Overflowing toilets—while many homeowners have had to deal with one before, that doesn’t make the experience any more pleasant. In addition to causing unsanitary wastewater to flow into your bathroom, posing a health hazard for your entire family, toilet overflows can also lead to expensive water damage, which can seep through the floor and spread to other parts of your house. Fortunately, if you act fast, you can prevent this from happening. Keep reading for the top three ways to stop an overflowing toilet from causing water damage in your home, and remember to call our professionals at All City Plumbing, Air & Electrical the next time you need quick and reliable plumbing services.
3 Steps to Take If Your Toilet Is Overflowing:
- Use a Toilet Plunger: For most people, the first thought they have when they see a toilet clog causing the water to rise is to grab a plunger. And in many cases, this instinct is correct. It is important you use a toilet or “flange” plunger (the one with the rubber rim jutting out) if you are going to do this, however, as traditional cup plungers may not yield your desired results. Remember, you should also repeat the plunging process several times, since even if your water has stopped rising, a clog could still be present in your line, waiting to cause an overflow the next time you flush.
- Look In Your Toilet Tank: If you have tried plunging your toilet and water is still threatening to flow over the rim, check your toilet tank. Look for the rubber flapper at the bottom specifically and see if it is open. If it is, close it immediately and note if this stops the flow of water. If closing the flapper manually does not stop the flow of water in the toilet bowl, inspect the tank to see if there is a float ball (the rubber component that floats on the surface of the toilet tank water.) Lift the float and see if this has stopped the water from overflowing.
- Turn Off Your Toilet’s Shut-Off Valve: While turning off your toilet’s shut-off valve is step three on this list, it may actually be step one in practice, depending on how fast the water in your toilet is rising. For an overflow that is already in progress or dangerously close to occurring, always go behind your toilet and look for the pipe connecting your toilet to your wall. You should find a hand crank on this line that you should be able to turn to shut off the flow of water to your toilet, thus giving you some time to get rid of the appliance’s clog and/or clean up the water around the toilet bowl. We recommend actually checking your toilet’s shut-off valve when you clean it, and making sure it is well-lubricated in case of an emergency. In some cases, if the shut-off valve crank has rusted, you may need a wrench to turn it.
For Clogged Toilets & More, Call All City Plumbing, Air & Electrical
If you have tried everything else and nothing works, or if you have stopped your toilet from overflowing but still need to get rid of a clog, make sure to call All City Plumbing, Air & Electrical. Our fast plumbers offer clogged toilet repair designed to get your equipment working again ASAP. You can trust our skilled, experienced, and licensed plumbing professionals to take care of even the toughest clogs, and if your toilet is beyond repair for whatever reason, we also offer cutting-edge fixture replacement. You should also consider hiring us for backwater valve installation, so you never have to worry about dealing with sewage water on your property. And with our excellent specials and flexible financing options, we make it easy to get the services you need at prices you can afford. Call All City Plumbing, Air & Electrical for a free estimate today, and remember that when it comes to plumbing service, we’re all you need!
All City Plumbing, Air & Electrical is available by phone at (909) 552-7550, or you can click here to contact us online.