Choosing the Right Bidet Tap

After disappearing from our bathrooms for a few years, the bidet is making a comeback for its practicality, from a hygienic standpoint of course, but also for its environmentally friendly aspects.

Choosing the right bidet tap can considerably reduce the amount of toilet paper used, helping avoiding the saturation of city sewage systems and water treatment plants. It should also be noted that it also takes much more water to produce toilet paper than simply using a bidet.

Bidet taps have evolved considerably in order to best meet the hygiene needs of users today.

View our Bidet tap

  • How to choose the right bidet tap?

    In order to choose the right bidet tap, it is important to know the different types and functions as well as ways it can save water and energy. It’s equally important to know the proper maintenance.

    Here is a nine-point guide to help during the process.

    • Single or double handled mixer
    • Stand-alone bidet tap
    • Add-on bidet tap
    • Swivel spout 
    • Pull-out hand shower
    • Materials
    • Installation
    • Water and energy savings
    • Maintaining the bidet tap
  • Choosing between a single or a double handle mixer tap

    There are advantages to both the single and double handle mixer so your choice will mainly depend on preference.

    The single handle mixer tap is practical for bidet faucets as it regulates both the flow and the temperature of the water, by activating it vertically in the first case, horizontally in the second (to the left for hot water, to the right for cold water).

    The double handle mixer tap has one handle that regulates the cold water and another one for the hot water. It is the simplest mixer for bidet faucets; however, despite the fact that it’s usually less expensive, it requires both hands to make it function. It requires additional time to reach the right temperature, playing on the flow of cold and hot water, causing some water wastage. 

    single handle bidet mixer tap by GRAFF

    Single handle bidet mixer tap by GRAFF

    double handle bidet mixer tap by GUGLIELMI

    Double handle bidet mixer tap by GUGLIELMI

  • What should I know about stand-alone bidet taps?

    The stand-alone type is a fixture that is installed as a separate unit beside the toilet bowl is hand-held. An advantage of a stand-alone bidet tap is that it can clean not only the private parts but also your feet. A disadvantage of the stand-alone bidet tap is the plumbing installation involved which adds to the overall cost. Other modern stand-alone bidet taps can be controlled mechanically with the turn of a tap or electronically with the aid of a remote control or waterproof electrical switches installed beside the bidet tap.

  • What should I know about add-on bidet taps?

    The add-on bidet tap is attached to the toilet bowl, saving space and eliminating the need to install plumbing for an additional unit, making it less costly than the stand-alone bidet tap. Also known as an “attachable bidet”, an add-on bidet tap can have a movable or fixed nozzle attached to the back or side of the toilet bowl rim. Some add-on bidet taps create a vertical water jet and others an oblique water spray. They are built with either single or double handle mixer taps in order to adjust the water temperature for washing intimate parts with comfort and ease.  Add-on bidet taps are connected to the toilet bowl’s water supply via a threaded tee pipe adapter.

  • What should I know about the hand shower for bidet taps?

    A stand-alone bidet tap has a hand shower while an add-on bidet tap attached to the toilet bowl has a swivel spout that you can adjust to aim directly at the area to be washed. An advantage of the hand shower is that it is easy to use, though it can create puddles in the washroom due to the spraying action. 

  • What should I know about the swivel spout for bidet taps?

    swivel-spout-for-bidet-tap-by-RUBINETTERIE-STELLA.jpg

    Swivel-spout-for-bidet-tap-by-RUBINETTERIE-STELLA.jpg

    The swivel spout on the other hand can be advantageous as the spout can be adjusted to the preferred angle, directly aiming the nozzle tip at the area to be washed. It can have a mixer with one or two knobs that are manipulated to regulate hot and cold water that can make washing private parts more comfortable. A disadvantage of the swivel spout is that it is limited to washing private parts.

  • What about materials for bidet taps?

    The body of the bidet faucet is usually made of metal but can benefit from different surface treatments.
    Mostly chrome, it can come in a polished or glossy finish to reflect the light. But there are also models in brass and copper that give a more retro look.

  • What about the installation for bidet taps?

    The most common types of installation are free-standing, countertop, wall-mounted, built-in and floor-mounted. The installation usually requires the drilling of a single hole from which hot and cold water pass; this is the most simple and inexpensive installation. Some models add an extractable hand shower at the tap.

  • How can you save water and energy with your bidet tap?

    Here are some ways that you can help save the environment and conserve water and energy with your bidet tap:

    •  Check the seals and valves to ensure that they work properly in order to avoid leaks that will lead to water wastage. 
    • Install water saving aerators. This can reduce the flow of water to 3.8 liters per minute regardless of pressure fluctuations, saving up to 70 percent.

    Use new resource-efficient bidet taps. The latest technology for tracking water usage can be a smart idea to efficiently save water and energy. For example, Hansgrohe’s bidet taps from their Talis S and Metropol Classic product range come with an EcoSmart technology that automatically limits the rate of water flow leading to only 5 liters of water consumed per minute.

  • How to maintain a bidet tap?

    Cleaning your bidet tap at least once a week is essential to remove accumulated bacteria. If you have a stand-alone bidet tap with a pull-out hand shower, be mindful of the build-up of dirt and bacteria in the nozzles and handles. Remove dirt and bacteria with an antibacterial wipe or a wet sponge with cleaning soap.  

    Most bidet taps get their water supply from the T-valve of the toilet bowl’s water supply, so check both the valve and the pipes for leaks and if there are any leaks turn off the water from the toilet to the tap until they are fixed properly.

  • New Trends

    Modern technological developments have led to the creation of more high-tech bidet taps, some of which feature sensors for hands-free activation, for example. Here are some of the latest trends for bidet taps:

    • Bidet taps controlled by remote controls or buttons. Many add-on bidet taps on the market can now beoperated by controls attached next to the toilet bowl seat. This is very convenient as there is no need to turn valves and reach behind the toilet to mix hot and cold water to get the perfect temperature before spraying. You can activate it with a simple push of the button. 
    • Warm air drying. This is a feature that can be installed where hot air comes out of the nozzle spray to dry the private parts that were washed.
    • Directional spray control. This new feature for bidet taps detects movement and the body part to be washed. The nozzle of the bidet tap adjusts automatically, via a remote control, and aims directly at the part to be washed.
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