How Can You Stop a Toilet Overflowing?

Here are a few steps you can take if your toilet is overflowing. 

Step 1 : Use a plunger - the first thing people do when they start to see the toilet overflowing is to grab a plunger. In many cases this is the correct thing to do. It is most important to use a toilet or “flange” plunger (the one with rubber around the rim) if you are going to attempt this. If it does not work the first time you may have to repeat the plunging process several times, even if your water has stopped rising, a clog could still be present in your line, which could cause an overflow the next time you flush. 

Step 2 : Look in your toilet tank - if you have tried to plug your toilet and the water is still threatening to over flow the rim then you will want to check your toilet tank. Check the rubber flapper in the bottom of the tank and see if it opens. If it is then you want to close it immediately and take notes to see if this stops the flow of the water. If you notice that closing the flapper manually does not stop the flow of the water in the Bol then you want to inspect the tank to see if there is a float ball (rubber component that floats on the surface of the toilet tank water.) Lift up the float and check to see if this has stopped the water from overflowing. 

Step 3 : Turn Off your Toilet’s Shut-Off Valve - Turning off your toilet’s shut off valve is the final step depending on how fast the water in your toilet is rising. Overflows that are in progress or dangerously close to occurring, always go behind your toilet and look for the pipe that is connecting your toilet to the wall behind it. When looking there you should be able to find a hand crank on the line that should be able to shut off the main water coming into your toilet. Legacy recommends that when you are cleaning the toilet you make sure it is well-lubricated in case of an emergency such as an overflowing toilet. Sometimes the shut-off crank valve has rusted and you may need to use a wrench to turn it on. 

If you have tried all of the above steps and nothing has worked for you, or if you have stopped the toilet from overflowing but think there could still be a clog, make sure to call Legacy Mechanical Services and we can get your toilet working again!