Why Should I Consider a Smart Toilet?

Who needs a Smart Toilet? Perhaps you do. Many people don’t realize how wonderful bidet seats and smart toilets are until they do some research. Whether you’re building a new home, remodeling a bathroom or simply replacing your existing toilet, you owe it to yourself to explore what a Smart Toilet can do for your bathroom experience. Why buy a smart toilet or bidet seat? The answer is simple: maximum personal comfort and convenience for the most private room in your home.

The most basic smart toilet is a toilet with bidet cleansing, which eliminates fecal bacteria left behind by toilet paper. It also provides superior hygiene by preventing the spread of bacteria left on the user’s hands, plus it helps with skin rashes and hemorrhoid discomfort. Bidet cleansing - which can include both warm or cool water - is very helpful for people with physical limitations (think “aging in place”) and is soothing for post-childbirth bathroom trips.

Let’s Start with Some Interesting History

While many think smart toilet technology was developed in Japan, an American named Arnold Cohen invented the world’s first bidet toilet in 1964, which had a foot petal design, to assist his elderly father with his bathroom hygiene. While he brought it to market, he only sold 200,000 toilets over the next 45 years, after which he sold his patent to a Japanese company. The technology then was noticed in many parts of the world, where it was used in hotels and many other public places, as well as private homes. 

Then, in April of 2011, Kohler, the American company considered the global leader in bath design and technology, updated the technology and introduced the NUMI toilet, which offered much more than just bidet cleansing. Since then, Kohler has developed an entire line of bidet seats and smart toilets to fit different lifestyles and provide an array of conveniences. The NUMI technology has been enhanced over the past decade and NUMI 2.0 was introduced in 2023.

NUMI’s Original Luxury Features

Kohler’s signature smart toilet was introduced with these features:

• A sleek, interactive LCD touch-screen interface
• Built-in personalized bidet functionality and deodorizer
• Intuitive open and close lid
• Built-in music system
• Heated seat and foot warmer
• Unmatched comfort

New Additions with NUMI 2.0

• Bluetooth compatibility and Amazon’s Alexa
• Full customization with a bidet wand that adjusts the spray, shape, position, water pressure, temperature and the pulsing and oscillating features to ensure comfort and hygiene excellence.
• Integrated UV light and electrolyzed water system for self-cleaning of the toilet’s bidet elements. 
• Comfort height tech to make sitting and standing up easy for most adults
• Eco-friendly water efficiency and power-save mode
• Emergency flush for power outages to ensure your bathroom remains fresh.

If Your Budget Doesn’t Include NUMI...Kohler Offers Other Smart Toilet Options

While NUMI is the epitome of smart toilet technology, Kohler’s Veil and Innate models offer key smart toilet features at a lower price point. 

Veil™

The Veil (shown to the left) is a one-piece compact elongated smart toilet with dual flush. It includes a single stainless steel wand with 24 front and rear wash nozzles, water pressure and temperature adjustment. E-Water+ UV sanitizing wand self-cleaning mode and anti-bacterial seat. It provides heated seat temperature adjustment, deodorization and warm air dryer, as well as a remote-control seat sensor with auto open and close and user approaching detection sensor and eco mode night light.

Innate™

The Innate (show to the right) is a one-piece round-front smart toilet that is designed to sit directly against the wall with hidden power cord and water hose. It features a single stainless steel water wand, with 7 front and rear wash nozzles, water pressure and temperature adjustment, wand position adjustment and instant heating. It also includes UV sanitizing wand, self-cleaning mode, bowl sanitizing and anti-bacterial heated seat and warm air dryer, as well as remote control seat sensor with auto open and close and user approaching detection sensor and eco mode night light.

Kohler also offers the Eir™, San Raphael™ and San Souci™ smart toilet models.  

Difficult to choose? No worries.

Many homeowners are unaware that Sink & Spout is home to the largest Kohler inventory in New England. Our showroom associates undertake intensive training in Kohler products and stand ready to help you understand your choices. You are welcome to stop by your local Sink & Spout showroom to browse during showroom hours and we also invite you to call to schedule a free consultation if you’d like to ensure that someone is available to give you and your project undivided attention. 

We look forward to discussing your Kohler Smart Toilet or bidet project!

Not ready for a Smart Toilet?  

Learn about upgrading your existing toilet with a Bidet Toilet Seat HERE.