In recent years, more households have begun using bidets, either for personal hygiene, as a way to reduce reliance on toilet paper, or both. But beyond the immediate convenience and savings on paper products, many homeowners are discovering another benefit: a reduced need for septic pumping.
In this article, we’ll break down how a bidet can lower septic tank maintenance costs, calculate potential savings, and create a spreadsheet to track and project these savings over time.
How a Bidet Reduces Septic Maintenance Needs
A bidet reduces the amount of toilet paper flushed into the septic tank, which can have a big impact on the frequency of necessary pump-outs.
Toilet paper contributes to solid waste buildup, meaning more frequent pumping is usually needed. By minimizing paper waste, the septic tank fills up more slowly, potentially extending the time between pump-outs.
Example Calculation: Annual Savings on Septic Maintenance
Let’s assume a few basic numbers to calculate the potential savings.
- Pre-bidet pumping schedule: Every 2 years
- Cost per pump-out: $180
- New pumping schedule with bidet: Every 3 years
Step-by-Step Savings Calculation
Without the bidet, if you pumped every 2 years, the average cost per year would be:
Cost per pump-out ÷ Pump-out frequency = $180 ÷ 2 = $90 per year
With the bidet, the new schedule is every 3 years, so the cost per year drops to:
Cost per pump-out ÷ New frequency = $180 ÷ 3 = $60 per year
Annual Savings:
Previous annual cost – New annual cost = $90 – $60 = $30 saved per year
Over 10 years, that’s a savings of:
$30 × 10 = $300
Setting Up an Excel Sheet to Track Septic Pumping Savings
An Excel sheet can help you track both immediate and long-term savings. Here’s how you could set it up:
Sample Spreadsheet Structure
| Year | Pump-Out Cost | Pump-Out Interval | Annual Cost | Savings per Year | Cumulative Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $180 | 3 years | $60 | $30 | $30 |
| 2024 | $60 | $30 | $60 | ||
| 2025 | $60 | $30 | $90 | ||
| … | |||||
| 2032 | $180 | 3 years | $60 | $30 | $300 |
Explanation of Columns
- Year: Tracks each year.
- Pump-Out Cost: Shows the actual cost of each pump-out. Only every three years has a value, reflecting the new interval.
- Pump-Out Interval: How often you need to pump out (3 years with the bidet).
- Annual Cost: Cost per year based on the pumping interval, e.g., $180 every three years averages to $60 annually.
- Savings per Year: The difference between previous and current annual costs ($90 – $60 = $30).
- Cumulative Savings: Tracks how much you’ve saved over time by switching to a bidet.
Formulas to Use
- Annual Cost: Enter
=IF(MOD(YEAR(A2)-2023,3)=0,$B2/3,60)in the Annual Cost column, replacing cell references as needed. - Savings per Year: Enter
=90 - [Cell with Annual Cost]for each year. - Cumulative Savings: Enter
=[Savings per Year] + [Previous Cumulative Savings].
By the end of 10 years, your Excel sheet will clearly show the cumulative savings, helping you see the financial impact of your bidet investment over time.
A bidet can provide a surprising return on investment, saving money not only on toilet paper but also on septic maintenance. By extending the pump-out interval, you’re saving resources and adding a layer of financial relief, especially if you’re managing a home renovation or other big expenses. This simple upgrade can contribute to your budget in ways you might not expect, and it’s easy to track with just a few formulas in Excel.
