5 Things to Know When Buying a Bidet Seat

If you’re interested in learning more about modern bidet seats, then you’ve come to the right place. bidetsPLUS has an expert staff that is ready to help with all of your bidet questions and concerns. Our team has helped thousands of people find their first bidet toilet seat, and we’d love to help you, too. Below, we have compiled a list of five topics that are most often asked about by our customers. We hope it will provide some clarity on your own bidet questions!

1. Which Bidet Seats Will Fit My Toilet?

Many people are surprised to learn that toilets come in two basic sizes: Round or Elongated. As such, bidet seats also come in these two sizes. So the first thing you’ll want to do is determine if your toilet is round or elongated size. And the easiest way to determine your toilet size is by measuring it. Since measuring your toilet is not exactly something most people have done before or would even know where to begin, we’ve created a helpful bidet seat fitting page which shows you exactly how to measure your toilet correctly. Besides determining your toilet bowl size, there is one other measurement to check that you’ll find on our fitting page, and that is the distance between your water tank and the toilet seat mounting holes. Basically this measurement tells you if you have the necessary clearance behind the seat mounting holes for the rear of the bidet to properly fit. While the vast majority of two-piece toilets are compatible with bidet seats, we have found it difficult to install bidets on a handful of one-piece toilets with a French curve water tank (where the tank has a concave curve that flares forward as it moves outward).

2. Will My Bidet Seat Require Electricity?

When purchasing a bidet toilet seat, many customers overlook the fact that they need a 120V electrical outlet to plug the unit in. The bidet's power cord is approximately 3.5 feet long on most models, so ensure you have access to a grounded outlet nearby for easy installation. Different models have their power cord on different sides of the unit, so you may want to check which side the cord is on first before installing a new outlet. If using an extension cord, it should be rated for a minimum of 15 amps and have a grounded three blade plug receptacle, and any excess cordage should always be safely secured.

3. Are Remote Controls More Practical For Use?

Electric bidet seats are operated either by a remote control or an attached control panel, depending on which model you choose. We have found that for most people, the remote control is the better option. With models that use a remote, you also get a wall-mountable holder that lets you place the remote on any nearby wall or surface, so you can choose where it goes. You can then either press the operating buttons while the remote is in the wall-mounted holder, or you can remove it and hold it in your hand while in use.

In comparison, the attached panel bidets have the operating panel attached to the rear right side of the unit (as you are seated; as you face the toilet it would be on the left side). Because of the placement of the attached panel, you need to turn and look down to the side to see the buttons and reach back to operate. This can be a bit awkward for new users, especially compared to the more accessible remote control option. Additionally most people prefer the aesthetics of the remote control bidet seats because they are more streamlined in appearance without the attached panel sticking out the side of the seat.

4. What’s the Deal with Tankless Heating?

Bidet seats generally are equipped with either a reservoir tank water heater or a tankless water heater. As the name implies, the reservoir tank models keep a reservoir of water continuously heated so it is ready for use when you sit and activate a wash function. With a tankless water heater, the water is heated instantly when the wash function is activated. Tankless water heating is by far the more popular choice for a few reasons.

First, and most immediately, is the fact that the tankless water heating models provide continuous, on-demand warm water for as long as you choose to wash. This is a nice upgrade over the reservoir tank heating system which only provides a limited amount of warm water per wash. After a point you will deplete the warm water, after which the water turns cold. So the tankless models have a clear advantage in this regard. They are also more energy efficient since the heating element is only activated when the wash function is in use, so less electricity is used. The other advantage with tankless heating is that the bidet is slimmer than the reservoir tank models which are a little bulkier in the back of the unit.

5. Is a Bidet a Short-Term or Long-Term Investment?

The last thing to remember is that bidet toilet seats are a long-term investment. This is something you will use every day for several years, so consider which features you really want since you’ll be getting a lot of use from it. Bidet toilet seats are an excellent investment that will improve the comfort and hygiene of your daily bathroom routine. They may not be as cheap as a pack of toilet paper, but a bidet seat will ultimately save more than you spend on it. With a typical lifespan of seven years, one bidet can save hundreds of dollars in toilet paper over its life. That's without mentioning the superior cleaning they provide and the luxurious additional amenities. For a purchase that you won't regret, visit us at bidetsPLUS.com and discover the bathroom investment you’ll enjoy for years to come.