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Something about a toilet overflowing with urine brings out our grossest fears. It’s the kind of disgusting mess you might read about in an apocalyptic novel – or witness in the bathroom.
Toilet overflows are among the most common plumbing problems and can happen to anyone.
Incredible usage amounts, large objects being flushed, or minor clogs can all lead to an overflowing toilet. Whether in the home or at work, what you do after the mess is important to prevent it from happening again.
Here are some top tips on how to deal with a clogged toilet and what to do when a toilet overflows – followed by some preventative measures, so it doesn’t happen again.
Causes Of Overflow Toilet
There are many reasons why toilet overflow:
Air In The System
When air enters the system, it becomes trapped in the bowl and prevents water from filling it. The result is that the water level rises above the overflow tube and spills over into the tank.
Water Level Too High
If you have a low water level in the toilet tank, it can also cause an overflow. This is because when you flush the toilet, there will not be enough water to fill up the tank flushing. So it will spill over into the bathroom floor.
Clogged Or Broken Seal
If you have a clogged seal or broken seal on the toilet tank lid, it can also result in overflow problems. Sometimes this is caused due to rusting of screws in the sealing ring of the toilet tank lid, which results in leaking from underneath of seal into a bowl.
Toilet Pipe Blockage
The most common cause of a toilet overflow is that the toilet’s water supply line gets blocked by foreign objects like kleenex, tissue, and other organic materials. If you have a blocked toilet pipe, it will only take minutes for the water to start overflowing from the commode.
There are a few ways you can try to figure out what caused the overflowing toilet.
- Check the visuals in the bathroom to see if anything is stuck in the toilet.
- If there is, try to remove it to prevent it from causing further damage.
- Call a plumber or the property management company immediately if you can’t remove it.
What To Do When A Toilet Overflow?
Immediate Action
First of all, don’t panic. It’s natural to feel shocked and even a little bit disgusted by toilet overflow accidents. But remember that they’re relatively common, and they’re also something that anyone can experience.
One of the best things you can do is turn off the water supply to the toilet. This will prevent the toilet from overflowing further and stop the water from streaming out of the toilet. You’ll also want to shut off the main water supply to the home and contact a plumber.
Check For Damage And Blockages
You’ll want to check for any damage caused by the toilet overflow. Look for cracks or breaks in the bowl and bathroom floor. Check all the fixtures and see any leaks or other damage caused by the water.
If you have a clog in the toilet, you’ll need to unclog it immediately. You can do this with a plunger or a toilet auger.
A plunger is a simple tool that looks like a long, wide cup with a handle on the back. Place it tightly in the toilet bowl and push the plunger down. This will create suction that will break up and remove the clog.
Clean Up The Mess ASAP
The sooner you start cleaning up the mess, the better. You’ll also want to immediately get rid of the water in the toilet bowl and on the floor.
Put down towels or rags to soak up the excess water, and then use a wet vacuum or shop vac to remove the water from the floor.
If there’s a large amount of water in the toilet bowl, you’ll want to use a plumber’s drain auger to remove the excess water. You can also use a small bucket and a plunger to remove the water from the toilet bowl.
Try Chemical Drain Cleaners
You might need to use a chemical drain cleaner before plunging into the toilet again. It should loosen up whatever is causing the blockage and allow you to clear out the water with the plunger more easily.
If using this method, follow all directions carefully and wear rubber gloves when applying them to avoid skin contact with the chemicals involved in this process.
Check The Toilet
Once the obstruction has been removed, try the toilet to ensure it is functioning properly. Restart the water flow and, if necessary, adjust the float to its original position. Next, flush. If you come upon another potential overflow issue, repeat the procedure.
Tips To Prevent Future Toilet Overflow Disasters
Following are a few Tips to prevent future toilet overflow disasters:
- Don’t flush items that aren’t toilet paper and human waste. These include feminine hygiene products, baby wipes, and anything else that is not designed for flushing. These items can clog the pipes and cause major damage.
- Use the toilet for its intended purpose – not as a trash can or as a means to dispose of unwanted items such as tissues or sanitary napkins. If you have young children in the home who may be tempted to flush things down the toilet that you should not, it’s best to use a garbage can with a tight-fitting lid instead of flushing them down the toilet.
- Ensure all screens and grates are in place over all drains and openings so that no foreign objects can enter the drain pipes or sewer lines through these openings.
- Make sure all drains are clear of hair clogs by using a drain snake once per month or more if you notice slow draining water from any sink or tub drains in the house.
Conclusion
Toilets are a common cause of home flooding, and it’s important to be prepared for this to happen if you want your home to remain in good condition. From clogs to overflows, many different problems can occur with toilets. If you follow these tips, you’ll be able to handle any toilet problems that arise, and your home will remain clean and safe.