How to Replace a Toilet Seat | Ask This Old House
In this video, This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows us how to replace a toilet seat, explaining the standard shapes of seats and the potential problems a DIYer might encounter.
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Plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey puts the mystery behind toilet seat replacements to rest. Richard shows host Kevin O’Connor how simple toilet seat replacements have become, with standard sizes and bolt patterns. He even explains how corrosion-free plastic hardware is very easy to work with during installation.
Difficulty: ⅕
Cost: Under $50 in most cases
Time: Under 1 hour
Toilet Seat Standards
Toilet seats come in two standard varieties: oval and round. All oval toilet seats will fit oval toilets, and all round seats fit round toilets. The spacing of the bolts that hold these seats to the toilet are also standard, so the only consideration to think of is the shape of the toilet.
How to Replace a Toilet Seat
1. There are two caps on the back of the toilet seat on either side. Use a flat screwdriver to pop these caps off to gain access to the bolt.
2. Look underneath the toilet seat and find the plastic nuts holding the seat in place. Use the pliers to get a grip on one of the nuts. There’s no need to squeeze too tightly; medium pressure will do.
3. Return to the top of the toilet and use the widest screwdriver possible to loosen the bolt while still holding the nut underneath. The nut will usually loosen easily after the first few turns, so the pliers may become unnecessary.
4. Repeat the process on the other bolt. Pull up on the toilet seat to remove it.
5. Place the new toilet seat on the toilet, and pass the bolts through the holes. Many seats have plastic barbs to help keep the bracket in place. Push them through the bolt holes as well.
6. Place the new plastic nut on the bolt and thread it on by hand. Once snug, tighten the bolt with the screwdriver, but do not over-tighten.
7. Repeat the process on the other side and press the plastic caps down over the bolts.
How to Remove Corroded Toilet Seat Bolts
Older toilet seat bolts and nuts were metal, and they could fuse together due to corrosion from moisture and urine. Here’s how to remove them.
1. Place a piece of duct tape on the toilet to protect it.
2. Lay a putty knife on the tape and hold it flat against the toilet.
3. Pass the hacksaw back and forth to cut through the plastic hinge and eventually through the bolt.
4. Remove the toilet seat and tap the cut bolt through the toilet.
Where to find it?
Richard demonstrates how to replace an old or damaged toilet seat. When installing a new seat the first step is to determine what size toilet seat you need, be sure to use the right size seat to match the existing toilet.
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Materials:
Duct tape [amzn.to/3PrDM89]
Toilet seat [amzn.to/3MB6emb]
Tools:
Screwdriver [amzn.to/3lrXxOT]
Pliers [amzn.to/3aeybBW]
Wrench [amzn.to/3lpV0VE]
Putty knife [amzn.to/3wLvU94]
Small hacksaw [amzn.to/3sMdGmx]
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From the makers of This Old House, America’s first and most trusted home improvement show, Ask This Old House answers the steady stream of home improvement questions asked by viewers across the United States. Covering topics from landscaping to electrical to HVAC and plumbing to painting and more. Ask This Old House features the experts from This Old House, including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor. ASK This Old House helps you protect and preserve your greatest investment-your home.
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How to Replace a Toilet Seat | Ask This Old House
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I'm thinking about starting a septic tank company...my catchphrase you ask? "YOUR #2 IS OUR #1" 🤣
Brett's septic services, where number two comes first ;)
there is a septic company in my area, 4 Aces. they're slogan is "Were number 1 in the number 2 business" and they aren't lying! they're the best.
Your poo is our pee? :P
Already taken by the Australian movie ‘Kenny’. Very funny movie.
@@brendanmulhall ... a local (auto) radiator repair shop here has the slogan, "A great place to take a leak"
Thank you so much! My general repairs book only covered the plastic hardware… your explanation of older toilet hardware and how to remove it was a lifesaver. Thanks again!
I did not think for a second to look under the toilet 😭 thank you
Get the slow close/no slam seats.
Thank you! I’m taking mine off right now. One came off easy and the other one is stuck on so I learned that I need a bigger screwdriver before I strip it and if worse comes to worse, I can sell it off. I’m very grateful for the info.
Dang! I wish I had watched this video before I went to the depot 😊 50/50 chance and of course I chose the wrong one haha
You guys are the only thing I watch on my Roku! Love the show!
Thanks for the video. I've been meaning to change out the seats on my toilets soon.
Thanks so much for this video! I found it very helpful.😊 I just moved into my new place and noticed one of the toilet seats needs replacing. I feel I can do this now. So thanks again for the help! 😊😊
Thanks so much. You made this job easy to understand and do.
I think the only guy on the planet that can make toilet seats interesting and fun is RICHARD!!!!
The only issue i have with these cheap plasic bolts is they never seem to get tight enough to keep the lid from sliding around after awhile. God forbid you over tighten one! Very annoying.
Right. I wish they talked about that instead of the seat itself. I think everyone is good with changing a seat, it’s the moving of the seat that people are having problems with
NEVER -- The American Standard is THE WORST --- literally just move all over the place. They're horrible.
I don't have that problem because I don't use a toilet seat, I squat to poop.
That's my concern ,too.
Thanks to you i just changed a toilet seat for the first time.
Thanks so much video. Saved me from calling a plumber tonight. I had to use the saw but it was so easy!
Thanks ....very helpful. I'd never done it before
Another great This Old House demo. My only suggestion is that the bowl should have been covered before sawing, to prevent something from falling in.
Thanks man. I stripped the tread on the plastic bolt and it was stuck. Watch your video and was done with my project in ten minutes.
