A bidet is a fixture that cleans you with a stream of water after using the toilet. In Europe it was traditionally a separate porcelain basin next to the toilet; in Canada today it is almost always a bidet seat that replaces the seat on the toilet you already own, or an integrated smart toilet with the washing built in. Warm water, a heated seat and a warm-air dryer come standard on mid-range models, and the whole thing plugs into an ordinary outlet.

This guide answers the questions we get most from Canadian customers: what the different types are, how an electric bidet actually works, how to use one without making a mess the first time, what they cost, and how to install a bidet seat yourself.

The five types of bidet

In practice the choice in a Canadian home comes down to the first two. A standalone bidet needs floor space and plumbing most bathrooms do not have, and the non-electric options spray unheated water, which in a Toronto or Montreal January arrives at the nozzle at 5–10°C.

How an electric bidet seat works

Inside the seat is a small water heater, a retractable stainless steel or resin nozzle, a pump and a control board. The sequence when you press “wash”:

1. Cold water enters from the T-valve on the toilet’s supply line. There is no hot-water connection.
2. The heater brings it to temperature. Older seats used a small tank kept warm; current Toto and Duravit models use a tankless instant heater, so the warm water never runs out and the seat draws less standby power.
3. The nozzle extends from its housing at the back of the seat, rinses itself, then sprays at the angle and pressure you chose. Rear wash and front (feminine) wash use different nozzle positions.
4. Oscillation and pulse settings move the stream or vary the pressure for a more thorough clean.
5. The nozzle retracts and self-cleans. Toto seats with EWATER+ also mist the bowl and nozzle with electrolyzed water to slow staining.
6. The warm-air dryer runs for a minute or two. Most people still use a small amount of paper to pat dry; consumption drops by roughly three-quarters.

The heated seat and a carbon deodorizer run continuously at low power. A typical seat uses about as much electricity as a night light on standby and briefly 1,000–1,400 W while heating water.

How to use a bidet, step by step

1. Sit down normally and use the toilet. The seat sensor knows you are there; the wash will not run on an empty seat.
2. Press rear wash on the side panel or remote. The nozzle extends and starts spraying warm water. Default pressure is medium; adjust up or down.
3. Shift slightly forward or back to position the stream, or press the nozzle-position button to move it.
4. Wash for 20–60 seconds. Use oscillate if you want the stream to sweep.
5. Press stop, then dry. The warm-air dryer takes 1–3 minutes; pat with a little paper if you are in a hurry.
6. Stand up and flush. On smart toilets the lid closes and the flush happens automatically.

Why people switch, and the one real downside

• Cleaner. Water removes what paper smears. Dermatologists recommend water over wiping for people with hemorrhoids, fissures, IBS or skin sensitivity.
• Less paper. Most households cut toilet paper use by 70–80%. Over a year that is real money and several trees.
• Easier for mobility issues. A remote-controlled seat lets someone with limited reach or arthritis stay independent.
• Warm seat in winter. Not a small thing in a Canadian bathroom in February.
• The downside: you need an outlet by the toilet. Most Canadian bathrooms built before about 2010 do not have one, and adding a GFCI outlet costs $150–$400 with an electrician. That is the whole barrier for most homes.

What bidets cost in Canada

Toto Washlet C5

$801

The entry point: warm wash, heated seat, dryer

Toto Washlet S7

$1,747

Remote, auto lid, EWATER+, instant heat

Streamline Smart Toilet

$1,799

Whole fixture, no cord or hose showing

Will a bidet seat fit my toilet?

Three checks, all with a tape measure:

• Bowl shape. Measure from the seat bolts to the front rim. About 18-1/2 inches is elongated, about 16-1/2 is round. Most bidet seats are elongated; Toto makes round versions of the C5.
• Bolt spacing. Centre to centre of the two seat bolt holes should be 5-1/2 inches. Nearly every North American toilet is.
• Tank clearance. A one-piece toilet with a sloped or French-curve tank can block the seat’s rear housing. Check the seat’s minimum distance from bolts to tank on the spec sheet, typically 1-3/4 inches.

Duravit SensoWash seats are the exception: they are made for specific Duravit toilets (ME by Starck, DuraStyle, Starck C, D-Neo) and come in exposed- or concealed-connection versions to match. If you have a Duravit toilet, match the seat to the model; if not, a Toto Washlet fits almost anything.

How to install a bidet seat

Budget 30–60 minutes and no special tools. Everything below is in the box with a Toto Washlet.

1. Turn off the water at the shut-off valve beside the toilet and flush to empty the tank.
2. Remove the old seat. Two bolts, usually plastic, at the back of the bowl.
3. Attach the mounting plate to the bolt holes with the supplied bolts and rubber sleeves. Do not fully tighten yet.
4. Install the T-valve. Unscrew the supply line from the bottom of the tank, screw the T-valve onto the tank inlet, reconnect the supply line to the bottom of the T, and connect the bidet hose to the side outlet.
5. Slide the seat onto the plate until it clicks. Square it to the bowl, then tighten the mounting bolts.
6. Connect the hose to the seat inlet and turn the water back on. Check the T-valve and both hose ends for drips.
7. Plug into a GFCI outlet. The seat runs a self-test and the nozzle cycles. Run a wash with the lid down to purge air.

Bidet seat or smart toilet?

If your toilet is in good shape and you just want the wash, a seat is the cheaper route and installs in an afternoon. If you are replacing the toilet anyway, an integrated smart toilet is cleaner-looking, with no cord, hose or seam, and the lid and flush automate. At $1,799 the Streamline and Canary integrated toilets cost about the same as a premium seat plus a mid-range toilet, which is why they have become the default for ensuite renovations.

Frequently asked questions

What does a bidet do?

It washes you with a directed stream of water after using the toilet, replacing most or all of the toilet paper you would otherwise use. Electric bidet seats add warm water, a heated seat, a warm-air dryer and a deodorizer.

Do bidets need hot water?

No. Electric bidet seats connect only to the toilet’s cold-water line and heat the water inside the seat, most now with an instant tankless heater.

Do you still need toilet paper with a bidet?

Usually a little, to pat dry, unless you wait for the air dryer. Most households cut paper use by 70–80%.

Are bidets hygienic?

Yes. The nozzle rinses itself before and after each use and retracts behind a shutter. Toto EWATER+ models also mist the nozzle and bowl with electrolyzed water. Water cleans more thoroughly than dry paper, which is why doctors recommend bidets for hemorrhoids and skin conditions.

How long does it take to install a bidet seat?

Thirty to sixty minutes with the included T-valve and hose, provided there is a GFCI outlet within cord reach. Adding an outlet is an electrician’s job of one to two hours.

Can you install a bidet in a condo?

Yes. A bidet seat is a non-permanent change that connects to the existing supply line; it needs no board approval in most buildings. An outlet installation may.