How To Install A Toilet Safety Rail
A toilet safety rail is a common medical tool found in many homes. It offers support when lowering and raising for elderly, disabled, or rehabbing people or those who suffer from an illness.
Now, if you’re thinking of buying one or you already have one, you might be wondering how to correctly install it.
The good news is that this is one of those projects you can easily do yourself. Today, we will explain the steps involved in installing a toilet safety rail. But before we get into that, we should mention that these steps are just to guide you in installing and assembling the equipment.
As an aside, you might want to install a toilet cushion riser to make it easier for disabled individuals to get up and down from the toilet. We even show you how to install one of these cushion risers.
However, you should always follow the manufacturer’s instructions and warnings. That said, here is how to install a toilet safety rail.
Contents
How To Assemble & Install A Toilet Safety Rail
Step 1: Assemble The Toilet Safety Rail
This equipment comes with various separate parts. Therefore, your first step should be to assemble them. There’s a mounting bracket included, which is the part that mounts to your toilet. It has holes for your toilet’s bolts and on its backside, where you’ll mount the actual toilet rail.
Also included are two safety rails, which you can adjust the height. Note that since you’ll be working with different toilet heights, having adjustable rails is more advantageous. You also get an armrest piece and back piece, which mounts to the bracket.
The arm pieces should go into the ends of the toilet mount bracket. You’ll need a click button for this. Note that these pieces come with different positioning hole sizes. Therefore, choose those that fit your space and size.
Step 2: Position The Rail
For this, you’ll have to remove your toilet seat. Start by loosening the nuts underneath the seat, when they’re loose enough, lift them off from your toilet bowl.
Then install your mounting bracket over the bolt holes on your toilet’s bowl on the back. Make sure that it lines up well.
Step 3: Adjust The Leg Extensions For a Comfortable Height
The next thing is to look at your mounting bracket’s leg height. Ensure that it is adjusted to your toilet’s height, which depends on whether you have a lower or taller toilet. Note that because these extensions aren’t attached, be careful when adjusting the height. Gently apply force directly downward when doing so.
Step 4: Install The Seat Over The Rail
Once your extensions are at the correct height, put your toilet seat back. Place it over your mounting bracket’s top. Then line all the holes and drop its bolts back in. Using a screwdriver and nuts, tighten these bolts up, then replace flaps over them. Once you’re done, test to check whether the seat is stable enough.
But note that the above steps are for installing a free-standing toilet safety rail. If you have an attached safety rail, here is how you install it;
- Adjust the mounting bracket to suit your toilet seat for proper mounting
- Remove your toilet seat
- Align your mounting bracket with the holes on your toilet
- Put back your toilet seat and tighten the nuts
- Insert the rail into the mounting bracket, lock, and adjust them to a proper height using the leg extensions.
Summing Up
Well, that is how you install a toilet safety rail. With proper installation, this equipment can support people weighing as much as 300 pounds. So make sure that you follow these steps correctly to ensure your safety. You can even add a standing security pole to your restroom to provide extra standing and declining support. A bath step is another feature you should install to boost fall prevention.
