Saturday 11 June 2022

How to Replace, Fit or Fix a Toilet Seat

There are many options for toilet sizes and seat shapes available today. It can be challenging to fit a new toilet seat, but it is possible if you follow some simple rules.

The toilet seat is usually attached to the pan by two long screws. These go through the pan using holes provided by the manufacturer. The screws used in the cheapest models are made of plastic. However, most are made of steel. The more expensive models come in brass or stainless steel. Plated metal fixings can quickly corrode due to the environment.

What type of toilet do I have?

Contemporary Wall Hung WC Pan with Soft Close UF Seat Cover

Modern toilets use standard hole centres. Most replacement toilet seat kits can be adjusted to fit older models or those that are not standard. The pan must support the new seat at all contact points.

Most toilets look ovoid (or oval) from the top or plan view. Some toilets are rectangular, while others are square. There are also fancy ones with a "square-chin" design at the front. Seat fixings are available to deal with back-to-the-wall pans.

These are the most popular toilet shapes:

There are three types of toilet seats: the Round Nose Toilet Seat (or Traditional Pointed Nose Seat) and the D-Shaped Toilet Seat (or D-Shaped Toilet Seat).

To ensure that your seat fits, you will need to measure the size of your toilet bowl. These are the main measurements you will need. However, most seats can be adjusted to fit most toilet bowl shapes.

Measurements for Key Toilet Seats:

The distance between the fixing holes should be measured. This distance is usually 155mm. However, it is worthwhile to check.
The bowl's width at its widest point should be measured.
Measure back from the front of the bowl to the imaginary line connecting the two-seat fixing holes

These measurements will ensure that you have the correct size toilet seat.

Mid-range seats, which cost between PS12.00 and PS25.00 in June 2016, are usually made from timber. However, they can also be manufactured in MDF coated with plastic. These seats are available with multi-adjustable fixings. They come in either a gold or silver/nickel finish.

You may be thinking about changing your toilet from a close-coupled to a low-level toilet. Please take a look at our project. The old seat might not fit in the new toilet.

Loo Seat Hygiene and Toilet Health and Safety

Safety and health must be prioritized! Toxic germs can be spread to the toilet, so it is essential to take precautions before starting.

First, you should use an antibacterial spray that kills most bacteria, fungi, and viruses. These sprays are available at chemists and supermarkets for around PS2 (June 2016).

While gloves can be used to protect against bacteria while changing the loo seat, this is not always feasible. Latex gloves that are disposable and thin can tear or split easily. Depending on the type of glove, the more durable gloves can numb your sense of "feeling" the task at hand.

You can also work without gloves by applying a barrier cream to your hands and then massaging it between your fingers.

Keep some antibacterial cleaner spray on hand to clean the pan after the old seat has been removed. If you're not allergic to cleaning chemicals, the same cleaning agent can be used for washing your hands. If you're unsure or have never used the product, always test it.

What tools do I need to fit a toilet seat?

Tools may not be necessary, depending on the type and design of your seat fixings. It is best to have a few essential tools: a pair of spanners, pliers, and a small adjustable wrench. It would be useful to have some 6mm nuts for metal fittings.

It is possible to change the fittings on the toilet seat. These can be purchased separately. You can easily replace the fittings and keep your seat if you wish. The cost of replacing the entire seat is not usually that high.

You can find a Toilet Seat Fixing Kit online here. You will need to attach the seat first before the instructions can be followed.

It would help if you also remembered to purchase your toilet seat. You can find many ideas on the internet. A small selection will be available at most local bathroom shops and many online bathroom retailers like Tapron and Screwfix.

Removing an Existing Toilet Seat

To remove the seat from the toilet, you need to reach under the bowl. This can be pretty difficult and unpleasant, but removing the toilet bowl from the floor is necessary.

Look for a winged nut with a plastic handle under the pan. In most cases, this will be plastic, but it could be metal in certain situations. Sometimes luck is your friend, and it's easy to find. In other cases, however, it can be not easy to reach.

The seat can be removed by removing the two winged nuts. You can clean the pan with an anti-bacterial cleaner spray.

This toilet design makes it easy to see the wing nuts that need to be removed. They aren't all the same! Once the nut is removed, the rubber washers will fall off, and the seat will lift.

Replacement or Fitting with a New Loo Seat

The replacement seat can be fitted by simply reversing the removal process. The replacement seat must sit correctly and around the perimeter of your toilet bowl. The plastic screws are not durable and will eventually snap or give way if they are not tightened enough.

Manufacturers often attach brackets to the two-piece seat assembly. The brackets can then be attached to the underside of the brackets. A cushioning washer and a short piece of studding are combined. Finally, the studding can be secured using vinyl nuts, secured from underneath.

