No one enjoys having a leaking or running toilet. Both of those issues are annoying, and leaking over a long period of time can cost you thousands of dollars in repairs. Those problems are often gradual and not very urgent. An overflowing toilet is different, though. You need to act quickly to prevent a huge mess and headache. You might wonder how to stop an overflowing toilet. Well, in today’s post, we’re going to fill you in on everything you need to know.
How To Stop An Overflowing Toilet: What You Need To Do
For this DIY project, you don’t need any tools, just a quick response time to minimize any mess or water damage. Under no circumstances should you flush the toilet. You’ll only make things worse. First, you need to remove the lid off the fill tank. Next, reach inside, and lift the float valve up to prevent it from refilling. You may even want to consider removing the refill tube from the overflow valve to prevent the toilet from refilling the tank again.
Next, and one of the most important things to do is shut off the water supply. Usually, there is a small valve knob that’s hooked up to a supply line near the base of the toilet that you need to turn off as soon as possible. Once the main water supply line is shut off, the water level in the toilet will drop down slowly. If it drained properly, put the float valve back down and keep an eye on the tank as it refills. Be ready to grab that valve again if it starts to overflow again.
After The Toilet Has Stopped Overflowing
So, you’ve managed to get the toilet to stop overflowing. Great. Next, you need to grab a snake and a plunger. First, run the snake down the toilet and turn it as you push it in and out. After you do that for a couple of minutes, it’s time to plunge. When you’re plunging, make sure to make a good seal and do it for at least one minute. Once you’ve snaked the toilet and plunged it, turn the water back on and try to flush it. If the toilet tries to overflow again, lift the float quickly, and cut off the water.
The Issue May Be Deeper Than A Clogged Toilet
Look. Sometimes, the toilet isn’t the issue. Though it’s not common, you may have a serious sewer drain issue that needs to be addressed. There could be any number of things affecting your toilet, ranging from a simple drain line clog that’s out of reach or roots in your sewage line. We have a blog post about how to kill tree roots in the sewer line that fills you in on everything you need to do. In addition to traditional plumbing services, we offer drain cleaning to all of our customers. This isn’t something you should only do when you have a problem. Drain cleaning is a maintenance service that every homeowner should schedule at least every two years, if not annually.
If you have your drain lines and drains cleaned out, the only other option is to consider drain line replacement. If you need help with your clogged toilet or would like an inspection, give Autry Plumbing a call today!
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