It is never pleasant dealing with an overflowing toilet, but it always seems to happen at the most unexpected and inconvenient time. According to a local plumber in Hollywood, FL, K2 Plumbing, it is important to stop the immediate problem as quickly as possible.
But let us first look at possible causes so that you will be able to prevent this headache in the future. This is easier than you might think. Either your trap, drain, or bowl is partially or entirely clogged. So, what are signs that your toilet is overflowing?
Damages that come from a toilet overflow can be quite immense, and the stink that follows can make it quite worse. Another problem with the overflow is that it can damage your building’s floors. Extensive damages can be caused if the floors are wooden. The sewage can get blocked for several reasons.
One of the main reasons can be when drainpipes and waste pipes become choked. This can be caused by build-up of dirt, objects being flushed down the toilets, cracked pipes and leakages etc.
After assessing the water damage from a toilet overflow, it is vital to find out how to stop the overflow. The first thing to be done is to contain overflow and contamination. Stop the overflow by using an absorbent cloth or newspaper.
Always wear rubber gloves and rubber boots and don’t touch the sewage with bare hands. Also, you can wear masks to prevent the inhalation of the toxic fumes that come from the sewage.
The excess sewage needs to be removed from the affected areas. You can do this with the help of special sewage suction devices. After this, the area needs to be cleaned and disinfected. You can use a strong detergent with bleach for cleaning and disinfecting the affected areas.
Water can penetrate the grout in the tile and the wooden flooring as well as the walls. You may need to remove the wooden flooring, and the walls need to be dried out completely to prevent the growth of mold and mildew. An air purifier would also be needed to clean and purify the air and remove any noxious fumes and smells that persist.
Sometimes when a loo gets clogged, you don’t know it until the water in the bowl continues to rise. This can be a very scary moment, as no one wants to have water spilling out of the bowl. If this is an issue, or if you sense the water won’t stop rising- make sure to turn off the water main which is usually nearby on the wall. This will stop the flow of water into the tank, which keeps the water level from rising in the bowl.
Get some rubber gloves and maybe an apron and gently sink a bulb plunger down into the bottom of the bowl. The best plungers have an extension flange and a tapered center. Ideally, you will have a plunger that is sized perfectly for your specific toilet. With the proper tool, you will be able to get greater suction directly into the piping to dislodge the clog.
A full non-draining clog will completely block the pipes and will cause the water to rise. It may be necessary to shut off the water (as mentioned above) or wait a few minutes before beginning to plunge. Once you start, use slow and gentle pushes to minimize splash. Have towels handy for quick cleanup. Plunge back and forth around 10-30 times depending on the clog and see if the water begins to drain on its own.
If you needed to shut off the main water supply at the beginning to keep the water from overflowing, it may be necessary to turn it back on for the bowl to properly drain and refill. However, even without the water on, you should see the water level improve as a result of plunging. In most instances, it will completely drain or partially drain right before your eyes.
After the clog has been handled, turn the water back on and ensure the floater or bobber is adjusted to the right level. This determines how much water the tank needs to be full and may help with future flushing.
Use these tips the next time you have a bathroom that is out of commission to get things back up and running again without a full-on disaster!
After trying these things, if the toilet still hasn’t opened up, it’s probably not a bad idea to call a plumber in to help with the problem. They may have to remove the toilet from the floor mounting and expose the drain hole to find out what’s causing the problem. But with professional help, it’s usually only a matter of time before they open the flow once again.
