Sanitaryware in Singapore: toilets, bidets, showers, mixers and water heaters compared

Qanvast explains that most HDB flats have floor drainage outlets, so floor-mounted bowls typically come with an S-trap that connects straight to the floor. It notes that two-piece toilets are usually cheaper and easier to assemble, and a damaged cistern can be swapped without removing the bowl, but dirt can build up where cistern and bowl meet.

Before buying, measure the distance from the wall to the centre of the floor outlet so the bowl fits. Choose a dual-flush cistern with a WELS label of at least 2 ticks: PUB rates a dual-flush cistern 2 ticks at more than 3.5 to 4 litres full flush, and 3 ticks at 3.5 litres or less.

Qanvast describes one-piece toilets as durable and easier to clean because they are a single seamless unit, but notes they cost more, are harder to transport, and a damaged cistern means replacing the whole toilet. It is a sensible upgrade in the master bathroom if you want a cleaner look without the extra plumbing work of a wall-hung toilet. Look for a rimless bowl and a quick-release seat to make cleaning easier.

Qanvast notes back-to-wall toilets are sleek and compact with a concealed cistern, but costlier to install and more complex to repair. Back-to-wall and wall-hung bowls usually come with a P-trap, designed for a wall outlet, so a flat with a floor outlet needs extra work. Qanvast also advises avoiding converting a trap from one type to another, and says installing concealed cisterns may require additional permits in HDB flats, so ask your contractor to check before you buy.

Qanvast lists wall-hung toilets as easy to clean because the bowl is raised, and installable at non-standard heights, but costlier to install and harder to maintain if clogging happens. Wall-hung bowls use a P-trap, so a flat with a floor outlet needs extra plumbing work.

PUB treats installing, changing or relocating toilet bowls as sanitary plumbing work for a PUB licensed plumber. In a new BTO flat, building the false wall usually means working on the bathroom finishes, which HDB restricts for 3 years. Check access: the flush plate should come off so the cistern valve can be serviced.

Plan the power point early: electrical work must be done by an EMA licensed electrical worker, and the socket should be placed where it stays dry, away from the shower. A bidet seat replaces the existing seat on many standard bowls, so measure the bowl shape and length first.

Integrated smart toilets are a bigger purchase. Check that a WELS label is shown for the flushing part and ask about local servicing and spare parts. Some brands sell antibacterial glazes and quick-release seats; treat hygiene claims as the brand's own and compare warranties instead.

PUB lists replacing or removing a shower hose or showerhead, and replacing or removing any tap or mixer, as simple plumbing work that does not need a PUB licensed plumber. Swapping a worn bidet spray is usually that kind of job. Choose a spray with a holder that keeps it off the floor, and turn off the stop valve if the hose starts leaking.

Shower taps and mixers are under PUB's mandatory WELS: a 2-tick shower mixer flows at more than 5 and up to 7 litres a minute, and a 3-tick one at 5 litres or less. Showerheads are rated under PUB's voluntary scheme, where 2 ticks is more than 5 to 7 litres a minute and 3 ticks is 5 litres or less.

HDB notes that taps and shower systems come with water regulators to save water, and that flow may slow with prolonged use, so clean or service them if pressure drops. Measure the ceiling and window heights before choosing the column, and check the overhead head clears tall users.

A thermostatic mixer suits households where small children or elderly family members shower, because it reduces temperature swings. Ask whether your water heater type and pressure suit the mixer; some instant heaters and thermostatic mixers do not work well together.

Concealed mixers (with only the handle and plate on the wall) need the wall chased for pipes, so they belong in a full bathroom renovation. In a new BTO flat, HDB's 3-year restriction on removing bathroom finishes generally rules them out until the period ends. Like all shower mixers, it should carry a WELS label of at least 2 ticks.

Qanvast describes a storage water heater as one that holds a set amount of water in its tank at a chosen temperature. NEA's energy label for water heaters uses a 5-tick scale based on the Uniform Energy Factor under Singapore Standard 646, and NEA says switching from a 1-tick to a 5-tick model can save up to $115 a year (at an electricity tariff of $0.27 per kWh). Compare tick ratings and tank size before buying.

Have a PUB licensed plumber connect it to the water supply, and an EMA licensed electrical worker handle the electrical point.

Qanvast explains that an instant heater uses a heating element to warm water as it passes through. That makes it a good match for a hand shower or small showerhead, but often a poor match for a large rain shower, which needs more flow than one unit can heat.

PUB lists replacing or removing the pipe between a stop valve and an instantaneous water heater as simple plumbing work. Installation of the heater itself and its electrical supply should be left to licensed professionals. Instant heaters are also covered by NEA's mandatory energy label from 1 April 2025.

NEA's mandatory labelling, which started on 1 April 2025, covers heat pump water heaters alongside storage and instantaneous types, so you can compare all three on the same tick scale. NEA notes water heaters are the third most energy-intensive household appliance, making up about 10% of a typical household's energy use, which is why efficiency is worth weighing against the higher upfront price.

Some homes, especially those with a piped town gas supply, also choose gas water heaters. HDB has separate guidelines for gas-related works, so check with your contractor before choosing one.