Smart Toilets in Australia: Are They Worth It and What Do You Need?

A smart toilet pairs a toilet pan with an electronic bidet seat that cleans with water and dries with warm air. You control it with a remote or side panel. Features vary by model, but most include some combination of the following:

• Washing: front and rear wash, with adjustable water temperature, pressure and nozzle position.
• Comfort: warm-air drying and a heated seat.
• Hygiene: a self-cleaning nozzle and, on some models, a deodoriser or antimicrobial seat.
• Hands-free: automatic lid opening, a night light, and automatic or sensor flushing.

As an example: the Caroma Livewell electronic bidet seat has an extendable nozzle for front and rear washing. It also offers oscillating and pulsating spray modes, air drying and a GermGard antimicrobial seat.

Choose an electronic bidet seat if you have a compatible toilet and want a lower-cost upgrade with less disruption. Choose a complete smart toilet suite if you are renovating and want an integrated look with concealed connections.

Electronic bidet seats - An electronic bidet seat replaces your existing toilet seat. Fit depends on your pan's shape and length, so check compatibility before buying. The Livewell seat, for example, is designed for a range of Caroma and GWA pans and can be fitted to other pans if required. The trade-offs are a visible hose and power cable, and a seat that sits slightly taller and longer than a standard one.

Complete smart toilet suites - A suite combines a pan and smart seat designed to work together, usually with the water and power connections hidden. Suites come in two main types, and the difference affects both installation and water efficiency:

• Tankless: these flush directly from mains pressure, so your water supply must meet the model's minimum.
• In-wall cistern: these pair a smart pan with a concealed cistern.

Caroma's Urbane II bidet seat is designed to pair with Urbane II bidet pans and cisterns, so you can build a matching suite from one brand.

You need three things: a WaterMark-certified product, a licensed plumber who fits the correct backflow protection, and a licensed electrician for the power supply.

WaterMark certification. Bidet products connected to drinking water must be WaterMark certified and installed by a licensed plumber. Look for the WaterMark trademark and licence number on the product or packaging.

Backflow protection. A bidet seat is a high-hazard connection, because toilet water must never flow back into your drinking water. Some seats include integral backflow protection. The Livewell seat, for example, has dual check valves and a 25 mm air gap tested to AS 2845.2. Seats without integral protection need a separate high-hazard device, and testable devices must be tested every year by a licensed plumber.

A power point. Electronic seats and smart toilets plug into a power point beside or behind the toilet. A licensed electrician must install it in a position that complies with the AS/NZS 3000 wet area zones, with RCD protection. If you are renovating, plan the power point early so it can be hidden behind the pan.

Water pressure and set-out. Check the model's operating pressure range, especially for tankless suites or homes on low-pressure or tank water. For a full suite, also confirm the set-out (the distance from the wall to the centre of the waste pipe) matches your bathroom.

The main drawbacks are higher upfront cost, more complex installation, ongoing power use and more parts to maintain.

• Cost: you are paying for electronics as well as ceramics, plus both a plumber and an electrician.
• Running costs: a heated seat, warm water and air drying all draw power. Use eco or timer settings where your model has them.
• Maintenance: nozzles, filters and deodorisers need regular cleaning, and electronic parts can need servicing over the life of the toilet.
• Water efficiency: tankless models can carry a lower WELS star rating than smart toilets with an in-wall cistern. Compare the WELS label as well as the features.
• Space: bidet seats are larger than standard seats, so check clearance in a tight ensuite or powder room.

Whether these trade-offs are worth it is a personal call. They are easiest to justify in a main bathroom used every day, where you will feel the comfort and hygiene benefits most often.

Can I put a bidet seat on any toilet?
No. The seat must suit your pan's shape and length, and you need a power point within reach for an electronic model. Check the seat's compatibility list against your existing toilet first.

What else should I read before choosing?
Our guides to WELS and WaterMark ratings and in-wall concealed toilets cover the next decisions in the process.

When you are ready to compare models side by side, browse our full range of smart toilets and bidets, or shop the look below.