How Long Do Bidets Last? Definitive Results

If you’ve ever wondered about getting a bidet or when it’s time to replace yours, you’ll be delighted to know they last a long time. In fact, many bidets last as long as toilets, but they’re much easier to maintain. Bidet attachments last just as long, and they require even fewer repairs.

Bidets last between 5 to 10 years, depending on whether they’re electric or non-electric. Bidet attachments can last as long as standalone bidets their nozzles are cleaned regularly. The most common issues that reduce a bidet’s longevity are plumbing related.

While bidets last a long time, proper maintenance and cleaning are key. If you neglect your bidet, you’ll have to replace it much more often.

How Often Should You Replace a Bidet?

You should replace a bidet every decade or so, but it depends on whether anything’s wrong with the unit. You don’t need to replace a bidet if the plumbing and electrical components are intact. Improper usage can break a bidet attachment, but they’re quite resilient.

Bidets require special plumbing if they’re standalone units, which means your bidet lasts as long as the plumbing. The biggest thing standing in the way of a bidet attachment is broken plastic parts. The vast majority of bidet attachments use plastic, so it’s important not to slam the toilet seat or lid.

Look for these signs to know if it’s time to replace your bidet:

• Broken mounting brackets under the toilet seat
• Damaged or chipped nozzles that spray water in random directions
• Jammed nozzles that won’t lower with water pressure or electricity
• Faulty bidet thermostats (these can often be replaced, but not in some bidet attachment units)
• Cracked control panels that won’t work anymore

Bidet leaks can almost always be fixed without replacing the bidet. These leaks usually require plumber’s tape, silicone sealant, new hoses, or new pipes. If your bidet is leaking, turn off its water source as quickly as possible. The last thing you need is toilet water leaking every time you use the bidet.

I have the SAMODRA Non-Electric Bidet Attachment, and I’ve never had to replace any of the parts or repair anything throughout the toilet’s plumbing. These bidets are very basic (they use cold water and water pressure), but the lack of moving parts and electricity means fewer repairs and problems.

Another reason to replace your bidet is if you want more features. It might sound a bit interesting when discussing bathroom utilities, but bidets are loaded with advanced technology. You can get an electric bidet with a digital thermostat, or one that automatically cleans itself.

Read on for more maintenance tips to get the most amount of years out of your bidet.

How to Maintain a Bidet

Follow these instructions to maintain a bidet:

1. Use the self-cleaning mechanism every time you use the bidet. Most manufacturers suggest using the self-cleaning nozzle once every week, but why not keep the bidet clean as much as possible? I use the nozzle to clean my bidet for 5 seconds every time I use the bidet.
2. Clean the nozzle with a soft bristle brush once per month. Consumer Reports recommends using a mild, diluted dish detergent to clean your bidet if there’s a lot of bacteria. You can also use hot water to get rid of bacteria on the bidet. Don’t forget to clean the adjustment knobs.
3. Remove mold and mildew from the bidet’s water tank (if you have a warm water bidet). Mold growth can deteriorate and clog your bidet. You can use regular toilet cleaner to remove the buildup throughout your bidet, except for the electrical components.
4. Use Teflon tape and silicone sealant to prevent leaks in your bidet attachment’s plumbing. You can do this every time you replace the plumbing connections (which shouldn’t be too often). A proper installation with Teflon tape and silicone sealant will stop you from having to replace the hoses and couplings for several years.
5. Wash your bidet every time you clean your toilet. If you’re cleaning your toilet, you might as well spend a few more minutes scrubbing the bidet. I have a bidet attachment that takes less than a minute to clean. It sits under the toilet seat, so it’s right in the bowl with the cleaning solution.

Proper bidet maintenance will ensure you get the most years out of your bidet. Bidets can last up to a decade, so why not clean them regularly? Almost everyone who uses a bidet knows there’s no going back to the old toilet paper ways once they know what it’s like to be clean, myself included.

Common Bidet Issues

Common bidet issues include plumbing leaks, bacterial growth, and electrical issues. Some users don’t enjoy the colder bursts of water in the morning, but you can get a warm water bidet to negate this concern. You can also choose a bidet that cleans the front if you want to limit your toilet paper use.

Let’s analyze each of these common bidet problems:

• Bidet plumbing issues typically stem from old hoses or couplings. Do It Yourself talks about how plumbing leaks can happen if you turn your bidet’s pressure too high with old pipes and hoses. You don’t need to use the highest pressure on the vast majority of bidets. It’s actually a bit too much for most of us!
• Bacteria can grow throughout your bidet if you don’t clean it often enough, much like a toilet or a sink. Bidets and bidet attachments have to be cleaned as often as everything else in your bathroom. They spray a lot of water, which means they’re exposed to minerals from the water source. They’re also used in the toilet, so they have a handful of cleaning requirements.
• Electrical issues can prevent your bidet from heating the water fast enough or to the right temperature. Most electric bidets plug into a nearby wall outlet, while some of them are hardwired into the wall. Bidet attachments almost always use plugs. Check the circuit breaker if the bidet won’t heat the water.

Fortunately, these bidet issues are quite rare. A bidet can last many years if you have good plumbing. My bidet has never had leaks or bacterial growth, but it’s entirely possible under the right (or wrong) circumstances. I have a non-electric bidet, so electrical issues aren’t present.