Once you experience a heated toilet seat, you will never go back!Update: Dec 2013 (after a few months):I'm embarrassed to admit that perhaps I misinterpreted the installation instructions. I changed the installation and now this seat seems to be MUCH better... almost 5-stars: - there are two bolts that connect to the toilet bowl, and then the seat slides onto the bolt heads (a channel at the head of the bolt) - each bolt has, or comes with: - a top channel-head that is seen on the toilet if the seat is removed (the toilet slides onto this channel-head) - a nut that tightens from under the toilet - a thick, rubber cone-shaped gasket that presumably stabilizes the bolts when everything is tightenedI think I had the cone-shaped gasket in the wrong place: I had it above the toilet bowl, so that it held the channel head about 3/8" high (which would raise the back of the toilet seat up 3/8"). The seat was very loose (see review below if you're interested).I moved that gasket under the toilet bowl so that the channel-head is now flush against the toilet bowl. (note: I don't have the instructions anymore, so I don't know if I'm now correctly following the instructions, or have just modified the instructions). Now, the seat is MUCH tighter (as tight as it needs to be). And the toilet seat seems to raise and pretty well stay up on its own. So, all seems to be fine now and I've changed my rating from 2 stars to 4 stars. The only reason I'm giving a 4-star vs 5-star is that the raised seat does not raise all the way and therefore looks a bit sloppy (or precarious?) when up.I truly apologize for the misinformation. It would be helpful if anyone still has the installation instructions: are the instructions correct and clear (ie, am I just a dunce), or is there an easy fix to incorrect instructions?Also, don't try to tighten the nuts from under the toilet bowl. Instead tighten the bolt from above. The nut will lodge in place so that it won't turn as you tighten the bolt (I used channel locks to tighten the bolt, but I was careful/gentle since it's all plastic). And, I think the toilet seat has 1/8" pads on the bottom. So, as you slide the seat onto the channel-heads I'm guessing the pads raise the seat that 1/8", and further tightens the bolts (the gasket would be further compressed).It is SO nice to have a heated toilet seat (I also added an outlet to the powder room and installed a heated seat there for guests). We just use the low heat setting. I can't convince my wife to keep the toilet lid down (the seat will be warmer, because the lid helps to keep the heat in, like a blanket). But despite that, the low setting is perfectly acceptable to us.============ old review ==========================It was really difficult to install this (and I'm an engineer!): - The bolt holes are very close to the flush channel at the back of the toilet (not Brondell's fault obviously) - but the nuts that go with the Brondell seat are almost impossible to get to adequately, to tighten them - I wish they would have thought through this installation issue better (accessing the bolts from the top would have worked)The toilet seat then slides into a mounting bracket that does not hold the seat steady: - part of the problem is that you can't tighten the bolts well (see above) - but, even if you do get them tight, this sliding mount will not hold the seat securely - so, the seat slides around, and the mount flops up and down (the whole thing feels/looks very flimsy) - I stuffed a 2" x 1" x 3/8" soft eraser under the back of the seat mount to hold the mount more securely (it was a pain to do, but so far seems to be working)When you lift the toilet seat you have to hold it for 3 seconds: - it has hydraulics so that the seat gently goes down (a very nice feature) - but, if you lift the seat up and let go, it won't stay up because the hydraulics have not caught up. The seat will slowly fall - so you have to lift the seat; hold it for 3 seconds; then let goThe heat settings are good. The light is kind of cool (my wife does not use it all, so it doesn't get used). The seat is comfortable to sit on (although it slides around if you wiggle at all).As an engineer, I've somehow convinced myself that I can fix all of these problems... I probably should have returned it (I gave it to my wife as a gag Valentine's Day present... I told her I wanted to give her something that would touch her personally and warm her soul).Hard to review something that's only been in use for a little over 3 weeks, but I figure I can edit it in the future if needed.Installation was easy - if you can handle installing any seat, you can handle this. The power source may be your only problem. My only gripe with this whole unit is the very short power cord (4'). I don't know of any home that has an outlet that close to the toilet, and having it that low in a bathroom I'm sure is against every electrical code out there today. I had to cut and splice a 5' extension to the cord in order to plug the unit in. Not a big deal for me, as I've been a mechanic, and home repair DIY'er forever. I also own a soldering iron, heat shrink tubing, and years of experience to make safe connections. Someone without this ability would probably have to have an electrician hook this thing up ($$$$$) - by law, I probably am supposed to as well ... but I digress.The seat heat to me is a gimmick - it works, no question, but I have no need for it personally (as a man, I only sit when I need to). I bought the seat mainly to surprise my wife. Very little difference between the temperature 3 settings, in my opinion. I did a current draw test on the unit after I installed it - it seems to work on a thermostat, as the initial wattage was higher than after it had been on for a while. It pulses in order to maintain temperature. I think the highest wattage I observed briefly was around the 55w range - it's never a constant draw, just like an electric oven, so you would never notice this thing on your electric bill. To me, the seat on low feels HOT - like it was painted black and left in the summer sun for an hour. My wife thinks its fine, but her skin feels hot to me, so I figure that's going to be very subjective. We left it on low the past 3 weeks, and everyone's happy - I get used to the heat after a while. We'll probably turn it off in the summer. Well, at least I will ...As a man, the LED light is fantastic for early morning bathroom use - no need to flip the light on and blind myself in order to make sure the stream goes in the bowl ... and not into the trash can next to it. It's pretty bright (see pic), contrary to prior reviews I've read, and it does stay on forever with no time-out. I thought it timed out on us at first, but when I turned the light on a second time, it stayed on - been 3 weeks now. Maybe that is by pressing the button a certain length of time? Not sure