It is essential, especially for close-coupled suites, to make sure that the seat adjusts so that both sections can be lifted and leaned against each other while supporting the seat at all points of contact with the pan's top rim.

Another problem with this type of fitting is the many adjustable parts that make it easy to move, resulting in a wobbly chair.

Step by Step Guide to Fitting A Toilet Seat

These steps will help you get your seat correctly fitted:

1. Adjust the Hinges – Most seats have a mechanism that allows you to adjust the hinges by inserting a locking screw under the hinge and through the hinge plate. Adjust the hinges as necessary and then tighten the screw. There are usually three adjustments you can make to the screw:
Rotating the hinge plate allows for fine adjustments. This ensures that both fixing bolts can adjust to fit into the respective holes in the toilet pan.
 
You can adjust the seat's position forward or backward by turning both hinge plates 180°. If the seat's front is not touching the bowl, it can be moved by turning both hinge plates 180o. The hinge is also moved forward, so the seat (Lid & Ring) can rest against the cistern.
 
Some toilet seat fixing brackets have additional holes where the fixing bolt can be screwed into. This has the same effect as turning the hinge plate but allows for a further adjustment that would not otherwise be possible. Pre-fixed fixing bolts are not available for cheaper seats.

2. The Hinge Locking screw must be tightened - Even if the hinge is not adjusted, the screw must be tightened! This will cause the seat to slip on the bowl and loosen further. The only way to fix this is to take the seat off and adequately tighten it. People who are too excited to fit their new seats often forget this.
 
3. If possible, ensure that the Fixing Bolt remains tight.

4. The seat and fixings should be placed on the toilet with the lid and ring lowered. A rubber washer or plastic washer will be placed between the metal hinge plate and the toilet seat. This prevents the porcelain from becoming damaged or scratched by corrosion.

5. Install the bolt and washers. It can be challenging to fit these parts correctly.
Protect the pan with a rubber or plastic washer
To spread the pressure, use a metal washer (if one is available)
Fixing Bolt at The Bottom - Holding Everything On

6. After a few days, tighten the bolts. Allow for some play when fixing rubber or plastic that has become compressed.

Seat Fitting Methods to Fit Different Types of Seat

These are the most common loo seats you will find:

Toilet Seat with Hinge Bar and Grub Screws

Another type of seat fitting is brackets that fit through a pan traditionally, but that also includes a spigot and a metal bar acting as the hinge.

The bar has two blind holes. It is necessary to locate the spigots in the blind holes. These blind holes also contain tiny grub screws with Allen's head. To secure the grub screws onto the spigot, you need a small Allen key.

This is a tedious process as the grub screw faces the cistern. Therefore, it is difficult to see the grub screw once the seat has been in place.

Slow Automatic Closure Toto Toilet Seats

A slow-automatic closure is another variation of modern seats. These brackets are left-hand/right-hand. Follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully.

These seats are not designed to be used effectively. They cannot be lifted and leaned against the cistern at more than 110 degrees.

Back-to-the-Wall Pan Toilet Seat

Special toilet seats are available to fit the back-to-the-wall pan.

This type of scenario requires seat brackets that are one-piece and expansive. A rubber grommet protects the securing screw at the end.

You will need to insert the rubber grommet in the pan holes and tighten the screw that contacts the nut. As one tightens, the nut is pulled up by the screwing action. This expands the rubber grommet and makes it fit within the hole in your pan.

This is a well-thought-out and effective solution to this problem. It also saves you the trouble of removing the pan from the wall.

Toilet Seat Issues

Toilet seats are often criticized for three main reasons. If the seat is of decent quality, they can be easily fixed.

Slides, wobbles or is unsteady

It is because there is something wrong. There are many options.
The Hinge Locking Screw may be loose. Please refer to step 2 in our fitting instructions. This (or its equivalent) is often not tightened.
 
It would help if you tighten the fixing bolt - it may have come loose, or the washer may have become less compressed, allowing for some play in the fixing bracket.
 
A washer or fixing bolt has failed. This can sometimes happen with seats that are made of plastic. You can tighten them, but they will usually fail again.

When I stand it up against the Cistern, my toilet seat falls.

The hinge is too far back. This can easily be fixed by moving the hinge back using the three options in step 1.

This is a frustrating thing for a man - we can't multitask! The solution is quick and straightforward.

My toilet seat is too far back for my legs to touch the bowl when I sit on the loo

The hinge is too far forward. This is why the hinge must be moved back, not forward. The wrong size seat will be installed if the hinge cannot be moved back or it falls when raised. The right size seat will be required for your bowl.

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