It might be time for you to change your toilet seat because it is already worn out, or maybe you simply just want a new seat with better design and color, or you now have small kids to potty train and thus, installing a family toilet seat will be a better choice. Replacing a toilet seat is not a hard task; everybody can do it, there are just a few simple steps. And by the way, you can save the plumbing cost by doing it yourself; just get the seat of your choice from your local hardware store of from Amazon and get started.
How to Replace a Toilet Seat Step by Step Instructions
- Identify the shape and the measurement of your existing seat. Unless you are using certain brand of toilet, it is usually a standard round or elongated seat. You should buy the same shape and size or else it won’t fit your toilet bowl.
- Pay a visit to your local hardware store and pick the particular toilet seat that you like. If you would like to check out what are the latest styles and design, you can go online and search at popular market places such as Amazon and eBay. You will be amazed by the varieties of the toilet seat you find there; select the one that fits best with your personality and bathroom’s decor.
- Once you have got your brand new toilet seat, it’s time to start the job. First, put down the lid of your existing seat and pop up the caps at the back of the seat that hold the seat onto the ceramic toilet bowl. After removing the caps, you will see the exposed mounting bolts on both side of the seat. These bolts can either be made of metal or plastic and the nuts that holding them in place are on the underside of the ceramic bowl.
- Unscrew the bolts with a screwdriver by turning your left or counter clockwise to loosen. However, if the bolts are made of plastic, you can easily loosen it with just your fingers or an adjustable wrench. As you are turning the bolts, you will have to use your other hand to grip the nut on the underside to stop it from turning along with the bolt. If you find the bolt (for metal bolts) won’t loosen, try spraying some grease oil such as WD-40 and wait for a few minutes before try loosening it again.
- Once you are done, slip the freed bolts out or the holes in the ceramic and remove the old toilet seat. You might want to take this opportunity to do a thorough cleaning.
- Install the new toilet seat by aligning the bolts with the holes at the back of the toilet bowl and then inserting the. If there are rubber gaskets supplied together with your seat, use them by inserting between the bolts and the toilet bowl.
- Attach the nuts onto the bolts that are protruding through, on the underside of the seat and fasten them. You will need to use a screwdriver or wrench for the final turn, but make sure that you don’t over tighten it as this will break the ceramic bowl or the toilet seat. Don’t think that this wouldn’t happen!
- Finally, put the new plastic caps over the bolts at the back of the lid and it’s done.
Getting a New Toilet Seat
Although it might not seem to be a major thing, a new toilet seat can often make a dramatic change in the appearance of your bathroom. It surely gives you a different feel whenever you use the toilet. So are you ready for your new toilet seat?