there - no mention of this in the meager directions.The soft-close seat and lid is also fantastic! Perfect speed - not too slow. Not having the seat SLAM down at 2am is great. If I had to nitpick at that, it would be that the seat itself doesn't sit flush to the lid when both are raised - it gives the feeling that it may fall ... which would create a very messy and infuriating deal, especially at 2am. Hasn't happened yet, but I hope that doesn't start to happen after a few years of use. I envision a clip to hold the seat to the lid when raised ... maybe I'll make something for that ...Can't think of anything else to say here. It's pretty fancy. Never saw myself spending this much coin on a friggin toilet seat ... but the things a man will do for his woman know no bounds. So far, I don't regret the purchase. ;)EDIT: 2/6/2021 - 4 years and one month of service, still works great! About the only complaints I have is the seat won't stay up unless you hold it for a while. Our floor is crooked in this 180 year old house, so YMMV. Also if the power goes out, neither the heat nor the light defaults to the "on" position. These are nitpicks - the seat is great. My wife couldn't live without it now, and comments when we use other bathrooms, LOL.The light and heating element has worked flawlessly for over a year now. We have kept the light continuously on and the heat at its medium setting during the entire time. The power draw is small and insignificant in regards to cost of usage.Very easy to install, but cleaning in the seams where the two halves of the unit are sealed are a bit difficult. Using a toothbrush and bleach works well. Overall, My wife and I are most pleased with this unit, and would buy again!.Do note that if a power outage occurs, once power is restored, the unit will not power back on automatically, and it takes about 10 minutes for the seat to reach it's heat setting.I leave it on year round and it works great!I got the Brondell LumaWarm Heated Nightlight Toilet Seat to help take the chill off winter nights in the bathroom. It works great! We do not use the nightlight feature, but that is an option which other people might like. There is nothing wrong with the nightlight, we just prefer not to use it. I am glad it has on and off options for nightlight. The price might seem like a lot, but it is worth it for a quality product.Positives:Easy installation.Fits elongated toilets nicely.On and off option for the nightlight.Offers various heat settings. We use the lowest setting and that is just right. Obviously, each buttocks will have different responses to what is the right heat setting.Negatives:The plug in cord could be longer. We have to use an extension cord. No big deal.My grade, a solid A product.This is the best thing you could have in the winter to keep warm when using the toilet. I LOVE IT!!!!!!!Okay, folks, don't make the same mistake I made. I was pretty sure my toilet would need the elongated version of this seat, not this round version. So I checked the measurements for this round seat, and the product specs list it at 47 cm. I took the tape measure to my toilet seat at home, and it was 47 cm. So I said to myself, "Self, I guess my toilet needs the round version after all." Wrong.What I didn't take into account, and what the product listing doesn't mention, is that a couple inches of the spec measurement includes the piece that houses the seat's electrical components. Of course, this piece doesn't exist on my toilet seat at home. This became patently obvious when I tried to place the round seat on my toilet, and it coming up a couple inches short of the end of the bowl. I knew immediately the mistake I'd made.Anyways, no big deal. I simply returned the round seat and ordered the elongated one which should fit my bowl. I hope my advice will help others to adjust their measurements accordingly when choosing between the two versions of the seats for their home commode.In terms of the actual product, in my initial observations of the seat, it had a clean, smart look about it, and the controls of the seat were pretty straight-forward. A heat level button, offering three levels of heat differential, and the light on/off button. Installation was exceedingly simple, done in less than five minutes. While I obviously didn't get the opportunity to try the seat, my initial observations seemed to concur with the other reviews here, so I have no issues rating at five stars. Will alter this accordingly, if needed, after using the actual seat when I receive the proper size for my bowl.It keeps your rear end warm in winter months, and it feels pretty solid. Installed this a few days ago and wife loves it.A few neatives.- My unit is clearly a returned product, which is pretty gross. I clearly inspected it and there's no trace of stains or any signs it's been previously used, so I decide to keep it but I had it wipe it down with bleach 3 times before I use it. 1 star removed for being a returned product.- The installation instruction is pretty unclear. Your washers have to go UNDER your toilet but the installation guide doesn't tell you.Otherwise it's a solid product. I am trying to keep it on 7/24 for now and see if it draws noticeable power. If you leave it off, and only turn it on when you use it, it does get warm within ~ 2 min of turning it on. It also gets very hot. I keep it at level 2 most of the times, since level 3 is too hot.I do recommend it despite its shortcomings, it does its job.bought this as an early Mother's Day gift for my wife - earned a lot of brownie points! She often has to get up in the middle of the night to relieve herself and was complaining about the seat being cold, and trouble finding the right spot to sit in the dark. Seat is on low which is perfect for her, and blue light she can see at night is a game changer! Would certainly recommend this, but be aware - you need a GFCI outlet nearby (3-4 feet), or an extension cord to a GFCI outlet. Many local electrical codes prohibit an outlet that close to a toilet, or will allow it if it's located behind the toilet and difficult to reachThis is our second seat. I received one for Christmas a number of years ago and it quit working this summer. We use it at our cabin where we have to shut the water off in the winter due to the cold. It put up with pretty harsh conditions - cold to -40 Celsius and hot in the summer.It stays out all year long and even when very cold, the seat warms up quickly and stayed warm all weekend.If you have an outhouse and it's cold, it is a great luxury!Nothing like sitting on a warm toilet seat. I love this and even bought one as a Christmas gift for a friend. She tells me that she will walk across the house to use this toilet instead of a closer one.Since I had my contractor install this in my new house, whenever he builds a house, he puts one in every client's house as a gift.