The bidet is a universal fixture in bathrooms throughout Europe, Asia, and South America that has slowly started to gain some popularity in North America. According to SNWS Digital, the average American spends around $182 on toilet paper each year, meaning that over the course of a lifetime, people spend roughly $11,198.88 on toilet paper. With those numbers in mind, you may be curious about installing a bidet of your own. This week, we’re telling you everything you need to know about home bidet systems.
What Is A Bidet?
Simply put, Bidets use water to wash you after using the restroom, and no, they don’t use toilet water to do this. The attachment redirects pipe water to a nozzle you control, and the water source is the same one that your shower and sink use. Praised for being less wasteful and more sanitary than toilet paper, bidets have been a trendy alternative for toilet paper in many countries worldwide.
Health Benefits
The idea of a bidet turns many people off because they find it too invasive, but it’s just a way to wash without hopping in the shower. Bidets can significantly help with cleanliness and hygiene and can even aid in reducing rashes, hemorrhoids, urinary tract infections, and other medical issues.
Environmental Impact
Using a bidet is one of the many ways to reduce your carbon footprint. While it saves a ton of toilet paper, it also doesn’t use as much water as one might think. The bidet uses only one-eighth of a gallon, while it takes about 37 gallons of water to make a single roll of toilet paper. It also takes almost 400 trees to make a lifetime supply of one person’s toilet paper, which also would be saved by converting to a bidet. So a bidet is not only easier on your plumbing, but the world.
Cost
There are a range of bidet types on the market, each with their own costs. The three most popular choices, in order of price, are:
Toilet Attachment Bidet: These small, one-piece bidet units are known for their cost-effectiveness and simple design. The smallest type of bathroom bidet, these are designed to fit under any regular toilet seat. They feature spray controls that are accessible on a small console. Costs vary, but most models of this type cost around $40 to $100.
Toilet Seat Bidet: The next step up from an attachment is a model that replaces a regular toilet seat with one that can spray water. There are many to choose from, some basic and some with many settings and features. These toilet seat bidets cost from $200 to $700 or more depending on the features, with most models falling somewhere in the middle.
Bidet Toilet: Want a high-end bidet but don’t have space for a stand-alone unit? Bidet toilets are a good compromise. Bidet toilet seats and attachments are retrofit solutions, and bidet toilets combine waste disposal and cleansing all in one. The fanciest models have multiple settings for adjusting water pressure, temperature, and spray pattern. Less expensive models start at around $800, with most retailing for $1,500 to $2,000.
Conclusion
A bidet is a soothing, low-cost bathroom addition that can help the planet while improving personal hygiene. Have questions about adding a bidet or other luxury features to your bathroom? Contact us today!