As what was once more of a European innovation has begun to find acceptance in North America and in the Orient, more and more persons are looking to include bidets as part of their bathrooms. For those that are building a new home, it is relatively easy to include space for a bidet that is separate from the toilet. Others, working within the confines of an existing bathroom that cannot be expanded, seek other means to include a bidet in their home person hygiene process.
Fortunately, there is more than one means of creating a bidet/toilet combination. Depending on available space and other restrictions, one can make a few minor changes to an existing toilet and enjoy the benefits of a bidet.
As many apartment dwellers can attest, landlords are not usually in favor of the tenant making drastic changes to the basic layouts of the bathroom. Thus, there is a need to adapt the existing toilet to include the function of a bidet. This can be most easily accomplished by opting for a bidet kit that can be easily attached to the toilet, and just as easily removed when the tenant moves.
Essentially, the kit comes with a new seat that will often include a warming element. This element is controlled by a button control console that can be installed within easy reach. Combined with the new seat is often a hand held sprayer that provides all the settings commonly found with a traditional bidet. Thus, the user may adjust the temperature of the water, the pressure of the water stream, and the duration of the stream. Once the cleansing is done, the heating element takes over and dries the area just cleansed.
For homeowners that are free to remodel their bathrooms at will, but still have limited space in the bathroom, the manufactured bidet/toilet combination may be the ideal solution. Equipped with a separate nozzle located behind the bowl portion, the bidet function can be activated immediately after using the toilet. Most of the manufactured bidet/toilet combinations allow for what is considered the proper position to use of a bidet, which is facing the flow of water. For those who feel somewhat embarrassed about reversing positions and facing toward the nozzle, take heart, the nozzle will more than provide adequate water cleansing if you continue to face forward.
There are several key factors to consider once you have determined what bidet/toilet combination is right for your situation. The first is durability of the unit you are looking to purchase. If possible ask for references from persons that have previously purchased the model you are considering. How happy are they with their purchase? Were their some drawbacks they had not anticipated? Would they purchase the same unit again?
Next is the issue if installation. Will the installation a relatively easy one? Do all the necessary components come with the unit, or will there be a need to purchase them separately? Be sure to ask questions about proper installation of the unit and how failure to do so would impact the warranty. If possible, see if the store where you are purchasing the unit has some sort of detailed instructions you can view before you buy, or if they provide short classes on the proper procedure, including any advance preparation you would need to make before beginning the installation.
Your selection should also involve determining what amenities are desired with the unit. How many settings do you wish to have for the temperature and the pressure control for the water? Does the unit need to be equipped with a one nozzle type, or a two nozzle type? How many settings are required for the heated toilet seat? Keep in mind that different family members are likely to prefer different settings, so make sure you take all members of the household into account.
Availability of replacement parts, should they become necessary, is also important to consider. The great news here is that many manufacturers of bidets and bidet/toilet combinations are located within the United States, so obtaining parts should be relatively easy. Before assuming that a domestic manufacturer will be able to provide parts in a timely manner, however, do ask specific questions about the process for ordering replacement parts, how quickly orders are filled, and how long after the order is received that the item will actually be shipped. Also check with the store carrying the unit, and verify what replacement parts they routinely keep in stock.
It should not be surprising that bidets are beginning to catch on in the United States, given the fact that a bidet/toilet combination can be purchased for little more than a good quality traditional toilet. Coupled with the cultural tradition of bathing every day, the bidet will add yet another dimension to the personal hygiene habits of many people over the next several years.
