How To Repair A Oval Broken Toliet Seat

How to Replace a Toilet Seat

Posted on Monday 5th August 2022

Installing or replacing a toilet seat is a fairly straightforward chore. Whether you're replacing your loo seat considering information technology'south old, damaged or yous want a new manner; all you'll need are some basic tools.

Fitting a toilet seat is often one of the easier and quicker DIY jobs in your bathroom, and can be done in a matter of minutes.

Read on for our complete guide that explains the steps involved in the process...

Why should I replace my toilet seat?

Toilet seats can be replaced for several reasons. These can include the seat being cleaved or croaky, the fixtures may accept gone - making it wobble and move around when sabbatum on, or yous want a new style.

Read more: Update Your Bathroom on a Budget

If you've had a new bathroom fitted, the seat will likely be done for you, but if non, this will be the other reason to fit a seat to your loo.

Do all toilet seats fit the aforementioned?

No, not all toilet seats fit the aforementioned because toilets come in a variety of unlike shapes, so you'll need to check yours earlier buying.

Read more: What are the Types of Toilet? Toilet Buying Guide

In that location are three types of toilet shapes commonly found in Uk homes. These are the traditional pointed-nose, D-shape, and circular-nose seats.

An elongated, pointed-nose style is the most common toilet seat shape

Replacement toilet seats can ordinarily be adjusted to fit older or non-standard toilets; however, the seat must be supported at the contact points or hinges.

Nearly toilet seats are an oval shape, although some may be more of a gimmicky foursquare or D-shape. So, it is important to remember this when looking for a replacement in a shop or from the original manufacturer.

Before you buy a seat, there is something essential to do showtime…

How to measure out a toilet seat

This is, arguably, the most important role of replacing your toilet seat - yous don't desire to purchase one that doesn't fit.

Are toilet seats a standard size?

No, there isn't a standard size for all toilet seats, due to a multifariousness of toilet styles. To find out the best seat for your toilet, y'all volition need to measure your loo. Read below for how to do this.

In that location are cardinal measurements that you lot will need, even though most seats are adjustable to fit the most common toilet bowl shapes. The measurements are:

The altitude betwixt the fixing holes - where the screws are. This will ofttimes be a standard measurement of 155mm, but it is worth checking
The width of the toilet bowl at its widest point
The length from the front of the bowl back to the ii seat-fixing holes

By using these measurements, yous tin be sure to buy the correctly sized toilet seat.

Do I need to accept any condom steps before I change my toilet seat?

Toilets are an obvious place for harmful germs to grow and tin can be a source of potential infections, therefore you should take precautions before starting.

Wear rubber cleaning gloves at all times when changing a loo seat. Ideally, clean information technology earlier removing it. Then, once you have taken the seat off, requite your whole toilet a thorough cleaning. Use an anti-bacterial spray, which you can pick-up from most shops.

Clean the toilet with anti-bacterial spray

Use an anti-bacterial handwash once you've finished replacing your toilet seat to make sure you've removed whatsoever harmful leaner.

What tools volition I demand to change a toilet seat?

You will demand a set of pliers or adaptable wrench to remove the basics that secure the seat to the toilet - these will oft be wingnuts.

You may as well need a flathead screwdriver to remove any plastic caps that encompass the nuts. Most of these tools tin be plant in a garden shed or purchased for footling cost at most stores.

Depending on the seat you buy, it could come with a kit to attach it. If yous are merely replacing the fittings, such as the basics and not the whole seat, yous will likely need to buy the parts yourself.

With some newer toilets, they may not come with traditional screw-on seats merely instead a slot-in fashion, so information technology is best to bank check this before ownership a replacement.

How to remove an sometime toilet seat

Most toilet seats are attached to the toilet with fittings. These are held together past two bolts unremarkably subconscious by plastic caps at the back of the seat.

Y'all may need to hunker or get on the floor to access them properly.

If there are plastic caps over the basics, use your flathead screwdriver to remove them. This can be more difficult for older seats if they accept sat there for some time. Work your style effectually the cap, not existence too rough to damage the toilet itself, to carefully remove the caps.

Once you've removed the caps, you'll see the acme of the screws with wingnuts property your seat in place. These nuts are often plastic but may be made from metal - depending on the historic period of the seat. Use your pliers to loosen the nuts, and and so remove them by hand.

Remember to thoroughly clean your toilet once the seat is removed

The seat should then lift away, merely depending on the make, you lot may need to unscrew it with your screwdriver. If it is strong or besides rusted to lift abroad on its own, spray some WD-xl to lubricate it and wait for up to 10 minutes before lifting the seat abroad.

If they are still stuck, you may need to employ a small hacksaw to saw them off gently.

Some toilet seats vary in how they are held in place, but most will work in a similar manner. If your seat is different, accept a look at the fittings and you should exist able to work out how to remove information technology.

It tin be tricky and not the most pleasant task, but shouldn't take long. But call back the process for next fourth dimension.

As mentioned above, one time yous accept removed your old toilet seat, give the whole toilet a thorough clean with anti-bacterial spray.

How to put a new toilet seat on

Once yous've removed your old seat, it'due south time to fit the new i. You will have fittings provided with the new seat, including instructions from the manufacturer on how to get together them.

Substantially, fitting a new toilet seat the contrary of the removal process.

Firstly, line upward and attach the new fittings - by slotting the bolts through the toilet fixing holes. Make sure that your seat sits evenly on the perimeter of your toilet bowl and centre it. Use your hands or pliers to secure the wingnuts once you're happy with the seat'south position.

Be conscientious not to over-tighten them as y'all may want to adjust them in one case the new toilet seat is fitted. Furthermore, plastic bolts - if it is the case - volition not need a lot of punishment earlier they either give way or snap.

When fitting a new seat, make sure it lines up with the toilet bowl

You may also have rubber washers to place between the nut and toilet, to human activity as a cushion.

Y'all volition do this on both sides of the seat as there will be ii bolts, so two wingnuts to tighten into place in total.

If plastic caps were included with the new toilet seat, snap them into place by pushing them down on the bolts, onto the wingnuts.

If you follow these steps, you should be able to supplant your toilet seat apace and easily.

Ollie Lyon

Ollie is a self-trained DIY good who particularly enjoys kitchen and bathroom renovations. In his spare time, Ollie enjoys cycling and hiking.

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