How to Replace or Repair a Toilet Seat
Toilet seats are one of those items that most folks don’t give too much thought to until they break. However, when a toilet seat does break, it is something that the entire family is likely to complain about vehemently. After all, there is nothing worse than attempting to sit down on to a toilet seat when you’re half awake and having it slide out from underneath you. The good news is toilet seats are easy and inexpensive to replace as well as repair. Here’s a quick look at how to get the job done:
Supplies Needed
In order to replace your toilet’s seat, you’ll need to purchase a replacement toilet seat ($20), a socket wrench ($20), toilet seat bolts ($4), a screwdriver ($1), a can of penetrating oil ($3) and a hacksaw ($5). It is also helpful to have duct tape ($9) nearby. I should also mention that the penetrating oil, the duct tape and the hacksaw will only be needed if the toilet seat’s bolts refuse to budge.
If you want to repair your toilet seat instead of replace it, you will need to pick up a few replacement parts at your local hardware or home improvement store. Examples of replacement parts that you may need include toilet seat hinges, toilet seat lids and toilet seats. Based on my experience, a package of replacement toilet seat hinges will cost you $4. A toilet lid sans the toilet seat will tend to lighten your wallet by about $10. Prices for toilet seats without the lids vary. In some instances, you may expect to pay $22 for an elongated toilet seat without a lid. The toilet seat bolts and washer sets tend to sell for $4 each.
Remove the Old Toilet Seat
Once you have all your toilet seat repair supplies in place, you’ll need to work on removing the old toilet seat. Toilet seats are attached to toilet bowls with bolts and nuts. The bolts and nuts are located near the toilet seat’s hinges. Some toilet seats come with metal bolts. Other toilet seats come with plastic bolts. Locate the bolts and nuts that are holding your toilet seat in place. In some instances, you’ll need to pop open a plastic hinge in order to access the top of the bolt. The bolt’s nuts are located below the bolt and underneath the rim of the toilet bowl.
After you’ve located the nuts and bolts, remove them with a socket wrench or a screwdriver. If the nuts and bolts are metal and won’t move, apply penetrating oil and let it sit for a minute or two. Then try to remove the nuts again. If the nuts and bolts do not respond to the penetrating oil, you’ll need to bust out the hacksaw and the duct tape. Cover the area of the toilet bowl around the toilet seat’s bolts with duct tape. The duct tape will help to keep your hacksaw blade from scratching the toilet’s surface. Once the duct tape is in place, use the hacksaw to saw off the toilet bolts. Remove the old toilet seat. At this point, you can either repair it with the replacement parts or discard it in to the trash.
Install the New Toilet Seat
Before installing your new or revised toilet seat, you may want to clean the toilet bowl. Once that’s done, position the new toilet seat onto your toilet bowl. You will need to make sure that the bolt holes are in alignment. Continue by attaching the new bolts and nuts. Once they are in place, your toilet seat will be ready for use.
Source: Personal Experience
Killeen Gonzalez has a history of completing DIY home improvement projects with her family.
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