Bidet Power
So, you’re ready to experience the luxury of a heated bidet – excellent choice! But here’s the thing most folks don’t realize until they’re halfway through the installation manual: these things need POWER. We’re not talking about a little trickle of electricity either. Heated bidets often require a dedicated 15A or even 20A circuit, and it absolutely needs to be GFCI-protected for safety around water. That means you’re going to need an outlet near your toilet.
Now, the thought of adding an outlet in a finished bathroom can be scary. Visions of torn-up tile and weeks of construction might be dancing in your head. But hold on! It doesn’t have to be a demolition project. Here’s how we can usually get it done without the mess:
•Tap into an Existing Circuit: Often, we can tap into the existing circuit for your bathroom vanity light or a nearby outlet. The key is to make sure that circuit can handle the extra load. A standard bathroom circuit is usually 20A, but you need to do the math. Let’s say your vanity light uses 100 watts and your hair dryer pulls 1500 watts. That’s 1600 watts total. At 120 volts, that’s about 13.3 amps (1600 / 120 = 13.3). If your bidet needs 5 amps, you’re still under the 20A limit… but it’s tight. We’d carefully check the wire gauge to be sure it’s rated to handle the full load. If you are close to the limit, a dedicated circuit is the only safe way to go.
•Strategic Wiring: We’re experts at running wires! We can often run the new wire through the wall cavity, under the floor (if you have a crawl space or basement), or even along the baseboard, concealing it with wire molding that can be painted to match your wall color. This minimizes the need to cut into tile.
•GFCI Protection is Key: We’ll install a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) outlet. This is a special type of outlet that monitors the flow of electricity. If it detects any leakage (which could happen if water gets near the wiring), it instantly cuts off the power, preventing a potentially fatal shock.
Before you start any electrical work, please call a licensed electrician. Messing with electricity can be dangerous, and code violations can lead to problems down the road. We’re happy to come out, assess your bathroom’s electrical situation, and provide a free quote for a safe and code-compliant bidet outlet installation. Let’s get you enjoying that warm water spray without any headaches!
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