How To Replace American Standard Toilet Seat With Hidden Bolts
At Allied Plumbing & Heating Supply, we feature the best selection of bathroom fixtures to help you create your dream home. American Standard toilet seats provide you with plenty of conveniences, from slow-closing lids to a special hinge locking system to keep the seat in place. But how do you remove a toilet seat with hidden bolts? Here’s our list of tips and tricks to get the job done.
Replacing an American Standard Toilet Seat With Hidden Bolts
Whether you’re trying to deep clean your toilet or the seat is cracked and needs replacing, it can be frustrating trying to figure out how to remove it if you can’t find the bolts. However, with some tools and some elbow grease, you can remove any stubborn toilet seat. If you like tackling DIY projects at home, replacing an American Standard toilet seat with hidden bolts will be a welcome challenge.
What You’ll Need
Regardless of your toilet seat shape, the hinges are always located at the back of the toilet seat. For safety and aesthetic, the bolts are often covered by plastic caps. However, some American Standard toilet seats have hidden bolts underneath the toilet seat that can be tough to remove. To get started, have the following tools handy to make removing and replacing your toilet seat a breeze:
- Protective gloves.
- Disinfecting cleaner.
- Sponge or microfiber cloth.
- Masking or duct tape.
- Flathead screwdriver.
- Socket wrench or pair of pliers.
Remove a Toilet Seat With Hidden Fixings: A Step-by-Step Guide
Follow these steps to remove a toilet seat with hidden bolts:
- Put on the protective gloves to protect your hands. Begin the toilet seat removal process by cleaning the toilet with disinfecting cleaner and a sponge or microfiber cloth. Once the toilet is clean, you can start working on it.
- Use masking or duct tape to secure the toilet seat to its lid in the closed position. When you begin to remove the toilet seat, it will move around quite a bit. Taping the lid to the seat will help prevent it from accidentally slamming on your fingers or getting in the way of your work.
- Examine the toilet seat’s design to discover the type of hinges it has. If plastic caps cover the hinges, ease a flathead screwdriver under the cap to pop them open. If the hinges are underneath the toilet seat, lift it and locate the quick-release chrome buttons near the hinges.
- Once you’ve determined the hinge type, you can remove the toilet seat. Use the flathead screwdriver to unscrew the plastic or metal screw. Remember to apply gentle pressure as you unfasten the screw to avoid stripping the screw’s head. Repeat this step on the other hinge.
- If the screw is too tight, try loosening the bolt or wing nut on the underside of the toilet first. Typically, this can be done with your hands, but you can use a socket wrench or a pair of pliers for extra grip. Repeat this step with the other side.
- Place the screws, wing nuts, and bolts on a secure surface to avoid losing them. Lift off the toilet seat or remove the hinges completely to deep clean the toilet or replace the toilet seat.
Removal and Replacement Instructions for Toilet Seat Hinges With Plastic Caps
Once the cap is open, you should see a plastic screw that feeds through the toilet. Locate the plastic or metal wing nut or bolt on the underside of the toilet. This wing nut helps secure the screw and toilet seat into place. Follow steps 4 through 6 to remove the screws and toilet seat.
When you’re ready to replace your American Standard toilet seat, place the new seat on top of the toilet and line the hinges up over the holes near the toilet’s water tank. Feed each plastic screw through the top of the hinge to the underside of the toilet. Fasten the bolt or wing nut over the bottom of the screw and tighten it with a socket wrench or pliers. Tighten the top of the screw with the flathead screwdriver. Close the plastic caps, and your work is complete.
Removal and Replacement Instructions for Toilet Seats With Quick-Release Hinges
Push the chrome buttons in to lift the toilet seat off, revealing the hinge covers underneath. Remove the hinge covers, and you’ll find a metal screw on top that is secured by a wing nut or bolt on the underside of the toilet. Follow steps 4 through 6 to remove the screws and toilet seat.
To replace the toilet seat, line up the circular hinges with their openings over the holes on top of the toilet, near the water tank. Feed the metal screw through the hole and fasten the bolts or wing nuts to the bottom of the screw on the underside of the toilet. Tighten the screws with a flathead screwdriver and replace the hinge covers.
Grab the toilet seat and push in the chrome buttons of the quick-release system. Place the seat over the hinges and lock the seat into place. Clean up your tools, and your toilet seat replacement job is done.
How To Remove a Stubborn Toilet Seat
Replacing a toilet seat with hidden fixings is typically easy to do. However, some toilet seats are old or have corroded over time, making it difficult to remove them. Gather the following tools to replace a stuck toilet seat:
- Penetrating oil.
- Putty knife.
- Mini hacksaw.
Spray Penetrating Oil on the Rusted Bolts
The oil acts as a lubricant to loosen corroded metal, making it easier to unfasten with a pair of pliers or a socket wrench. Follow the instructions on the back of the penetrating oil to ensure its efficacy. When the hardware loosens, you can remove them and replace the toilet seat.
Use a Hacksaw and Putty Knife
If that doesn’t work, it’s time for some heavy-duty action. Place a putty knife underneath the bolt to protect the toilet’s porcelain and avoid accidental scratches. Then, begin cutting away at the rusted hardware with the mini hacksaw. Once the screws or bolts loosen, you can remove them and follow through with replacing the toilet seat.
Replace Your American Standard Toilet Seat
Follow these steps to replace your toilet seat with hidden fixings with ease. From slow-closing lids to antimicrobial surfaces, we have all the American Standard toilets and more on display in our Allied Plumbing & Heating Supply showroom. Stop by for a tour, and we can help you design the bathroom of your dreams.
Photo Credit: Image by Giorgio Trovato is licensed with Unsplash License
