How to Change a Toilet Seat

In this video, This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey and host Kevin O’Connor share tips for removing rusted, stubborn toilet seats.

Steps for changing a toilet seat

1. Snap open the protective covers concealing the screws that secure the seat to the toilet.
2. Use a wide-blade screwdriver to loosen the screws. Remove the nuts and lift the seat from the toilet.
3. If necessary, reach underneath the toilet and prevent the nuts from spinning by holding them by hand or with a wrench or pliers.
4. For a toilet seat that’s secured with brass bolts, loosen the nuts from below using a ratchet wrench fitted with a deep socket.
5. If the nuts are rusted onto the bolts, squirt penetrating oil onto the bolt threads and wait 10 minutes. Then, try loosening the nut with the ratchet wrench.
6. When all else fails, cut the toilet seat free using a close-quarter hacksaw.
7. Protect toilet’s porcelain surface with a wide putty knife, and carefully saw through the two bolts.

Tools