What Are They?

Washlets - sometimes called bidet toilet seats - and bidets help you clean yourself after using the toilet, without the need for toilet paper. A bidet is a porcelain, stand-alone fixture that you straddle, while a washlet is a seat that fits onto your existing toilet.

Bidets typically come in two models. One sprays water from the front toward the back, and the other sprays from the bottom straight up.

Washlets come in many styles, including some with heated seats, warm air dry, customizable settings for the wash, auto opening and closing of the seat, MP3 player capability, auto-flush when the lid closes, deodorizers, and self-cleaning systems. They have an added benefit of helping to keep your toilet working well, since there’s no toilet paper to clog up the line. Not every washlet has all these features, so choose the ones that are most desirable for your needs.

Installation

Washlets are designed to be a DIY installation because it takes just a few minutes. If you have a new toilet installed at the same time, however, your plumber can certainly hook it up. They fit onto your toilet in the place of a traditional toilet seat and use a T connector to tap into your toilet’s water supply. Your washlet requires electricity, so you must have a GFCI outlet nearby.

Bidets need to be installed by a professional. They come off your existing plumbing but need new supply and waste lines. The plumber will split off the new lines to the bidet. It will be set and sealed into place, and then the plumbing lines are connected. The length of time to install a bidet varies depending on the location and if there is a “water wall” with pipes already there. The farther the pipes need to travel, the longer the installation will take.

Comfortability

The comfort level of a washlet or bidet depends on the user. Washlets come in many styles, some of which are more comfortable than others.

Keep in mind that when using a bidet, you must move from the toilet to the next fixture, straddle it, and lower yourself down. Because bidets are often lower than a toilet, using it may be difficult or painful for people with mobility issues. The bidet faucet does allow you to adjust things like temperature and pressure, which can allow you to better customize your experience.

In many cases, a washlet is considered more comfortable because you can include heat for the seat or adjust the spray type. Bidets do allow you to alter the water pressure manually, but you are still sitting directly on cold porcelain.

Resale Value

Neither washlets nor bidets add much value to your home. Bidets are more common in Europe and are rarely found in American households. Washlets are more popular, but because they can be easily disconnected, removed, and taken to your new home, they do not impact resale.