ᐅ The plumbing contractor is not installing the specified sanitary fixtures.

Hello everyone,

In June, we visited the wholesaler of our general contractor (GC) for the first time to select sanitary equipment. The consultation was very good, and we chose several items, including a shower toilet.

Since we want the shower toilet in both the guest bathroom and the main bathroom, the Geberit shower toilet (about a $3,000 surcharge per toilet) was too expensive for us. So we went back to the wholesaler and switched to a shower toilet from another manufacturer.

The offer was revised, and we were informed as follows:

“The shower toilet you selected at the xx wholesaler unfortunately cannot be offered because its installation requires a hot water connection. In our view, this installation is not fully compliant with the drinking water regulations, as there might be a risk that bacteria could enter the piping system and thus the drinking water.”

Therefore, we are being offered the xx shower toilet.”


However, we do not like the shower toilet they have offered. So we went back to the wholesaler and selected another shower toilet. There, the staff member was also surprised that they did not want to install the previously chosen model.

For the newly selected model, we received the same response as before, and again, a different toilet was suggested.

The shower toilets offered by the plumbing company are priced similarly to the Geberit model, and somehow I do not understand why we are allowed to select a toilet that they say does not comply with the drinking water regulations. To put it bluntly, should such a toilet even be on the market at all?

This situation has been ongoing for several months now, and we are supposed to schedule an on-site appointment for the installation with the plumbing company in the next few days. Naturally, we also want to make a decision about the equipment.

The company has usually provided the updated offers quite promptly. However, we have been waiting for the latest offer since September 8, 2021. I have a bit of a suspicion that they are stalling to push us into accepting the toilet model they are offering.

How should we proceed now? Changing to a different company is not possible, as our GC only works with this one.

You cannot expect a plumbing company to install everything that a wholesaler offers. After all, the plumber must take responsibility, and you cannot dictate what they should be liable for. The selected toilet with a hot water connection is not inherently prohibited – the plumber is simply cautious about this technology (hot water connection). This has nothing to do with the purchase price.

Yaso2.0 schrieb:

How should we proceed now? Another company is not an option; our general contractor only works with this one.

Change your approach and talk directly with the plumber about what you want and what they can provide. This will solve the triangle issue involving the wholesaler. Your options may increase if you are willing to pay a bit more for the installation of a product unfamiliar to the plumber, as it will require more time. When building with a general contractor, you simply don’t have access to all options.

hampshire schrieb:

You can’t expect a plumbing company to install everything a wholesaler offers. After all, the plumbing company has to assume liability, and you can’t dictate what they should be liable for.

I don’t want to tell the plumbing company what they should be liable for. This plumbing company does not have its own showroom! I can only select from the wholesaler specified by the general contractor (GC), and unfortunately, I am not informed beforehand about what they will or will not install.

hampshire schrieb:

The chosen toilet with hot water connection is not fundamentally prohibited – the plumbing company views the technology (hot water connection) critically. This has nothing to do with the purchase price.

But I cannot know in advance what the plumbing company considers critical and what not.

hampshire schrieb:

Change your approach and talk to the plumber about what you want and what they can offer. This will resolve the triangle with the wholesaler.

I have already done that; the woman from the company told me they currently have no showroom and work with several wholesalers.

When I asked how I was supposed to know in advance what they would install and what not, her answer was, “You can’t know that.” I suggested sending her a list of what we want, and she could check if it’s feasible. Since September 8, 2021, I have been waiting for a response.

hampshire schrieb:

Your selection might expand if you show willingness to pay more for installing an object unfamiliar to the plumber, since it will require more time. When building with a GC, you simply do not have all options.

They are free to charge more if the installation requires extra effort. But they didn’t do that; they just dismissed it outright. Next time, I will make sure to explicitly state that they should bill their extra effort accordingly.

They just need to install a system separator. That will cost about 150 to 500 EUR more per toilet.
I don’t have your construction status at hand; is it still possible for them to add a hot water connection?

Tolentino schrieb:

I don’t have your current construction status on hand,

So far, the shell of the building is complete, but the plumbing contractor has not visited yet.

Yes, then first of all he can install the hot water supply there, but a backflow preventer will need to be installed. That does increase the overall cost a bit. In the end, it might not be any cheaper than choosing a shower toilet with a built-in instantaneous water heater. So if you find something that you like in terms of design.

In the end, I only had a power outlet installed next to the toilet as a preparation. Since I am the only one who wants something like this anyway, there were more important things that required immediate spending...