Is your bidet water pressure too high? Today’s article looks at how to lower bidet water pressure. It’ll cover the different issues that can cause excessive bidet pressure and what to do to fix each problem.
It’s a fairly common complaint, and understandably so. Strong water streams can be hard on the sensitive skin that lines the nether regions. Also, the ideal pressure is a matter of preference, so what’s too low for one person may be too high for another.
Why Is My Bidet Pressure Too High?
Excessive bidet water pressure is more common with non-electric bidets, which work with the home’s water pressure (~80+ PSI). It also depends on the brand, as some are known for higher pressure. Also, sometimes the supply pressure exceeds the upper specification found in the bidet manual.
How to lower the pressure when it’s uncomfortable isn’t always straightforward, because most bidet manuals list the needed pressure for the water supply (at the shutoff valve) but rarely list the PSI of the water coming out of the bidet nozzle.
Even if the PSI was listed, it’s hard to gauge what it would feel like. So, you really never know how comfortable the bidet is going to be until you take it home and use it.
So, let’s get right into it.
How to Lower Bidet Water Pressure
Solution 1: Partially Close the Toilet Shutoff Valve
Non-electric bidets (seats, attachments, and handheld sprayers) often provide more pressure than anticipated because they work off of the home’s water pressure. The water at the shutoff valve supplying the toilet and bidet is usually 80 PSI, and sometimes higher.
I’m sure some bidets have pressure regulators, but some still find the output pressure uncomfortable.
To fix the problem, the first option is to turn the water pressure down at the shutoff valve.
First locate the valve
Give it a slight turn clockwise and adjust from there.
One issue with this method is that the same water supply feeds both the bidet and toilet tank, so you can only close the valve so much. The more it’s closed, the slower the tank will fill after each flush.
If you want to turn it down a lot, you may want to try the next solution.
Solution 2: Adjust the T-Valve
Partially closing the T-valve is another easy way to control the water pressure fed to the bidet.
If your T-valve is non-adjustable, you can source and install one that is adjustable.
So, you remember, the T-valve is the contraption that you attached to the toilet tank. It’s currently attached to your tank, the bidet hose, and the water supply hose.
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By partially closing the lever, you can reduce the water flow of the bidet without messing with the toilet supply (unlike the above solution).
Solution 3: Consider an Electric Bidet
As mentioned, the difference in water pressure between electric and non-electric bidets can be significant. Some attachments can put out jet streams of 100+ PSI, a good bit more than most electric seats.
For better or worse, electric seats have a lower water pressure because they use a small motor to propel water through the nozzle instead of using the home’s water supply.
Because electric seats have to heat water (in a tank or via an instantaneous water heater), the water has to be processed prior to being sent through the nozzle which wastes all of the momentum of the water pressure supplied to the house.
Also, electric seats tend to come with filters that further slow down the rate of flow. So, all the pressure used to generate the jet stream is produced by a bidet’s integral motor which usually isn’t that powerful.
Solution 4: Manually Adjust the Nozzle (Handheld Sprayers)
One potential issue is that the nozzle on your handheld sprayer needs adjusting.
If using a handheld bidet, some models allow you to adjust the nozzle to widen the spray width which will lower the water pressure. Most sprayers don’t allow for this, as pressure can usually only be controlled by how tightly you squeeze the lever.
But if you have a sprayer like the Brondell CleanSpa CS-30, you control the pressure both by how hard you squeeze the lever and by way of turning the nozzle left or right.
Solution 5: Try Widening the Spray Width
If the default spray width on the bidet is narrow (some are), it can result in a more concentrated jet stream and a higher water pressure.
The narrower and more concentrated the spray width, the more powerful the water pressure will be. Choosing a wider stream will lower the pressure which might be more comfortable.
On a related note, one of the main culprits of low water pressure with electric bidets is folks unknowingly using the wider spray width setting. For this reason, owner’s manuals usually suggest that you use a narrow spray setting to remedy weak water pressure.
The flip side of this is that a wider spray setting can be used to lower the PSI when a lower pressure is desired.
