- A high-quality bidet should be easy to install, use, and customize to fit your sanitary needs.
- I like the Coway Bidetmega 200 electronic bidet seat because it’s so easy to use that even my kindergartner can handle it.
- It also features an eco-friendly mode for saving power, and the water gets hot enough to give me a clean feeling.
- Though it’s in the middle of the pack price-wise at around $335, the Bidetmega 200 has several of the features you’d expect to find on more high-end models and is backed by a one-year warranty.
- The bidet is currently sold out online at The Home Depot, but you can put yourself on a waitlist to make sure you get your unit once it’s back in stock.
- See more: The best bidets
I’ve written extensively about bidets. And it still surprises me how squeamish some Americans are about this wondrous sanitary device.
I like to use the following analogy to explain why bidets are useful. Let’s say you were handling raw eggs or meat with your hands. Would you wipe your hands off with a dry paper towel and pronounce yourself clean? Of course not. You would wash your hands with soap and warm water to remove all contaminants. Yet when most of us use the toilet, we give our sensitive areas the paper towel treatment.
My first bidet was given to me as a gift. And though I was apprehensive at first, I was a quick convert. Now I even go so far as to bring a handheld bidet with me when traveling.
The quality and features vary drastically between the low-end $50 bidet seats and the top-of-the-line $1,000-plus units. I found the Coway Bidetmega 200 does an excellent job of balancing value with high-end features, including air drying, a heated seat, and child controls. Below are my experiences with this newly released bidet.
Specs
The Coway Bidetmega 200 is all about customization. You can choose from the following:
- 5 levels of water pressure
- 5 nozzle positions for both front and rear cleaning
- 3 heated wash and dry temperatures or no heat at all
- 3 seat temperatures
- Stationary or oscillating nozzle
The bidet also offers a two-stage self-cleansing process that keeps the dual stainless steel nozzle and water flow channel hygienic.
Coway backs the Bidetmega 200 with a one-year limited warranty.
How to set up the Coway Bidetmega 200
I've installed several bidet seats over the years, and the Coway Bidetmega 200 was the easiest. The steps are clearly explained. You will need a couple of tools - I used a screwdriver and a 5/8-inch wrench. First, you need to remove your old toilet seat. Then attach the bidet to your toilet seat and connect to the toilet's water supply. Once the bidet is connected, you plug it in and voila.
The whole installation process took me about 25 minutes.
What makes the bidet stand out
No two butts are the same. So for a bidet to be any good, it must be adjustable to give you an experience that is ideal for your body. I appreciated that I could adjust the water pressure and temperature, nozzle position, and drying temperature. You can also choose to warm the seat.
Warm water always does a better job of cleaning than cold water does. I tested how hot the water gets as it comes out of the nozzle, and my thermometer showed a top temperature of 95 degrees, which is pretty good. There are three water temps to choose from, or you can choose to have no heat.
I don't like having electronics plugged in 24/7 if I'm only going to use them for a few minutes each day. Fortunately, the Bidetmega has an eco-friendly mode that reduces the total energy consumption of the bidet. In eco mode, the unit only heats the seat and water when the toilet is in use as opposed to always keeping the seat warm and the water heater prepped.
It's important that a bidet sprays water when you want it and not when you don't. That's why most electronic units have a sensor that only allows the bidet to operate when someone is on the seat. In my experience, these sensors require a fair amount of heft before they'll engage the bidet. Consequently, my 5-year-old can rarely use these seats after doing his business. This is not the case with the Bidetmega 200, which has a strong sensor that his 50-pound frame can trigger. Plus, there's a child mode that automatically cleans regardless of whether it senses any weight on the seat.
Cons to consider
My favorite bidets come with remote control devices that allow you to operate the unit without twisting to get to the control. This is not the case with the Bidetmega 200. Instead, the controls are to the right of the toilet seat. This might be a problem for people with mobility issues. Fortunately, though, the buttons are marked with Braille, and Coway provides you with a guide showing where the buttons are positioned so you can locate them by touch.
The Coway Bidetmega 200 doesn't have a toilet bowl light. This is a nice feature when you need to go to the bathroom in the night and don't want to turn your bright overhead lights on. It makes it easier to get back to sleep. You can easily buy a toilet bowl night light for $30, but it would have been nice if it was included in the design of the Bidetmega.
One of the most annoying features I've found with electronic bidet seats is the electrical cord is too short. Consequently, you have to buy a special extension cord rated for at least 15 amps. Unfortunately, I've found extension cord manufacturers go out of their way to make their products aesthetically awful. On the bright side, for me, the bathroom I installed the seat in is designed just right so that there's an outlet within reach of the cord. This isn't the case in most bathrooms.
The bottom line
I've used the Bidetmega for more than a year now, and I have not had any issues with its performance. But should you shell out nearly $350 for this seat?
Should you buy it?
If you've never used a bidet before but are interested in its health and potential environmental benefits, you may want to start with an inexpensive option to see if you like it first. The Bidetmega 200 is more suited for bidet aficionados who are looking for a more custom, luxury unit. Of course, if you have the money to spend, this is an excellent midrange option no matter your previous bidet use.
Which model should you get?
The Coway Bidetmega 200 comes in two shapes: elongated and round. The best for your purposes will depend on the type of toilet you have. Elongated toilets are more popular these days, but round bowls tend to be more affordable and conserve space in small bathrooms. As you look down on the toilet bowl, if it looks like a true circle, you have a round toilet. If it looks more like an oval, it's elongated. You must get the right fit, so if you accidentally buy the wrong model, take advantage of Amazon's 30-day return policy to switch it out.
What are your alternatives?
I have bidets on all four of my toilets and have tested several others. Here are some alternatives if the Coway Bidetmega 200 doesn't suit your needs:
Brondell Swash 1400 ($649): This is the bidet I have in my master bathroom, and it continues to be my favorite. It features a heated seat to keep your rear warm, a remote control, excellent water pressure and temperature, and a powerful dryer. And the built-in light helps me get in and out of the bathroom and back to sleep at night. Read my full review here.
Bio Bidet Slim One ($199): For its price, the Bio Bidet has a lot going for it, including a night light, strong water pressure, and high-temperature cleaning. However, it doesn't have a dryer so you still need to use a fair amount of toilet paper to dry off.
Superior Bidet Attachment (currently unavailable): If you're interested in finding out if bidet life is right for you, consider trying it out with the Superior Bidet Attachment. This works with your current seat to help you clean with water. You can adjust the water temperature and pressure. However, there aren't any other features worth noting. Read my full review here.
You can also check out our guide to the best bidets here.
Overall, though, the Coway Bidetmega 200 works exactly as advertised and provides an impressive collection of high-end features for its price point. I strongly recommend buying it.
Pros: Achieves water temperatures up to 95 degrees; child and eco modes; easy to install; adjustable water temperature and pressure, nozzle position, dryer and seat temperatures
Cons: Doesn't have a night light, comes with a relatively short power cord, controls may be hard to access if you have mobility issues