Blockages in the drain can cause overflowing toilets. Your toilet will not flush smoothly down your drain. Instead, it will overflow with water, waste, and even sewage. If it is not removed quickly, it could damage the bathroom floor and even leak through to the ceiling.
What should you do if your toilet overflows?
To prevent any further damage, it is important to immediately clean up any toilet that has overflown. You should not use your plumbing until you have determined the cause of the overflow. It’s possible that the overflowing toilet caused wastewater to seep into your flooring, baseboards and walls. You should contact a water cleanup service in this situation. They will inspect your house for any damage and then restore your bathroom to its original condition.
Estimated Time: 2 Days
Estimated cost: $ 300
Supplies Required
Towels Sponge or rags Bucket Mop Soap Bleach
You will need tools
Toilet Drain Snake or Toilet Auger Wet-Dry Vacuum for Shop Style High-Volume Fan Structural Drying Dehumidifier
How to clean up a leaking toilet
1. Turn off the water
Turn off the water valve immediately, even if your toilet overflow isn’t connected to your supply line. Near the floor, most toilets have a shutoff valve.
If the shut-off valve is not located on the supply line to the toilet tank, take off the lid and pull the floating float up to stop water from flowing. Once the overflow has been stopped, let the toilet bowl drain before you release the float.
If your water is still running after you have released the float, it is time to shut off the main water supply. If the toilet overflows despite the water being turned off, it could be a problem with either the main sewer or drain line.
2. Use a Drain Snake or Toilet Auger
Although you might think that a plunger would help, it will only make the problem worse if your toilet has already overflown. You should instead use a toilet auger. Toilet augers look very similar to dain serpents but are specifically designed for the trap of your toilet’s shaped trap. The coil that snakes through your drain pipes is created by the toilet being turned. This grabs the clog and allows you to pull it out. Sometimes, the auger can even remove the clog from the toilet so that it flows into the sewers.
3. Get rid of standing water and other waste
Your bathroom floor is more susceptible to damage if water and other waste are left on it for too long. Water can quickly soak into cabinets and walls, and the waste will spread bacteria and cause mold.
To remove as much water as possible, use a dry-wet vacuum. To remove any water, you can use towels or blankets. After removing any water, wash the towels or blankets thoroughly.
4. Dry out damaged cabinets and walls
Use high-volume fans to quickly dry the bathroom after you have removed all water. Regular house fans can be used, but they are slower and have a higher chance of mold or bacteria.
High volume fans can be rented from your local equipment rental agency. Most bathrooms will only require one fan to dry them. If the toilet overflows, however, you might need more than one fan.
5. Clean and Disinfect Your Bathroom
You must clean and disinfect the bathroom. You should wash everything with warm water and soap, even if it hasn’t gotten wet from the overflowing toilet.
Mix together 1 cup bleach and 1 gallon water. Then wipe down everything to disinfect. This will kill bacteria and mold, as well as remove odors.
How do I unclog a toilet?
A plunger is the best tool to unclog a toilet if it hasn’t overflowed. The plunger is able to force the toilet down the drain because most toilet clogs are in the bowl or trap. To remove excess water from the toilet, you can use a bucket. Otherwise, it will cause a lot of damage.
The plunger’s up-and-down motion is what clears the blockage. The downward pressure and suction create suction, which helps to flush the clog.
People believe that you have to plunge so hard to unclog a toilet. The key to clearing a clogged toilet is creating a seal between your plunger and the toilet bowl. It won’t be able to create enough pressure or suction to unclog the clog.
The seal is very important so you need a bell plunger to get into the trap. This will clear the clog quicker and take less effort. To make the seal stronger, you can apply petroleum jelly to the plunger.
What causes a toilet overflow?
There are many reasons why your toilet may overflow. However, clogs are most common. Clogs can be caused by flushing the wrong things down the toilet.
Your toilet is intended to flush waste and toilet paper, but other items can block the drain. Toilet paper, sanitary products and towels should not be flushed down the toilet. Although they may seem safe to flush down the toilet with so-called flushable wipes, they can actually cause clogs.
Other than clogs, there are other causes for an overflowing toilet. These include problems with your plumbing, your sewer line, and your septic system.
Toilet bowl clogged
Toilet overflows are most often caused by a clogged toilet bowl. Toilet bowls can be clogged by too much toilet paper. It’s easy to fix. To stop the overflow, simply plunge the toilet.
Toilet Trap Clogged
The trap is s-shaped and prevents sewer gases, which can cause terrible odours, from entering your bathroom. These bends can cause the trap to clog if you use too many toilet paper. You can also use your plunger for clearing the clog.
Pipes clogged with dirt
Once water has left your toilet, it will flow through your home’s drain pipes to the sewers. Many drain pipes have more than one bend. These bends can trap waste or other items. A clogged drain pipe can lead to a slow flush or an overflow.
Sewer Line Clogged
Toilet overflows can also be caused by clogging in the sewer line. This is the main pipe connecting your house to the city’s sewers. This pipe is home to many non-flushable items like sanitary products or so-called flushable wipes.
Incorrectly working septic system
Your toilet overflowing may be an indication of a clogged septic tank. To ensure that your septic system is functioning properly, you should inspect it.
Low-Flow Toilets
Low flow toilets are a common feature in newer homes. Low flow toilets can save water, but they may not flush everything down the drain. Toilet overflows are more common in low flow models manufactured before 1997.
Toilet Problems
An overflow can be caused by a stuck handle or broken tank float. Check the tank if your toilet is leaking. To stop water from rushing, turn off the water shutoff valve.