Thanks, that made it real simple for me
Once I loosen the top I hand turn the nut while holding the slotted part and it comes out easy. It avoids standing there turning the screw driver
Cool - Shop class 101 • Cheers from the Detroit & Mackinac Railway 🚂
I also learned the hard way with some you don’t need to remove the bolts at all but just swap out the top easily from the top side. Here I was trying to remove the boat like an idiot
Thanks. Great video. Indeed, removing the old seat is the toughest part. When I replaced one of the bathrooms seat of 20+ years, I had to saw the metal screw off. But I had to saw it from the bottom. It was pain in the neck.
lol, the toughest part of what? It's two screws.
@@mccalejk2 I know from experience that sawing off old corroded *metal* nuts/bolts from an old toilet seat is indeed a pain in the neck. That's the hard part. Putting on a new seat once the old one is off is the easy part.
I think I wound up drilling mine out. Still a total pain.
How do you put on tight.. mine are always coming loose.
Elvis died on the crapper.
I THINK RICHARD WANTED TO PUT THE NEW SEAT ON
JUSTICE FOR RICHARD!
❤Thanks! Do you know of a seat withought a bad chemical smell? I bought Church and Bemis and had to return them. I don't think they would pass Calif. Standards.
What about a video for the toilet seats that can only be accessed from above?
HI TOH , I hate those plastic toilet seats cause they crack over a period of time & it's irritating to sit on , thanks for the tips Richard ! 😊🚽
Richard has destroyed multiple toilets with his massive dumps
@@Pyongyang4948 They don't call him "Trethewey Kablooie" for nuthin'!
It is these simple fixes that will make you guys more popular, I.E. consider the lowest cost/best fix 🤔
Easy peasy!
I have a question, on the first long gated seat, mine came with those little square tabs, but came inside the little cups, his show like they go towards the bowl, are they a square washer ?
I wish I could find reliable instructions for top mounting a seat. Many of us are now using toilets with skirted trapways, and it is impossible to change a toilet seat with bolts that must be tightened to a nut under the skirt. There are rubber grommets that can be forced into the holes, but I am having a hard time finding a demonstration of how to install the various standard toilet seat types into those grommets. Same is true for top mounting a bidet seat.
Well thank yoou. Was gonna call my maintenance man to replace my toilet seat. But i see I can do it on my own
Good thing I came across this. I’ve been pooping in the sink for weeks now.
I've been squatting to poop for several years now, I don't even use a toilet seat.
What if the plasic is too defaced and i cant screw it off?!😭😭 any tips!?! Help
I hope the stainless bolts on my Hafa toilet/seat is rust free/removable after 50-60 yrs?
The screws on our old toilet seat are metal, corroded, and stripped. I can't saw them off. I need another solution.
Can you still buy the round ones?
Our toilet goes from floor and wall with no access under where the bolts are . Do i have to remove the whole toilet ?
Which way does the bolt turn underneath to take the toilet seat off
What’s the name of the saw he was using to cut through the plastic bolts?
Jab saw
I didn't see much of this video because in the first minute, he says all the new seats have plastic hardware. Not true.
Not always easier, but the alternative to a saw for removing the brass bolts is to drill the head off. The metal is soft and the bolts are not that big. Start with a bit that fits in the slot and work your way larger till you only break the head. Most likely you will only drill down 1/4" or so.
What Binford power tool would Tim the tool man Taylor break out to get this bolt out ?
Maybe an air chisel, probably a jack hammer. Then you get a whole new toilet.
Excellent. Can you talk about the unsightly ring at the water line? Forget solid flush only, can't even get there. This is a continuous problem with low flow toilets. People use any and everything, bleach, fizz bombs, vinegar, pumice. My plumber says it's the quality of the porcelain being used. We know the blue stuff corrodes the tank parts. It's not a bird best or leaves in the roof vent. It's costly and frustrating, simple things don't work. It's a huge problem.
It should come off with a quick scrub. Is anyone in your household diabetic? Sugars in urine will encourage growth.
@@Egleu1 no, nothing like that. City water, no change .It basically happens with all three, recent vintage low flow toilets. I heard they’re trying to do something about the shape,install something with teeth, like a hand soap grabber, some spikes. Maybe to give the water some resistance. Usually things on the drawing board stay on the drawing board. Seems not enough water is allocated to the bowl. They didn’t change that part. Vexing problem, any water saved is being used trying to get the water line ring off.
It's à tally whacker smacker 😀
WHOEVER built my house... I DARE these guys to find a BETTER solution to my kitchen. It literally makes no sense 😳!!
The theory is good but the video is bad. you need some more lighting and you need to hold the camera still
Elongated. Definitely elongated. Those circular seats are a crime.
Agreed. Way too small for your needs
And that's why they break
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I placed the bomb in my toilet bowl. It was clogged and the toilet seat was wiggling too much.
Actually he is wrong. There is more than one size bolts for toilet seats. If you buy the wrong seat it comes with the wrong size.
and I just threw out my sea horsey seat a year ago.
Thank you i would have never figured out how to tighten 2 bolts..Next week will be how to replace a light bulb!
That wasn’t the focus at all. They didn’t even show that.
Wow this didn't help...
Seriously, if you need a video showing you how to change a toilet seat, just call someone lol
Everyone has to start somewhere.
Look out for #1 and try not to step in #2. And don’t chew your fingernails for goodness sake; don’t chew your nails.
1st
😈 Troll
🤣
@@nemesisrr9492 wow…classic.
I swear to God, if you guys spent half the time actually getting to the point,instead of playing funny man,this would be a 2 minute video.
It's fine if your toilet is free standing. Not so easy if you only have 6" room at each side