance as well.
However, that doesn’t mean you have to worry about the function of your bidet as soon as it gets cold outside.
If your toilet rarely freezes, it won’t happen to your bidet either. Bidets or other appliances commonly freeze if they are connected to an exterior wall. This is also less common in apartment buildings.
Some bidets also come with functions to prevent freezing. For example, the Toto Neorest has an anti-freezing function that runs and flushes the water every ten minutes to prevent the bidet toilet from freezing.
Only use this function in cold snaps when your toilet is actually in danger of freezing as it wastes a lot of water.
If The Bidet Isn’t Frozen, But It’s Not Working Properly, Then What’s Wrong?
Bidets themselves are not super prone to freezing, but that doesn’t mean you won’t notice some changes in the function of your bidet in the winter. Usually, the culprit isn’t your bidet freezing but your pipes.
If the water in a pipe freezes you’re in trouble
Frozen pipes will affect the way all installations in your bathroom function, from the shower to the toilet to the bidet.
Frozen pipes are sadly a common problem during very cold weather. Not only do frozen pipes prevent you from getting the water you need to run your bidet or other appliances, but they can also cause thousands of dollars in damage if the pipes burst. (Link)
Poorly insulated pipes and those that run through exterior walls or colder spaces such as garages are the most prone to freezing.
Luckily, there are a few things that you can do to prevent pipes from freezing.
Before winter hits, insulate your walls and the pipes (thankfully, pipe insulation is not very expensive). An ounce of preparation can prevent thousands of dollars in repairs. (Link)
If the weather forecast predicts a cold snap, there are a few things you can do to prevent your pipes from freezing, including the ones leading to your bidet.
Promote the circulation of warm air by closing exterior doors and opening interior ones such as cabinet doors.
Turn on the faucets to let the water slowly drip because frozen pipes happen when there is no water going through the pipes, and it’s easy for a blockage to form.
Finally, keep the heat at a consistent level, even overnight and when you’re away.
If you try turning on your bidet and no water comes out, the bidet itself may not be frozen, but the pipes could be.
Check other faucets in your home before blaming your bidet. If you think your pipes are frozen, you can try thawing them yourself, but it’s always safer to call a plumber or professional to come help so that you don’t accidentally flood your home.
What Other Problems Can Cold Weather Cause To A Bidet?
Before you get too relieved about using your bidet in the winter, you should know that even though bidets themselves aren’t prone to freezing, there are some other problems you should be prepared for.
Even though the cold weather will not freeze a bidet completely, affecting how it works, it will make the water that runs from the bidet colder.
People posting on social media forums (Link) complain that their bidets become nearly unusable in the winter. Even though the water still flows, it is far too cold for comfortable use.
According to some measurements, the water flowing from your cold water tap in winter can be as cold as 40 degrees Fahrenheit—and it gets even colder if you live in frigid climate.
The effect of this cold water going on the most sensitive parts of your body, which is guaranteed if you are using an unheated bidet, goes beyond discomfort.
Using bone-chilling cold water can cause numbness, pain, and even damage to your genitalia if you use it too much.
Which Bidets Have Heated Water?
That doesn’t mean you have to resign yourself to a less clean rear in the winter.
When buying a bidet for your bathroom, choose an option that delivers heated water, not just cold water.
One option is to use a bidet-toilet combo. These sophisticated machines have many features, including heated water, heated toilet seats, dryers, and some even have music to cover up if you are shy about using the toilet.
However, they are usually the most expensive of the bunch.
If you want to get an electric bidet option that is more affordable, try an electric bidet toilet seat. These seats have many of the same features as toilet-bidet combos but are far more affordable.
A low-tech option if the only feature you want is warm water is the stand-alone bidet basin that is common in Europe and Latin America.
These bidets get their water from the same place and have the same faucet as your sink or bathtub, so you can control the temperature of the water.
However, they are expensive to install and not the best choice if you don’t have space in your bathroom.
Can You Get Warm Water With An Unheated Bidet?
If you have a low-tech bidet option, such as a handheld bidet, bidet attachment hose, or non-electric bidet toilet seat, the default option when you turn the bidet on is cold water. However, you have a few options for getting warm water even with these bidets.
The easiest one to convert to a warm water bidet is the handheld sprayer. You can attach a mixing valve that takes hot water from the sink or use special faucet attachments and plumbing equipment to connect directly to your warm water pipes or to your sink.
Some non-electric toilet seats also come with special valves and hoses that connect to your faucet so you can have a dual-temperature bidet.
However, all of these set-ups require extra equipment, time, and hassle that you may not want to spend on your bidet. The sight of a permanent hose leading out from your sink is also unsightly.
Think carefully about whether you want to convert your cold-water bidet to a dual-temperature one.
It may be worth it to invest in a heated bidet toilet seat instead if you know your home is prone to getting cold in the winter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some other things people want to know about bidets and freezing.
Do Bidets Need Warm Water?
No, bidets do not need warm water. Many bidets function well regardless of the water temperature because as long as there is water flowing, the pipes won’t freeze.
However, you may want a bidet that uses warm water for your own comfort.
Does Bidet Water Come From The Tank?
No, bidet water doesn’t come from the tank. It comes from the same pipes that deliver water to your faucet and shower.
That means that if those pipes freeze, your bidet will not be able to function either.
Final Thoughts
Unless your toilet is also prone to freezing, you probably don’t have to worry about your bidet because these appliances are less prone to freezing than your toilet. However, there are other problems you may experience during the winter with your bidet.
If your pipes freeze, then your bidet also won’t work properly. The water may also get cold, which will be uncomfortable when you use it.