Your sibling, spouse, or friend might not understand that the toilet is not just a tool and room for excretion but also a time to catch up on your readings, self-reflect, or shut the rest of the world out.
Folks, you read it here. Research shows that people spend 240 days of their average life expectancy in the toilet. Your toileting time is substantially longer than the typical 240 days. And that doesn’t even consider unique circumstances, such as when you consume more beans than normal or periods when you experience a weak digestive system. Additionally, this figure excludes time spent using the restroom or browsing the internet on your phone while in the restroom.
Since we spend so much time in the toilet, we should exercise comfort, safety, and hygiene. One way to go about it to achieve the traits mentioned above is by installing a toilet seat stabilizer. Installing a stabilizer is not rocket science. Any ordinary Joe can install a toilet seat stabilizer provided the right steps and tools. Today we will take you through the right steps and tools to install a toilet seat stabilizer to achieve a safer and more comfortable toilet experience.
Table of Contents
How do you know when you need a toilet seat stabilizer?
Toilet seats probably get the most visitors out of all other “seats” in your house. From the strain of seating on them to the continuous lifting and dropping of their seats or lids, toilet seats see a lot of movement. This constant motion can cause the seat to become loose and jiggly, which is annoying and possibly dangerous.
Most of the time, unsecured screws or poorly installed mounting bases connecting the seat to the bowl are to blame for an unstable toilet rather than a faulty seat. “When you talk about loose toilets, faulty installation is typically the main culprit.
Additional causes of an unstable seat include the following:
- The toilet seat mounting bases might not be properly secured if your seat jiggles or shifts position.
- This is frequently brought on by a lack of components or a problem with the installation.
- If the toilet seat becomes loose for a prolonged period, dampness, urine, or cleaner residue underneath the mounting bases is probably to blame. Tightening the screws might not help in this situation. The toilet seat and mounting bases must be taken apart, the parts cleaned, dried, and then installed again, paying special attention to the transparent rubber gaskets found on the lower side of the mounting bases.
How to determine how much wiggle room is considered normal
Raising the seat or lid and shifting it left or right may cause a small wiggle. This is because the fast-release mechanism is built in such a way that it allows users to remove the seat for deep cleaning.
Process
Shut the lid or seat and gently nudge the toilet seat right or left to see whether it wiggles. Once side pressure is released, the seat may travel towards the front of the toilet bowl by no more than a quarter inch before returning to its initial position.
You can consider your seat defective and needing replacement if it moves beyond this. We advise applying a little piece of plumbers’ tape over each mounting post before re-attaching the toilet seat. If the wobble is regular but still irritates you, follow the instructions below to avoid this hassle.
How do you install a stabilizer on a toilet seat?
Homeowners can use stabilizers and rubber bushings to prevent the toilet seat from wiggling. This simple solution may be what you require if you have a loose or unstable toilet seat. You don’t need a plumber; the remedy takes about 15 minutes and will last for years. The only professional assistance you may need is to go through this article.
Tools Required
- 4-in-1 screwdriver
- Pliers
- Drill bit set
- Drill/driver – cordless
Materials Required
- Seat stabilizer kit
- Seat tightening kit
Step 1: Installing rubber bushing
There are lengthy fasteners and rubber bushing nuts that come with the toilet. The current bushing nuts are rubber with a tiny metal component attached to the bottom. The metal component is pulled up as the bolts are tightened, expanding the rubber against the bowl until it feels snug like a molly bolt which is quite effective.
Hold the toilet seat over the bowl to ensure that the bolt openings line up, the bushing nuts are fitted into the toilet seat mounting slots, and the toilet seat can then be secured with the bolts. Hold the seat assembly close to the bolt and lift while releasing the bolt using the other hand. Lift even as you start to loosen. As you advance a little, switch sides.
This action places the bushing under pressure, usually enough to secure it while you unfasten it. At a certain point, you might need to manipulate a stubborn bushing with a set of pliers to keep it still. However, take care not to rip the bushing, perhaps by lightly encircling the pliers’ jaws with some masking tape. Better yet, if you can hold it with your fingers, that would be great.
Clean the bushing and bolt carefully before changing them, but avoid using any petroleum lubricant since this may cause the bushing to wear out quickly.
Step 2: Install stabilizer
A toilet seat is kept fixed on the toilet with plastic stabilizers. They help stop side-to-side movement-related loosening. Place the stabilizers throughout the middle, so they contact the interior of the bowl rim. Secure the stabilizers with an elastic band all around the seat. Drill a starting hole, then fasten the stabilizers using the kit’s fasteners. When you are finished, check whether the toilet seat slides or wiggles. Your outcomes will be irrefutable if you properly follow the directions above.
How to Fasten Loose Toilet Seat
In time, the seat will inevitably become looser due to the volume of people using it, the frequent shutting and reopening of the seat, and simple wear and tear. The seat can shift side to side because the bolts holding it to the toilet have become less secure. Fortunately, a fix exists. Prevent the toilet seat from swaying using simple tools, some elbow grease, and a few minutes; however, if the existing one is worn out, it’s a good time to buy and install a replacement seat.
Find the Bolts
While a few seat bolts are visible, most are only covered by a plastic covering that clamps shut. To reveal the bolts holding the toilet seat, gently pull open these plastic coverings with a screwdriver (be careful not to break them off).
Tighten the Bolts
If the bolts’ ends have slots, fasten them by rotating them counterclockwise using a screwdriver until they become secure. To ensure the seat is level, uniformly fasten the bolts on both sides.
Tighten From underneath
The seat nuts should be tightened by turning them clockwise from underneath the bowl. The fastening nut can, if necessary, be tightened from the bottom. The simplest way to fasten these bolts is often with a ratchet wrench that has a deep socket, but an adaptable wrench can also be utilized.
Replace the Bolts
You can buy new bolts at a home supply store or hardware if the seat bolts fail or won’t tighten. A hacksaw blade may be required to remove frozen bolts.
You might merely like to repair the individual parts but keep the seat untouched if the nuts are broken, or the seat remains loose even after you’ve tried fastening it. However, you could wish to replace it if the seat’s body is damaged. Visit your neighborhood hardware or home and garden retailer to find toilet seats.
There is no set guideline for how frequently toilet seats need to be changed. The ideal lifespan of a toilet seat is between five and ten years. But factors like material and usage frequency can affect how long a toilet seat lasts. For instance, padded toilet seats have the lowest lifespan since they break and lose their color more quickly than wooden, plastic, or padded ones. The two most common types of toilet seats are round and elongated designs.
Be mindful of the kind of seat you require. Round and elongated toilet seats are the two kinds of common commercial seats. Elongated seats have an oblong and egg-shaped design, while circular seats are precisely round. Purchase a seat that complements your bowl.
- To ensure a proper fit, look for a seat built by the same firm that produced your toilet. Off-brand seats might work, but their fit might not be as accurate.
- Remember that plastic toilet seats are longer-lasting and simpler to sanitize than wooden ones.
Conclusion
You could run into problems if your toilet seat is not firmly secured. Forget about an uncomfortable toilet experience. A wobbling toilet poses a lot of health and hygiene issues.
Additionally, if any movement damages the toilet’s wax seal, it can result in leaks and expensive repairs. Thankfully by employing stabilizers and busing nuts, you can remedy the situation and be one step closer to an enjoyable toilet experience. Installing toilet seat stabilizers is a straightforward process; if done right, it will help you avoid a load of trouble. After reading this article, you will correctly install a toilet seat stabilizer for your jiggling toilet seat.