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Toilet Seat Replacement Guide

easyHome Repair30 min

Safety Warnings

  • Wear nitrile or rubber gloves to protect against germs and bacteria.

Tools Needed

Phillips #2 โ€” screwdriver
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adjustable 8-inch โ€” wrench
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socket wrench โ€” deep well socket
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Materials

Replacement toilet seat โ€” matching shape (round, elongated, or compact elongated)(1)
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Penetrating oil โ€” spray(1 can)
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Steps

1
Measure the existing toilet seat to ensure the correct replacement model. Measure the distance between the two bolts at the rear (standard is 5ยฝ inches), the width at the widest point, and the length from the center point of the bolts to the outermost lip.
2
Prepare the area by cleaning the existing seat and the rim around it while wearing nitrile gloves to protect yourself from bacteria.
3
Expose the mounting bolts by popping open the plastic flaps covering them; a screwdriver may be used if they are tight.
4
Check the hinges for corrosion. If the nuts are corroded, spray them with penetrating oil and wait 10 minutes before attempting to loosen them.
5
Remove the old seat by holding the bolt in place with an adjustable wrench while loosening the nut below it using a socket wrench with a deep well socket.
6
Slide the bolts from the new toilet seat through the appropriate holes in the toilet bowl.
7
Tighten the nut situated beneath the mounting deck using an adjustable wrench. Note that some newer seats can be tightened by hand using a large screwdriver.
8
Test the seat to ensure it is secure and does not shift from left to right when sitting.

Pro Tips

  • Consider features like quiet-closing hinges, molded bumpers, or stainless steel hinge posts for increased durability.
  • If bolts are so heavily corroded that oil fails, you can use a drill to bore a hole into the bolt starting with a 1/16-inch bit to snap it off, but use caution to avoid cracking the porcelain bowl.