There are many advantages of choosing an electronic bidet toilet seat over a non-electric seat. Having a wireless remote control, an air dry, and a warmed bidet seat are just a few. Another advantage is the ability to use warm water to clean yourself. Nobody likes to take a cold shower, and using warm water can be a more pleasant experience.

Although the modern electronic bidet works with a cold water connection, it uses electricity to warm the water before washing you. The temperature is adjustable as well, so you can increase/decrease the temperature setting until it feels comfortable.

Two types of water heating systems can be found in today’s electronic bidet toilet seats (1) water reservoir heating systems and, (2) on-demand heating systems. Water reservoir heating systems, as the name implies, use a water reservoir to hold a 45 – 60 second supply of warm water inside your bidet seat. Once all the warm water has been used, the water will begin to turn cold. When you’re done washing, it takes about two to three minutes to replenish the reservoir with warm water for the next person.

It’s important to note, studies have shown the typical bidet wash lasts for approximately 10 to 15 seconds. So for most people, a 45 – 60 second supply is more than enough.

The on-demand heating system on the other hand, does not use a water reservoir. It heats cold water (almost) instantaneously as the water passes through the bidet. This process is not that dissimilar to how your coffee maker makes hot water so quickly. So if you plan to take extended washes, the on-demand heating system would be better for you as it allows a continuous stream of warm water. One drawback however, is that these toilet bidet seats have a slight delay (a few seconds) from the time you press the wash button, and the time warm water actually comes out.

From an energy consumption standpoint, water reservoir systems draw energy in a slow and steady way, while on-demand systems tend to have more peaks and valleys in their energy consumption. These spikes could be tough on older circuit breakers, but most homes shouldn’t have a problem. The on-demand water heating system is slightly more energy efficient (a difference of a couple dollars, annually) as well.

So when deciding to purchase a toilet bidet seat, does it matter which heating system you get? No, not really. Since most people wash in well under 45 – 60 seconds, warm water duration is usually a non-issue. And although on-demand water heating is a newer technology, reservoir heating has proven to be safe and reliable. When you weigh the pros and cons, it’s pretty even. The type of water heating system should not be a big deciding factor when purchasing your bidet toilet seat. But at least you know what the differences are, so you can make a more informed buying decision.