The term “bidet” is a French word meaning “little horse.” When inventors conceived of the body-cleansing fixture, they designed it so that a person straddles the bidet like a pony. Bidets are a normal part of bathroom hygiene throughout the world.
In the Unites States, bidet use hasn’t caught on until very recently. Today, many factors are pushing homeowners and home buyers to request a bidet. There are four main things you should know about bidets while you plan your bathroom remodel.
A New Bidet Solves Many Bathroom Issues
Americans use a lot of toilet paper. Not only is toilet paper prone to clogging sewers and septic tanks, but it isn’t the most comfortable material to use when you have painful issues below. A bidet is a soothing way to cleanse yourself after using the toilet, and it eliminates the need for massive amounts of tree-sourced paper.
If you plan to sell your home, be aware that more young adults—and most people from non-English-speaking countries—expect to see a bidet in the bathroom. If either of these types of people are your potential home buyers, having a bidet can help sell your home faster.
People who have trouble wiping due to arthritis or Parkinson’s disease appreciate having a bidet they can use with the push of a button. Many people with mobility issues and disabilities find that using a bidet is a refreshing way to stay clean. Caregivers appreciate the convenience of the bidet when cleaning up loved ones who have incontinence issues.
A Bidet Is Available for Your Needs
If you want a separate bidet fixture, the classic bidet is one choice. You straddle the classic bidet after using the separate toilet. You must sit facing the opposite way from the way you sit on a standard toilet. You face the wall, using the faucets to direct the spray where you want it.
Classic bidets are hard for kids and old people to navigate, especially after using the toilet. That’s why you might consider an integrated toilet that has all of the features of a toilet and a bidet in one fixture. Go as low-key or as high-tech as you like with new integrated toilets. Some common features include:
- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth speakers
- Warm water spray
- Tankless water heater
- Seat and floor heater
- Nightlight
- Built-in deodorizer
- Air dryers
Other integrated displays have child modes that spray water at a lighter pressure. There are also add-on bidet attachments you can place on your existing toilet. An electronic toilet seat, called a washlet, offers many features of a standard bidet.
Non-electric bidet seats and attachments use your water pressure to deliver cleaning action, but they don’t need any nearby electrical outlet or wiring. If you want to go for the easiest bidet, simply attach a bidet sprayer to your toilet water source. It uses cold water to clean, but it gets the job done.
A Separate Bidet Requires Separate Installation
A plain bidet doesn’t handle solid waste the way a toilet does. If you don’t get an all-in-one toilet/bidet combo, you’ll need to have a separate plumbing line and drain that run to and from the bidet. For this reason, many people only install a bidet when they’re doing a complete bathroom renovation.
Plumbers installing your integrated bidet have an easier time. They will remove your old toilet and install the new fixture. A licensed electrician may need to install new electrical service to the area, but the same is true of an electronic seat.
As long as you have a toilet style that matches the seat shape, you should be able to find a washlet or electronic seat that works. It may be necessary to purchase a new toilet in the elongated or other toilet style to have the toilet-seat cover you want. Hoses and non-electric bidet seats require no special changes in the bathroom.
A Bidet Is Available in Most Price Ranges
There are many options to chose from, so contact us for further information on pricing.
Of course you can always go with the upscale integrated unit like the Swarovski crystal-encrusted toilet combo for $5,000 to $80,000, but again, if you would like a more down-to-earth integrated toilets contact us for options.
Call the plumbing installation pros at Rapid Rooter Plumbing today to learn more about the different features available in bidets today. Whether you’re redoing your entire bathroom or just adding modern conveniences, Rapid Rooter Plumbing handles the job skillfully and professionally.
