Bidet Seat Comparison: Eco NOVA vs. Brondell Swash 1400
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The Eco NOVA and Brondell Swash 1400 bidet seats are two of our top sellers with perks that deliver comfortable, convenient cleansing. Plus, they come with a middle-of-the-road price tag that makes them more affordable than many of our other luxury units. So what makes them different? And why might you choose one over the other? Read on to find out!
Eco NOVA | Brondell Swash 1400 | |
---|---|---|
Materials | Polypropylene plastic shell, single stainless steel nozzle | ABS plastic shell, dual stainless steel nozzles |
Design | ||
Nozzle Sterilization | Silver nano coating on internals & a UV sterilizing lamp | Silver nano-particle water treatment |
Warm Water | Yes – unlimited (instant heater) | Yes – unlimited (instant heater) |
Pulse Wash | Yes – quickly alternates warm/cool | Yes – quickly alternates pressure |
Wide Spray | No | Yes – 3 spray width options |
Water Pressure | Good range (soft to firm) | Limited range (soft overall) |
Turbo Wash | Yes | No |
Deodorizer | No | Yes |
User Presets | No | Yes |
Sittable Lid | Yes | Yes |
Weight Limit | Seat: 400 lbs Lid: 400 lbs | Seat: 330 lbs Lid: 270 lbs |
Seat Thickness | Very Thin | Average |
Seat Size | Elongated | Round or Elongated |
Seat Comfort | Large seat – very comfortable | Small seat – less comfortable |
Color | White | White or Beige |
Remote Option | Radio signal, slim | Infrared signal, slim |
Warranty | 4 year full | 3 year limited (can be extended to 5 years) |
Risk-Free Trial | Yes – 180 Days | No |
Look & Feel
Profile & Color
The Eco NOVA has an exceptionally thin profile and a crisp, clean silhouette, making it one of the sleekest bidet seats on the market. The seat’s design provides a significant amount of sittable space, making it a very comfortable unit. However, Eco NOVA only comes in an elongated seat size and is available in white only. If you have a round toilet or want a beige bidet seat, the Eco NOVA won’t be your best bet.
In comparison, the Brondell Swash 1400 can fit and match a wide range of one and two-piece toilets. It’s available in both round and elongated seat sizes and comes in white or beige. However, the Swash 1400 has a thicker profile than the Eco NOVA and offers less sittable space. Some customers feel like the seat pushes them forward, so it may not be the best choice if you’re looking for a roomy, extra comfortable bidet.
Materials
Don’t let the Eco NOVA’s slim profile fool you, this seat is strong and durable too! Crafted out of heavy-duty polypropylene plastic, the Eco NOVA has 400 lb weight limit, which makes it sturdier than most other bidet seats. The Eco NOVA’s wand and nozzles are made from long-lasting stainless steel, a material that is prized for being strong, easy to clean and corrosion-resistant.
The Swash 1400 is made out of ABS plastic, which is less expensive than polypropylene but also weaker and more prone to breakage. The Swash 1400’s weight limit is 330 lbs (seat only), so it may not be the best option if you need a seat with a higher weight limit.
In contrast to the Eco NOVA’s single wand, the Swash 1400 has two wands, each constructed from good quality stainless steel: one for the front wash and one for the rear wash. The only downside to this setup is that the wands sit side-by-side, so neither wash stream is perfectly centered.
Wash & Dry Features
Wash Settings
The wash is what bidet are all about, and both the Eco NOVA and Brondell Swash 1400 offer some terrific wash options. In addition, both seats have an instant water heater that generates warm water on demand, so you never need to worry about running out.
The Eco NOVA offers standard front and rear wash modes, as well as a more powerful “turbo mode”. With a variety of water pressures ranging from soft to relatively firm, most customers should be able to find a setting that feels right. The Eco NOVA also offers a nozzle oscillation option that moves the wash wand forwards and backwards for better wash coverage. Last but not least, the “pulse” option quickly varies the water temperature between warm and cool to soothe and refresh tender areas.
The Swash 1400 offers standard front and rear wash modes, plus it’s one of the few bidet seats on the market to offer adjustable spray width, with three options for top notch coverage. It also features seven front-to-back nozzle positions, nozzle oscillation for greater front-to-back coverage, and a massaging “pulse” option that alternates the pressure between soft and firm.
The biggest downside to the Swash 1400’s bidet wash is the limited water pressure range. Overall, the Swash 1400 offers a much gentler wash than most other seats. This can be a terrific feature for customers with sensitive skin, hemorrhoids or fissures. Other customers, however, find it frustrating as the gentle spray can prolong the amount of time it takes to get totally clean.
Warm Air Dryer
The Eco NOVA and the Swash 1400 each have built-in air dryers that can dramatically reduce your need for toilet paper. In addition to cutting costs and saving resources, air dryers are great for customers who have limited mobility or have sensitive bottoms. Most air dryers take a full three to five minutes to get you totally dry. However, the Eco NOVA’s is one of the more powerful dryers we’ve seen, so you’re looking at a dry time that’s on the shorter end of the spectrum
Nozzle Sterilization
Both the Eco NOVA and the Swash 1400 defend against microbial growth with nozzle sterilization. The Brondell Swash 1400 keeps things simply by rinsing its nozzles with water that’s infused with germ-killing silver nano-particles.
