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Frequently asked questions

The questions importers and end customers ask most — answered from real-world installation and after-sales experience across Europe and North America.

Installation

Fitting a shower toilet or bidet seat

Can a bidet seat be installed on an existing toilet?

Yes. Seats retrofit onto most standard bowls: a T-valve taps into the existing water supply, and electric models need a nearby socket. Typical installation takes 10–30 minutes with basic tools and no plumbing renovation. Wall-hung shower toilets are the exception — they require a support frame.

Do wall-hung shower toilets fit standard support frames?

Yes. Wall-hung models mount on any in-wall frame with 180 mm fixing centres — Geberit Duofix, TECE and equivalent systems are the European standard. A building-preparation drawing is included in the technical file.

Can it be installed where the cistern is already tiled in?

If an angle valve is accessible, connect with the supplied T-piece — one side feeds the cistern, the other feeds the shower toilet. For fully tiled-in cisterns, a universal connection set is available.

DIY or professional installation?

Seats are designed for skilled DIY — manuals and installation videos are provided. Local regulations may require a licensed plumber (for example, bidet installation is notifiable plumbing work in parts of Australia). Wall-hung toilets install like conventional wall-hung units.

Water supply & pressure

What the product needs from your water

What water pressure is required?

City mains pressure of approximately 3 bar is recommended; below about 2 bar the nozzles may not deploy fully and the spray weakens. Mains pressure is required — gravity or tank-fed supply will not work correctly.

Do I need a hot water connection?

No. Electric models heat water instantly with a tankless ceramic heater — unlimited warm water with zero standby power and no storage tank. Connecting a hot-water line is not supported; the unit is designed for cold water only.

Can well or spring water be used?

No — only drinking-water quality. Untreated water deposits iron, manganese and limescale in valves and fine nozzles, and carries a microbiological risk. Use with non-potable water voids the warranty.

How much water does a wash use?

About 0.6–0.7 litres per wash cycle — far less than the water embedded in a toilet paper roll (roughly 178 litres per roll). Combined with low-consumption flushing, water use per visit drops to 3–6 litres versus 6–9 litres conventionally.

Electrical requirements

Power for electric models

What electrical connection is needed?

European models: a 220–240 V earthed socket, ideally on a dedicated circuit — never a multi-socket extension. North American models: a 120 V GFCI-protected outlet within about 1 m (3 ft) of the toilet.

Are bathroom sockets regulated?

Yes. For example, French standard NF C 15-100 requires sockets more than 60 cm from shower or bath. Always have electrical installation done by a professional who knows the local code.

What happens in a power cut?

The toilet remains fully usable as a normal toilet — flushing still works. Only the electronic functions (wash, dryer, heated seat) pause until power returns.

How much electricity does it consume?

The tankless heater draws only during use. Typical consumption is 0.5–1 kWh per day for a full-featured unit (around €45 per year at €0.25/kWh), and eco modes reduce this by 30–50%. Heated-seat eco mode heats only when a user is seated.

Compliance & certification

Standards, backflow protection and market entry

What is EN 1717 and why does it matter?

EN 1717 is the European standard that protects drinking water from backflow contamination. OtterMax designs the backflow protection into the ceramic water path from the start of design — one of only 2–3 factories in China doing this. Most competitors add an external check valve afterwards. Surprisingly, almost no European retailer or brand publishes EN 1717 guidance — we make it part of the product.

What certifications do OtterMax products carry?

European market: CE, CB, EN 1717, EN 13077, RoHS, REACH. North American market: ETL, cETL, FCC. Full technical files — test reports and declarations of conformity — are shipped with every order.

Is backflow protection required outside Europe?

Yes, in different forms. In North America, an anti-siphon device (vacuum breaker) is standard practice on bidet seats. In Australia, high-hazard backflow prevention per AS/NZS 2845.1 and WaterMark certification are mandatory for compliant installation — one of the reasons AU installation is regulated plumbing work.

Cleaning & maintenance

Keeping the product at its best

How does the nozzle stay hygienic?

The nozzle extends only during use and retracts into the housing afterwards. It self-rinses with clean water before and after every wash, and antibacterial materials are used for spray arms and heads. Nozzles are replaceable.

How do I clean the nozzle deeply?

Shut off the water, run the self-clean purge, unclip the nozzle, soak it 10 minutes in white vinegar, rinse and reassemble. Do this monthly in hard-water areas.

Hard water — do I need a filter?

An inline pre-filter is strongly recommended where water is hard (total hardness above 30°). Change it every 2–3 months, and at least twice a year in hard-water areas. Filters reduce scaling but do not replace descaling.

How often should I descale?

Every 6–12 months depending on water hardness, using a standard coffee-machine descaler. Some models include an automatic descaling program. Limescale damage is not covered by warranty.

Which cleaning products should I avoid?

Never use bleach, chlorine, acids, abrasive creams, acetone, solvent sprays or alcohol-based products — they cause permanent staining and damage. Use a mild pH-neutral cleaner with a soft cloth.

Warranty & after-sales

What the 2-year standard covers

What warranty applies?

Two years is the industry standard across Europe and North America, covering manufacturing defects with workshop-return service. As an OEM partner you can set your own brand-level warranty terms — our modular design keeps repair costs predictable.

What is not covered?

Limescale damage, use with non-potable water, misuse, and damage from improper installation or electrical work. These exclusions match the published policies of European and US brands.

How are spare parts handled?

OtterMax's modular architecture means most repairs are module swaps — control board, heater, valve, nozzle assemblies. We provide OEM partners with a documented spare-parts strategy and full technical documentation so your local service team can repair in the field.

Choosing the right product

Shower toilet, bidet seat, wall-hung or floor-standing

Shower toilet or bidet seat?

A shower toilet has the wash nozzle built into the ceramic: cleaner design, standard seat dimensions, hidden water and power connections, and easier maintenance. A bidet seat retrofits an existing bowl: more affordable, removable, and ideal for rentals — but with visible connections and compatibility limits from the existing bowl.

Wall-hung or floor-standing?

Wall-hung is more elegant and makes floor cleaning easy, but needs an in-wall frame and concealed cistern — best planned for new builds and renovations. Floor-standing is simpler to install and retrofit into an existing bathroom.

Suitable for children and elderly users?

Yes. Child mode reduces water pressure and temperature to safe levels, and seat sensors can be configured to ignore light users. For elderly users, automated wash-and-dry improves independence and hygiene with no effort or bending.

Are there health benefits?

Water cleaning is gentler and more effective than paper — recommended for hemorrhoids, sensitive skin and post-partum care; the front wash helps prevent UTIs. Warm water liquefies fats and dissolves residue without friction, protecting the skin barrier.

Does it really save toilet paper?

A basic wash eliminates roughly 70–80% of paper use; with the warm-air dryer, usage approaches zero. An average person uses about 134 rolls per year — the economics improve with household size.

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