Electric vs Non-Electric Bidet Toilet Seat Comparison
We love our electronic bidet seats here at Alpha Bidet. Nothing beats the feeling of a nice warm seat on a chilly morning. Warm water when you need it, cold water when you don’t. The comfort of simply pressing a button and having a warm stream of water clean you is a luxury we cannot understate.
But, for some of our customers, having a warm water feature is either unnecessary or not feasible. Some customers only require a simple bidet that will wash them after using the toilet.
So, with this in mind, which is right for you?
Electronic Bidet Toilet Seats
Installation Requirements: Access to a cold water line from the shut off valve near the toilet and a standard GFCI electrical outlet.
Pros: Simple, straightforward, convenient, and luxury. A heated seat is standard on all electronic bidet seats along with warm water in both rear and front wash. Users are able to control the pressure and temperature of the water either by an attached control panel or a wall mounted remote control. The water is instantly warm and the nozzle is usually adjustable. Elderly and/or disabled customers can greatly benefit from an electronic bidet seat. Rather than having to reposition their bodies and fine tune a control knob, these customers can simply press a button on their provided wall mounted remote control.This can also be advantageous for users who are left handed as the remote control can be mounted on either side of the toilet. Electronic bidets also give you the option of eliminating the use of toilet paper as most bidet seats have warm air dryers.
Cons: One downside of electronic bidets is they tend to be pricier than non-electric models. Prices for an electronic bidet usually range from $200-$1000 depending on the quality of the bidet seat. And being that these are electronic bidet seats, having access to an electrical outlet is a must. Extension cords can be used, but this is not always possible depending on the layout of the bathroom and can be an added cost to the installation process. But for those users who do have access to an outlet, the installation process will be effortless.
Non-Electric Bidet Toilet Attachments
Installation Requirements: Majority only require a cold water line from the shut off valve near the toilet. Some non-electric models also have the option to hookup into a hot water source via a hot water valve underneath a nearby sink.
Pros: Non-electric bidets are affordable and most toilets are compatible with them. Many non-electric models attach directly to the toilet bowl, underneath the existing toilet seat. Prices for non-electric models usually range from $20-$200. Being that they work directly off the water pressure coming from your pipes, the spray pressure is usually extremely strong. Installing a bidet attachment is usually pretty easy if you only require cold water. Non-electric models do just as good of a job cleaning you as do electronic models.
Cons: A non-electric bidet attachment can be a little more difficult to use than an electronic bidet. The strength/pressure coming from the bidet nozzle is controlled via a control knob or pull lever. As such, finding the appropriate spray pressure for yourself can take some practice as the spray pressure varies from a gentle stream to a very strong one. The nozzles, oftentimes, are not adjustable to shifting/scooting your butt forward and back may be required to get a full clean. Customer’s should also be aware that, although some non-electric models do have the option to tap into your sink's hot water supply, the speed at which you will start feeling warm water coming from the bidet is entirely dependent on how quick you can get hot water from your bathroom sink/valve. You may have to flush the cold water out of the pipes a few times in order to start receiving warm water. Getting a hot water supply to the bidet is another issue. This all depends on your bathroom's layout because you may not have a sink you can connect to.
FEATURES:
A big difference customers will quickly notice between non-electric bidets and electric models is their features. Non-electric bidets have a very limited amount of features included. Two major features lacking on non-electric bidets are warm water and nozzle adjustments. Even in the case where a non-electric bidet can have warm water, you would need to connect a hot water kit into your sink’s water supply valve which oftentimes requires drilling into a vanity closet.
For the full bidet experience, customers will want to look at electric models. Features included in most electric bidets include warm water, adjustable nozzle position, nozzle oscillation, heated seat, pulsation, warm air dryer, and much more. Instillation is also usually easier due to not needing to drill into a vanity closet or any other obstacle that may be in between your toilet and the sink valve. With an electric bidet, access to all these features is just a plug away.
Water Pressure:
Non-electric bidets get the edge over electric models in terms of overall spray pressure. Non-electric models will have at least the force and volume of an electric model at their highest pressure setting. This is due to the fact that non-electric bidets use your home's water pressure which is a lot stronger than the internal pump inside of an electric bidet. For some, having the absolute strongest spray pressure is the most important factor when choosing a bidet. All other features fall to the wayside. For others, however, spray pressure does not need to be extremely powerful and for these folks, having more features included in their bidet is a better choice.
Many customers who own non-electric bidets admit that they never use their bidets at their highest spray setting. Having a very strong spray is uncomfortable for some. With that said, most non-electric bidet users tend to use their bidets at the medium pressure setting which electric bidets can match.
Installation:
The installation process for both types of bidets can vary in difficulty. In certain cases where an electrical outlet is within four feet of the toilet, installation of an electric bidet can be very easy. But in cases where there is not an outlet near the toilet, an electrician may be needed. Non-electric bidets do not have this dilemma as they just need to simply be connected to your toilet's shut off valve.
Cost:
Non-electric bidets will always be more affordable compared to electric bidets but this can mean that they are less durable over time.
