Today’s question is all about how non-electric bidets work. There are actually a few different types of non-electric bidets, and we’ll be touching on each.
Non-electric bidets are mechanical devices that operate purely on water pressure. Using a connector, water from the cold service line is directed both to the toilet tank and the bidet, whether it’s an attachment or a handheld sprayer. Some attachments can also provide warm water by connecting to the sink’s hot water shutoff valve.
This means that non-electric bidets typically don’t have many features. If you want warm water, a special adapter is required to connect the supply hose to a faucet.
Understanding how non-electric bidets work is a great question. If you’re not familiar with plumbing or engineering, it might not be immediately clear how a stream of water could be produced without the use of an electric motor.
And what about non-electric bidets that spray warm water? How is the water heated? For your information, non-electric bidets that provide warm water are quite rare. More on that later.
In this article, we will explore the various types of non-electric bidets available, how they function, and their advantages and disadvantages.
Non-Electric Bidets: A Primer
First a quick note. The rest of the article will make much more sense if you’re familiar with the different types of bidets.
Non-electric bidets come in three types:
1. Modern attachments: Similar to bidet seats, these attach to your existing toilet, but they don’t replace any parts (bidet seats replace the seat and lid of your toilet). They are installed just beneath your toilet seat, using the same bolt holes. These attachments consist of a part that connects to the toilet, a nozzle that sprays water at your rear, and a control arm that extends to the side. The control arm is used to turn the bidet on, adjust the water pressure, and more.
2. Handheld sprayers: These are sprayers that resemble the ones often found in kitchen sinks. They are positioned next to the toilet. Unlike attachments, they aren’t automatic. When you’re ready to use them, you grab the sprayer, position it under your lower body, and give yourself a manual rinse.
3. Primitive attachments: To be thorough, I’ll mention these. Although they are still occasionally found on the market, they are far less common. Like modern attachments, they are fixed to the toilet and don’t replace any parts. However, they are made entirely of metal, and the nozzle in the toilet bowl is mostly fixed in place. Unlike the retractable nozzles found in modern bidet attachments, primitive ones remain in position, posing the risk of becoming soiled or contaminated by urine.
In my experience, the term “non-electric bidet” usually refers to the modern bidet attachments described above.
So, 9 out of 10 times this is what’s meant by non-electric bidet.
For instance, traditional standalone European-style bidets (the separate washbasins) are non-electric but are seldom referred to as non-electric bidets.
The handheld sprayer is the original non-electric bidet that sprays water, which is why I bring them up here. The best handheld bidets are leak-resistant and can provide warm water with the right attachments.
As mentioned earlier, handheld sprayers are not commonly referred to as non-electric bidets. In fact, if you search online for non-electric bidets, modern attachments are what typically appear first.
If you’re considering a non-electric bidet, I’d suggest the Tushy Classic or a reliable LUXE model like the Neo 320. While some attachments can be bulky and unattractive, the Tushy Classic is not.
The Tushy model stands out as one of the most visually appealing designs you’ll find. It’s well-made, doesn’t leak, and provides an exceptionally thorough clean.
Now, let’s dive into how these attachments work without electricity.
Getting the Water to the Bidet
Standalone bidets, like the European style, have several specific plumbing requirements, but handheld bidets, seats, and attachments are much simpler.
Water is supplied to modern bidets in the same way it’s supplied to any other non-heated appliance in your home.
Your property receives treated, pressurized water from the city’s main water line. Large water pumps provide all the pressure needed to transport the water from the pumps to your body.
Water is carried through a supply line from the mainline to your home.
Once it reaches your property, the mainline leads to the water heater. However, just before it gets there, it splits off to feed the cold water service line, which supplies water to non-heated appliances like the toilet.
In short, the water pressure that reaches your toilet and non-electric bidet is more than sufficient. In fact, it’s often much greater than the pressure created by electric pumps found in electrically-powered bidet seats and toilets.
People often believe that an electric motor would be necessary to produce a strong enough stream of water for thorough cleaning.
Most electric bidets heat the water first and then use a small pump to push it through the nozzle.
Since non-electric bidets rely on the home’s water pressure to deliver water through the nozzle, the maximum pressure on these models is usually higher compared to bidet seats and toilet combinations.
Of course, you’ll have a pressure control dial to adjust the water flow to your preference.
Getting the Water to Your Bum
When you buy or install a non-electric bidet, you will be connecting an adapter. Adapters come in different styles—some are larger T-valves or T-connectors, while others are smaller and consist only of threaded sections without valves.
Typically, water flows directly from your wall (via the small shut-off valve next to the toilet) to the toilet tank.
When you set up your bidet, the adapter will be used to divert water to both the toilet tank and the bidet attachment or handheld sprayer.
The dial on the control arm (or the trigger on handheld bidets) is then used to adjust the water pressure through the nozzle.
How Do Bidet Attachments Work?
Bidet attachments are completely mechanical, functioning solely on water pressure. Even the retractable wands are non-electric. They attach to your existing toilet underneath the seat without replacing any parts. Those that spray warm water get their water supply from the hot water shutoff valve under the sink.
A common concern people have when they first look into bidets is whether they get poop on them.
Modern bidets, including attachments, seats, and bidet-toilet combos, have nozzles or wands that retract when not in use.
These nozzles only extend when needed. Additionally, most bidet seats and bidet-toilet combos come with self-cleaning nozzles that rinse off after each use. Some modern attachments offer this feature as well.
While self-cleaning wands are less common on attachments, they are still a fairly common option.
You might be wondering how non-electric bidets can extend or retract their components. With electric seats and bidet-toilet combos, it’s clear because they use electricity.
