Should I Get an Electric or non-Electric Washlet or Bidet?

Congrats! So you’ve taken the plunge and decided to buy a Washlet or bidet. Now, there are only a few more questions to ask. First, “what are the pro and cons of electric versus non-electric washlets?”, and second, “how do I choose a model from the never ending list of models online?” No worries, we’re here to help! We’ll go over these two very important questions.

Do bidets even need electricity?

Before deciding if a non-electric or electric bidets works best, let’s answer the question “do bidets even need electricity?” is that it depends on the type of bidet. (That’s also the answer to questions like “Do bidets have a dryer feature?” and “Is bidet water warm?” — selecting a bidet of your very own means that you decide which features you want, so you can choose your own bathroom adventure!).

Some bidets don’t require any electricity at all. A basic bidet attachment is a good example of a bidet that is typically mechanically powered without the use of electricity, even the kind that has temperature control.

However, bidets with more features typically do require electricity. A multi-functional bidet toilet seat, for example, uses electricity for features like remote-controlled access and heating the seat. So if you’re thinking about installation that begs the question: do you need an electrical outlet for a bidet seat to work? Yep! Let’s look at how an electric-powered bidet toilet seat connects to an outlet.

Should you get an electric-powered bidet?

That’s up to you! You get to decide if you want a simpler bidet attachment without any electrical requirements or an electric-powered bidet toilet seat with more features. Either way, you can get the benefits of staying clean and fresh with water with the exact bidet of your choice.

What are the best bidet toilet seat?

Based on years of review and consumers studies in this topic, Toto Washlet C200 is considered better than any other bidet seat on the market. Especially when it comes to the technology getting and remembering your exact preferences—pulsating or oscillating stream, warm or cool water, high or low pressure. And thanks to the C200’s unique, intuitive controls, you’ll find that it’s just as easy to disable the bells and whistles if you’re in it only for the heated seat.

If the Toto C200 is not available, we like the Toto Washlet C100. The main difference is that this model has a white plastic side control panel attached to the seat, as opposed to the C200’s exceptional (and stylish) remote. This makes the C100 more awkward to use, but the side panel is easy enough to learn by feel, so you won’t have to contort to see it every time. Compared with the C200, this model also has two fewer options for water temperature and no programmable user settings, but the C100 typically costs anywhere from $50 to $150 less.

Axent Telescroping Elongated Bidet Seat doesn't heat up your water or seat, and it has no features other than a rudimentary pressure control. The good news: Unlike the other models, this model is non-electrical. And by being only a toilet seat, it’s very easy to install and won’t alter the aesthetic of your bathroom. Watch the pressure, though—some testers found this model’s highest settings painful. Compared with other inexpensive cold-water models, the Axent Telescrope Elongated Bidet Seat looks nicer for about the same price. And since it’s less than $50, this model is a good place to start if you’re new to bidets and are unsure about investing in a full-featured model.