Watching the water in your toilet slowly rises is never an ideal situation and can cause a lot of anxiety. It is one of those panic-inducing situations like hearing an odd gurgle or seeing the bowl’s water level rise. Knowing how to handle a flooded toilet can help manage this kind of situation. An overflowing toilet is most likely the result of either a blockage or an error in the tank float mechanism. It is imperative to know the source of the problem to avoid future occurrences once you have stopped the immediate overflow. This problem usually does not warrant calling a plumber in Sacramento because it only takes a little knowledge to fix it yourself. . Read on to learn a step-by-step guide for solving it.
Things you’ll need
• Rubber gloves
• Toilet plunger
• Toilet auger
Note: Consistent overflowing of dirty water is a sign of sewer backup. Consider contacting a professional plumbing company to flush your system if you own a private septic tank. Moreover, if your toilet is vulnerable to clogs, consider switching to single-ply toilet paper.
What to do if the toilet is overflowing
1. First, turn off the toilet’s water supply. Most toilets have a supply line near the bottom side of the bowl. It should have a valve. Move the valve counterclockwise to stop the water flow.
2. Now, remove the tank cover and stop the water from running by lifting the float cup or float ball high enough. If the water continues to run, consider turning off the water supply to the house. You can find its location near the water heater, which looks like a valve or knob. Turn off the knob until the water stops running. If you encounter severe blockage, you may require a reputable plumbing company in Sacramento; however, most of these minor issues do not need expert help unless the problem is hard to diagnose.
3. Wear disposable gloves and remove excess water using a small cup or bucket at the bowl brim. Pour the dirty water into the bucket, or pour it into a sink if it’s clean. Once you have remedied the flood, pour the dirty water into the toilet and flush it for safe disposal.
4. After completing the above steps, align the rubber cup of the toilet plunger over the center hole of the toilet bowl. Now, slowly apply the downward pressure and gradually increase the speed and intensity. If the clog is the cause of the overflow, a plunger will displace the mass, enabling the water to escape through the plumbing.
5. Use a toilet auger to snake out the objects, causing a clog that a plunger cannot retrieve. Put an auger’s tube end into the toilet hole as deeply as possible to perform this. Gently apply pressure on the other end of the auger to release its snaking portion and turn it. If you feel pressure or resistance, it might indicate the removal of the clog. Then finish the work by pulling the auger out of the hole.
6. Reset the float mechanism to prevent the toilet tank from overflowing. Moreover, ensure the chain attached to the float is not tangled, kinked, or not caught by a piece of debris.
7. Contact the plumbing professionals if your toilet overflowing is chronic.