However, for non-electric bidets, the technology varies by model, but the nozzle’s extension and retraction are entirely mechanical, powered by water pressure.
Here’s a modern bidet attachment.
But again, that applies to modern types. What about the primitive all-metal bidet attachments?
The primitive bidet attachments, as mentioned earlier in the article, are made of metal and are fixed to the toilet bowl.
Old-fashioned bidet attachments don’t extend or retract automatically. They can swivel on a hinge, allowing you to push them aside to some degree, but unlike most modern bidet attachments, they don’t fully move out of the way.
Here’s an older model attachment that needs to be extended and retracted manually.
Notice that when retracted, the nozzle remains exposed to the contents of the toilet bowl.
Being more primitive, you might assume this type would be cheaper than modern attachments, but that’s not always the case. I’ve seen some priced between $150 and $200, whereas most modern attachments are typically under $100.
I’m not sure what the appeal is for this kind, other than the fact that they have more chrome than a Harley Davidson exhaust system.
They offer fewer features than modern attachments, and yet, they don’t seem to be any cheaper, with some even carrying a higher price tag.
Non-Electric Bidets Lack Features that Need Electricity
Non-electric bidets, whether attachments or handheld sprayers, are designed for minimalists. They simply shoot water and don’t offer many additional features.
Electric bidets, on the other hand, come with several impressive features, depending on the model:
- Digital temperature control: Most non-electric bidets lack temperature control. Electric bidets heat the water instantly, so you don’t need extra attachments connected to your sink. Bidet attachments that connect to the sink’s hot water shutoff valve require a specific bathroom setup. Those that hook directly to the sink require a hose or connector attached to the faucet constantly.
- Remote controls: While bidet attachments use control arms that are often bulky, electric models with control arms tend to be sleeker and more stylish.
- Dryer: Since they are electric, most models include a dryer that blows air to dry you off after washing, eliminating the need for toilet paper or a towel.
- Self-cleaning bowl: Many electric bidets self-clean, spraying the toilet bowl with a cleaner before and after each use. Some even clean the bowl at regular intervals when not in use.
- Deodorization: An electric fan circulates air through a carbon filter, keeping your bidet and bathroom smelling fresh.
- Self-closing lid: These are common in modern electric toilets, even those without bidet functions.
- Heated seats: Though this may seem like a luxury, many owners swear by heated seats.
The main advantage of bidet attachments is that they are generally more affordable. Prices vary, and high-end attachments can be comparable to some of the cheaper electric bidet seats.
However, in general, bidet attachments cost about half to a third of the price of a quality bidet seat.
Why Is Non-Electric Bidet Water Cold?
As mentioned earlier, bidets use the same water supply that feeds the toilet. Toilets get their water from your home’s cold water service line, which splits off from the main line before reaching the water heater.
Electric bidets have built-in heaters that warm the water in a small reservoir when the heating function is activated (though some people prefer using cool water).
The electricity also powers additional features, depending on the model, such as a dryer, heated seat, self-cleaning bowl, deodorizer, and more.
Do Any Non-Electric Bidets Use Warm Water? And, if So, How?
Some non-electric bidets are capable of providing warm water. This applies to both bidet attachments and handheld sprayers. Although it’s not a common feature, certain models include connectors that enable you to link the supply hose to the faucet in your sink or to your showerhead.
The primary method for accessing warm water is by using the hot water shutoff valve located under the sink.
The shutoff valve setup is compatible with bidet attachments but requires the toilet to be close enough to the sink, which is more ideal for bathrooms with pedestal sinks. If there’s cabinetry around the sink, it will need to be drilled into.
Another way to get warm water is by using the bathroom sink faucet. In this method, you can run warm water through the tap to supply the bidet nozzle. This faucet setup is more suited for handheld sprayers.
However, the sink faucet method isn’t widely used, as most bidet users prefer to connect the unit directly to the water supply line for a more permanent solution.
It’s generally seen as inconvenient to have to constantly disconnect and reconnect the bidet each time you need it. Although, this may not be an issue depending on the bathroom layout.
For instance, a bathroom with two sinks could have one faucet dedicated to the bidet, but this isn’t a practical solution for most people.
If you choose a bidet with a warm water attachment, ensure the sink is positioned close enough to the toilet.
Also, remember that with a sink, you’ll need to run the water for a while before it reaches the desired warmth—sometimes a minute or more in colder seasons.
It may be necessary to run the water beforehand so the hose receives warm water in time for cleaning.
If you have the expertise, you can connect the bidet directly to a hot water line, but this would involve a permanent modification to your property.
Conclusion
Here’s the breakdown:
Non-electric bidets function by using the home’s water pressure to spray water through a nozzle to clean the soiled area. Bidet attachments are designed to connect to your existing toilet without requiring any replacements. Similar to electric bidets, non-electric bidet seats have a built-in bidet feature and take the place of the current toilet seat.
Since non-electric bidets are entirely mechanical, the water pressure supplied to the toilet is more than enough to direct water through the nozzle.
The specific way a non-electric bidet works can vary by model.
Both bidet attachments and handheld sprayers fall under the category of non-electric bidets, though the term typically refers to attachments.
Older models of bidet attachments have a spray nozzle that is fixed to the toilet bowl and can only be moved out of the way manually.
Modern bidet attachments feature a retractable nozzle that stays hidden and protected from the contents of the toilet bowl when not in use.
The nozzles on newer bidet attachments use water pressure to extend and retract automatically—no need for electricity.
The pressure dial on the control arm of bidet attachments allows for manual adjustment of water flow. So once again, no electricity is involved.
Some attachments and sprayers offer the option of warm water cleansing, but these models need to be connected to the sink in order to access the warm water.
That’s all for now—thanks for reading!