Yikes! An overflowing toilet is a terrible situation! It’s stressful, messy, and unpleasant. And worst of all, if the water continues to flow over the edges of the toilet bowl, it’s very easy to panic! And panicking makes it much harder to solve problems. So what in the world are you supposed to do?
The first thing is simple, if it’s not already too late. Have a plan in place for if this ever does happen to you! Knowing what steps to take will prevent panic and make it quicker and easier to resolve the problem. As soon as you realize your toilet is overflowing, just follow this short list of straightforward steps. You’ll get things sorted out just fine.
Step 1: Shut the Water Off
To keep the wet mess from getting any bigger, you need to prevent the toilet from allowing any more water out. Almost all toilets have their own shut-off valve. This is usually an oval-shaped knob on a pipe or water line at the rear of the toilet’s base. Turn it clockwise as far as it goes. If this works, great! Step one is done.
If there is no shut-off valve on your toilet, or if you are unable to get it to close effectively, you can shut off the water to the whole house. At the point where the water line first enters your home, on the wall closest to your water source (the street, if municipal, or the well, if you have one) there will be a knob. Again, turn clockwise all the way.
Step 2: Clean Up
Now that the mess isn’t spreading any more, sop it up. It’s best if you can use towels that you’ll be happy to wash with bleach or another strong disinfectant. Then wipe down the area where the puddle was, again with disinfectant. This will prevent germ-laden water from soaking into your subfloor and causing rot, mold, and more.
Step 3: Plunge
The tool for this job is your plunger. If you’re not very confident about using one, here’s what to remember. You’re trying to push water down through the toilet’s drainpipe, not trying to use pressure to pull anything upward. The bell of the plunger should have plenty of water around it to help make the seal. Thrust vertically downward, hard but not very far, several times or until it is effective.
Step 4: Re-Evaluate
Did this work? Fantastic! Just turn the water back on and everything will be fine. But what if it didn’t work? You’ve plunged and plunged, but the clog just won’t go down! Well, now it’s time for a plumber. The question is, do you schedule a regular appointment, or should you consider this an emergency?
If you’ve got more than one toilet, and you were able to shut off the water just to that toilet, you can wait until regular business hours and schedule an appointment. But if this is your only toilet, or if you have had to shut off the water to your whole house, it’s time for an emergency plumber in Levelland, TX. We’re happy to be of service!
JD’s Prompt Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning serves the Lubbock area. Contact us for all your plumbing needs.