Ask the plumber: Toilet seat requires careful selection

Q. I know this sounds like a basic question, but I want to make sure I get things right. My wife informed me that my job was to get a new toilet seat. Can you give me some tips? What type of material should the seat be made of?

A. When it comes to making the right choice in toilet seats, you really need to consider three issues:

타 Toilet style and color. Toilet seats basically come in two shapes: elongated (egg-shaped) or round (circular). Check your toilet to confirm the correct seat needed. For color, you can take your toilet-tank lid with you to the home store to make sure the new seat’s color matches.

타 Make and material. Buy a well-known brand name, and spend the extra money for a quality seat material. Polypropylene, basically a hard plastic material, is a very good choice. Think of it as going to a big sporting event, and stay away from the cheap seats.

타 Features and maintenance. Many new toilet-seats lower slowly. These seats include technology that prevents the seat from slamming into the bowl. Also, look for a seat that unlocks at the hinge and can be removed easily from the bowl. This is a great cleaning feature, and can help put a lid on any toilet-seat odor issues.

타 Master contractor and plumber Ed Del Grande is the author of “Ed Del Grande’s House Call” and hosts TV shows on Scripps Networks and HGTVPro.com. Visit eddelgrande.com or write eddelgrande@hgtvpro.com.

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