Newer bidets, especially electric seats, give users more control over the water stream. Not only do you control the pressure and temperature via a remote control or side panel, but you also get precision control over the spray width.
This may not be the right fix for you if you prefer a narrow stream. Wider streams have benefits—for example, less accuracy is needed for aiming which can be nice for those who lack the strength and coordination to position their body.
But narrower streams are more targeted and clean faster.
Solution 6: Check the Spray Setting (Seats and Attachments)
For attachments, make sure you have the knob or lever at the position to allow for max pressure.
For electric seats, make sure you’re not using any advanced spray settings, like the vortex stream offered by some bidets.
Vortex streams are extra strong and narrow because they’re designed to penetrate the sphincters for sort of a makeshift DIY enema.
Solution 7: Check Your Home’s Water Pressure Regulator
It’s doubtful, but something might be up with your home’s water pressure.
If there is an issue, you’ll need to repair or adjust your current pressure regulator to comply with plumbing codes or have a new one installed.
To adjust the regulator, locate and tighten the adjustment screw counterclockwise to decrease the water pressure. Check out this resource for more info.
If repair or installation is needed, you may want to outsource the job to a plumber.
Solution 8: Try the Soft Spray Mode
Your bidet might just have a softer mode whether or not it’s labeled as such.
Some bidets, both electric and non-electric have a soft spray mode. Some models have a setting that’s labeled as a soft mode (e.g., the Soosi handheld sprayer).
At least some TOTO bidet seats have a rear soft cleansing mode that cleans your rear with a soft “embracing” water flow.
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Sometimes it isn’t labeled. For example, some of the bidet seats by Omigo and Brondell offer a sitz bath mode that sprays for longer while using an extra-soft spray pressure.
Solution 9: Use an External Water Filter
Again, one reason water pressure is lower with electric bidets is that high-tech seats do more to the water after receiving it from the house, while non-electric units send water straight through the nozzle.
By passing through on end of the filter water pressure is lowered on the other end resulting in a weaker stream.
Water filters are pretty standard with electric bidets. Most electric seats come with a filter or are designed to accommodate one in case the user wants to purchase one separately.
Non-electric bidets (even sprayers) can use filters, but the extra parts have to be sourced separately.
It may sound like a drastic measure, but using a filter is probably a good idea anyway for reducing the risk of infection. Tap water is supposed to be clean but some cities do a better job than others.
Plus, women are at a higher risk of UTIs when using a bidet and older adults have weakened immunity. The best measures you can take include getting a bidet with a self-cleaning nozzle, periodic manual cleaning of the wand, and outfitting the bidet with a water filter.
Solution 10: Get a Bidet with a Lower Output Pressure
Getting a different bidet doesn’t necessarily mean upgrading to a high-tech seat or paying more for a bunch of features you don’t want. Water pressure can vary quite a bit from attachment to attachment and seat to seat.
First check the output of your current model.
Note, that it’s not the “supply pressure”.
It might be that your bidet is known for being extra strong and that you’d be better off with one providing a softer water flow.
With electric and non-electric bidets, water pressure can differ from one brand to another and between models put out by the same brand. Some brands have seats that get both low-pressure and high-pressure complaints.
Some attachments and seats have more nozzles than others and the number/size of the holes in the nozzle can vary. I could go on. All of these factors contribute to the output pressure to some degree.
Also, some bidets provide aerated streams. While aerated faucets lower the spray volume, they raise the water pressure (source: Bob Villa). Air is incorporated into the water to improve efficiency but can have the added effect of altering how the water stream feels.
As mentioned above, keep in mind that some product spec sheets list the “water supply pressure” which isn’t the same thing as the water pressure provided by the bidet.
The water supply pressure lets the owner know the pressure needed at the water source (I.e., the toilet shutoff valve), for the bidet to work correctly. It’s usually a range of something like 10-100 PSI. Anyway, this spec often gets confused with the output pressure.
Anyway, make sure to check the PSI provided by the bidet if the info is available. If it’s not available, you’ll need to reach out to the manufacturer.