The Eco NOVA takes a two prong approach to keeping its nozzles clean. First, the inside of the tubing and nozzles are coated in a silver nano solution designed to stop mold and bacteria from gaining a foothold. Second, the Eco NOVA has a sterilizing system that uses ultraviolet light to kill any germs lurking on the outside of the nozzle.
Auto Wash & User Presets
Both the Eco NOVA and the Brondell Swash 1400 offer auto washing, a button that kickstarts a generous wash and dry cycle. The temperature, pressure and position settings are pre-determined by the manufacturer but you can adjust them at any point if you so choose.
The Eco NOVA offers one of the longest auto washes on the market (90-second wash + 4-minute dry), so you can count on getting clean and dry the first time. In comparison, the Swash 1400’s auto wash features a 90-second wash and a two-minute dry. Since most air dryers take three to five minutes to get the job done, the Swash 1400’s two-minute dry time may leave you a bit damp. It’s not a huge deal – just press the air dryer button to start a new dry cycle.
The Swash 1400 comes with an additional convenience feature called “user presets”. This option lets users program two sets of preferred settings into the remote for a customized front or rear wash at the touch of a button. The programmable settings include water temperature and pressure, spray width, nozzle position and nozzle oscillation; drying is not included. User presets are especially useful if you prefer specific wash settings but would rather not spend the time selecting them every time you use your bidet.
Comfort & Convenience Features
Wireless Remote Control
The Eco NOVA and the Brondell Swash 1400 each come with a wireless remote and a docking station that can be mounted to the wall to keep the remote within reach. The Eco NOVA’s remote is one of the best we’ve seen to date. The smooth, brushed stainless steel exterior offers a great feel, and the rose gold finish with black buttons lends a sophisticated look. The Eco NOVA’s remote is also a winner when it comes to functionality, using a reliable radio signal versus the more temperamental infrared signal used by most bidet remotes.
The Brondell Swash 1400’s remote has an intuitive, easy-to-use layout but isn’t as elegant as the Eco NOVA’s in color, design or feel. It uses an infrared signal that will work fine in most bathrooms, but users may encounter performance issues in bathrooms with dark walls or little space around the toilet.
Sittable Lid
One of the most exciting features on the Eco NOVA is the lid, which can support up to 400 lbs. Notably, this is the highest weight limit of any sittable lid to date. In fact, most bidet seat lids cannot support any weight at all, so the Eco NOVA’s sittable lid is a huge bonus if you’d like a place to sit to clip toenails or help someone bathe.
The Brondell Swash 1400 also advertises a sittable lid with a weight limit of 270 lbs (60 lbs less than the seat’s weight limit). Be aware, however, that the lid is not covered by the warranty, and we’ve seen instances where a Swash 1400 lid has cracked, even with proper use. If the lid does break or have issues, the cost of repairs will be up to the customer, even if the seat is still covered by the warranty.
Warranty
Bidet seat warranties apply to issues caused by defective parts or craftsmanship. Problems caused by misuse or normal wear and tear generally aren’t covered by the warranty. Full warranties cover the total cost of repairs while limited warranties cover a percentage of the repair costs. (Do keep in mind that warranties usually don’t cover the cost of shipping the bidet seat to the repair facility, but they do cover the cost of shipping it back to you).
The Eco NOVA’s full warranty provides 100% coverage for four years. In comparison, the Brondell Swash 1400 comes with a 3-year limited warranty that covers 100% of eligible repair costs the first year, 75% the second, and 50% the third. If you’d prefer more coverage, Brondell does offer the option of upgrading to a 5-year full warranty for $99. If you’d like to read more about this, check out our post about extended warranties and their benefits.
Risk-Free Trial
If you love the Eco NOVA or Brondell Swash 1400 on paper, you’ll probably think they’re great in person, too. But the Eco NOVA offers extra peace of mind with our 180-day risk-free trial. Purchase the Eco NOVA, install it, use it, and if you don’t love it, send it back to us within the 180-day window for a full refund.
Final Thoughts
In spite of their differences, there’s a lot to love about both the Eco NOVA and the Brondell Swash 1400. Deciding between them really comes down to your personal needs and preferences.
If you have an elongated toilet and want a bidet with a high weight limit, strong sittable lid, wide range of water pressures, UV nozzle sterilization, hardy remote signal and super comfortable seat, the Eco NOVA is going to be the right choice.
On the other hand, if you want a seat that can fit a round or elongated toilet and comes in white or beige, plus offers a gentle wash, adjustable spray width, user presets or a deodorizer, the Brondell Swash 1400 will be the better option.
Did you know the Eco NOVA and Brondell Swash 1400 are both on our list of Top 5 Best Bidet Seats of 2022? Click the link to check out our video review! Still have questions? We’re happy to help. Feel free to reach out to us through any of the following:
Phone: 248-974-4030
Email: [email protected]
Or via WhatsApp and Marco Polo
Hannah Ramsey
Hannah Ramsey is a former writer at Many Bidets, where she spent seven years crafting and managing website content. With a background in psychotherapy and a lifelong passion for writing, Hannah enjoyed combining these interests to make a meaningful impact. Now retired from the bidet business, Hannah still enjoys sharing her knowledge about bidets with friends and family, proving that once a bidet enthusiast, always a bidet enthusiast!