If you’ve ever had to deal with an overflowing toilet, you likely already know that the problem can quickly escalate. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to regain control of the situation. Here’s what you can do if your toilet starts to overflow.
Turn off the water As soon as you notice the water in your toilet bowl beginning to rise, you should immediately turn off the water supply. The best way to do this is by twisting the small valve at the base of the toilet. If the valve is too tight to turn, you can also remove the lid from the toilet tank to lift the float. The water should instantly cease to rise. Use a plunger Toilet clogs are extremely common. Fortunately, the majority of obstructions can be cleared away with the help of a plunger. Make sure the plunger makes sufficient contact with the bowl and that it creates adequate suction before you start pumping it up and down. When there’s no longer any water inside the bowl, flush the toilet again. Your toilet should now drain normally once more. If not, try the plunger a couple more times. Lower the float If the plunger isn’t working for you, this can indicate that too much water is entering the bowl after a flush. If the float is set above the fill mark found inside the tank, it will allow more water to enter the bowl and likely spill out onto the bathroom floor. As mentioned before, the float can be lifted to turn the water off completely. If need be, the float can also be lowered in order to set the amount of water to be filled into the bowl once the water is flushed out. Empty the septic tank In place of a city-mandated sewer line, some properties have a septic tank, an underground concrete, plastic or fibreglass case that stores wastewater for treatment. Over time, septic tanks fill up with debris and eventually become too full of solids to allow any incoming wastewater to enter, forcing it to settle into your drain pipes. In this situation, the solution is to have your septic tank emptied and cleaned by a professional. Plumbing Services in the GTA Black Forest Plumbing is a family-owned and operated business comprising a team of master plumbers. If you need help with your overflowing toilet, or any other plumbing issue, we can help. We offer commercial and residential plumbing services in the Greater Toronto Area, including 24/7 emergency calls. Contact us today to learn more or schedule a visit from one of our plumbers.