What is a Bidet: Are Smart Bidets Worth It in Australia?

What a Smart Bidet Toilet Seat Actually Is

A couple of weeks ago, I was working with one of my clients on a bathroom renovation project in the inner west. This client asked me the question I get asked more and more often these days: what is a bidet and why would I care about one? Well, to be honest, most Australians don’t know the answer to this question. They think it’s a separate porcelain item that sits next to your toilet or something that is only popular in Europe. Well, not quite. In simple terms, a smart bidet toilet seat is an electric toilet seat that you install on your toilet pan and it comes with all the features like water cleansing, heated drying, comfort etc. built in.

I have been designing and specifying toilets for the past three decades and what I love about smart bidet toilet seats is that they have come a long way in terms of functionality and usability. These seats sit on your existing toilet pan, connect to your water supply and all you need is a power point next to your toilet. That is it. It is not rocket science. The water pressure and temperature are adjustable and most smart bidet seats come with adjustable spray jets. You are not forced to use the features, it’s just a matter of choosing which ones you like.

Features Worth Investing In

Not all smart bidet seats come with the same features, but personally, I think you should think very carefully about what you need. For example, the heated seat is great if you use the toilet during the colder months. It’s a nice feature to have but if you live in Darwin, you probably couldn’t care less about this feature. The adjustable water temperature and pressure is a must. There is nothing worse than having a fixed temperature and pressure setting. It just doesn’t work. Some smart bidet seats come with air-drying function. Now, I have tried a few different models and some are better than others. Some give you a nice warm airflow while others just feel like a gentle breeze. If you are looking at installing one of these seats, I would suggest you try before you buy. Some seats also come with a night light which is great if you have a bathroom with no natural light and deodoriser. Yes, you read correctly. A deodoriser. Now, I am not sure how well they work, but if you have a major issue with smells in your bathroom, it might be worth considering. However, I would suggest you get to the bottom of the smell issue first before spending your money on a deodorising seat.

From a designer’s perspective, what is a bidet seat worth investing in? In my view, you should at least consider the following three features: adjustable water temperature, heated seat and a self-cleaning nozzle. The nozzle sterilises itself before and after each use which is just great for a large household. Some seats also come with remote control which is very convenient while others come with a wireless pad on the side of the seat. Now, this is just a personal preference, but I prefer the remote control to the wireless pad. However, some of my clients prefer the pad to the remote control. At the end of the day, it is just a matter of personal preference. Personally, I hate the look of the wireless pad on the side of the seat, but hey, that is just me.

Installation and What It Costs

In terms of the installation cost, it is relatively simple. You unscrew your existing seat and replace it with the bidet seat. You then connect the cold water supply to the seat and plug it in. Most of my clients do this themselves, but if you are not comfortable with this sort of thing, you can always get a plumber to do it. The bidet installation cost in Australia ranges from $150 to $400 depending on the plumber you use. The cost of the unit itself ranges from $400 for a basic unit to $2,000+ for a premium brand. Now, if you are renovating your bathroom, the cost is relatively minimal. I recently specified a bidet seat for one of my clients and the total cost of the seat and electrician was $1,100.

Design Integration and the Integrated Option

So, is it worth it? Well, in my view, it depends on whether you are going to use the features or not. I have had clients in the past who have invested in a seat because they want the heated air-drying feature, but hardly ever use it. So, it is a bit of a waste of money. My suggestion would be to only pay for the features you are going to use. With a conventional bidet, you need space for a separate fixture. That’s not an issue at all with a smart bidet seat. When I’m designing smaller bathroom layouts for clients, I often recommend a smart bidet seat specifically because it doesn’t take up any extra floor space. Visually, the smart bidet seat is relatively discreet, especially if it’s the same colour as the toilet bowl itself. Most smart bidet seats are white, although you’ll find some black and grey units out there. The only bit that may not sit well with more traditional bathroom styles is the electrical lead, as it looks best if you can somehow secure it to the wall or conceal it behind a vanity. If you want to explore smart bidet seats, there are some excellent ranges on the market through specialist retailers. The Japanese toilet Australia market has grown considerably, and many of those same retailers will carry bidets in a range of formats from entry-level to prestige. If you are looking at a complete toilet and bidet upgrade as part of a new bathroom fit-out, a smart integrated unit where the bidet functions are fully integrated into the toilet will always look better than a smart bidet seat perched on top of a conventional toilet pan.

Common Concerns

So what is a bidet actually going to do about underlying plumbing problems? This is one of the big questions on a lot of people’s lips, and the answer is nothing. If your toilet smells like sewage, there’s a basic plumbing issue somewhere that needs fixing. That might be a dry P-trap, a cracked seal, or a vent issue, but whatever it is, you need to get a plumber in to investigate and fix it. A smart bidet seat will deodorise everyday bathroom smells, but if you’ve got a persistent sewage smell, it’s not going to be the solution.

How much maintenance is involved? Maintenance on a smart bidet seat is very low. The nozzles are self-cleaning, you can wipe the seat and housing with a damp cloth, and the filter on the water inlet, if your model has one, may need replacing once a year at most. I’ve got clients who have been using their smart bidet seats for over five years now without any issues at all. Will a smart bidet seat work for me if I’m only doing part of a new bathroom fit-out? Yes. If you’re looking at smart bidet seats as part of general toilet renovation ideas, and you’re not ready to do a full bathroom renovation, you can easily stage it. All you need to do is have a power point installed and fit the smart bidet seat, and you are set.