Plumber Tips on What to Do When Your Toilet Overflows

 

Just ask any one of our plumbers servicing Coquitlam, an overflowing toilet is one of the most common plumbing issues in any home. And sooner or later—ready or not—it’s going to crop up in your bathroom. And when it does, knowing what to do can come in handy when the water line in your toilet continues to rise. To help ease your panic and prevent a disgusting mess all over your floors, we have put together some useful plumber tips on how to handle toilet overflows.

Is your toilet clogging often? Read our post on what to do when your toilet overflows

Shut off the Water Source

When your toilet is overflowing, the first thing you’ll need to do is turn off the water supply to your toilet. And to do that, you will have to find the main valve and shut it off. In most bathrooms, the water valve will be found on the wall behind the toilet. Shutting off the water will buy you some much needed time to address the problem.

Close the Flapper Inside your Toilet Tank

If you can’t find the shutoff valve, you can also stop water flowing by closing the flapper inside your toilet. Begin by lifting off the lid to your toilet tank, then look inside. The flapper is located at the bottom of the tank and will most likely be in the up position. Pushing the flapper down to cover the hole should stop the water flow.

Take the Plunge

Now that the water has stopped flowing, you’ll want to plunge that clog. So, grab that handy plunger and get to work. First, place the plunger in the bottom of the toilet. Then, pump the head of the plunger up and down quickly. With any luck, the water level in the toilet should drop. Once the clog is cleared, the toilet should flush properly.

Finding water on the floor? You may have a flooding issue, read our post about the causes of indoor flooding in Vancouver here.

Use a Toilet Snake

If your plunger isn’t up to the task, you can also use a toilet snake—a flexible cable that you can manually maneuver down the drain. The toilet snake is comprised of a crank on one end and a wire hook on the other. Wearing rubber gloves, place the hooked end of the cable in the drain and crank the snake clockwise. When the cable snags the clog, twist the cable counter-clockwise to release the clog.

Remove Excess Water

If water has spilled on your floors, you’ll want to clean it up as soon as possible. Pooling water can not only damage your flooring and carpeting, but also attract pests that can wreak havoc in your home. After you’re done getting rid of the excess water, be sure to thoroughly disinfect the affected area to remove harmful bacteria.

Still having issues? You might want to check our helpful tips on checking for a burst pipe in your Vancouver home.

Call a Plumber in Coquitlam

Sometimes clogs are an easy fix—sometimes they’re not. When you have a stubborn clog that just won’t go away, you’ll need to call in the pros to handle your pesky plumbing problems. At Clearly Plumbing, we have the team, the experience, and the skills to handle even the toughest clogs, getting your toilets flushing again in no time.

For a reliable plumber servicing Coquitlam, contact Clearly Plumbing and Drainage today!