How to Deal with an Overflowing Toilet

There is nothing scarier than flushing a toilet and watching the water rise, and not fall. We’ve all been there, standing over the toilet in a panic, plunger in hand and phone in the other, staring down at an overflow of water. Everyone knows the feeling of dread as they watch water start to spill over the lip of the toilet bowl. While it’s easy to panic, there are quick actions you can take to deal with an overflowing toilet.

First Step: Turn off the Water

When you see water rising to the top of the toilet bowl there are a few things you should do. The first thing is to stop the flow of water. Try taking off the tank lid and holding down the flapper valve. The flapper valve is the rubber cap that controls the flow of water from the tank to the bowl. After you’ve secured the flapper valve, pull the float up and hold both in place for about a minute to stop the flow of water. If that doesn’t work, it’s time to look for the toilet shut-off valve. Most toilets have a small metal valve that will stop the flow of water. On the off chance your toilet does not have a shut off valve, you need to turn off your home’s main water line.

Second Step: Grab the Plunger

A toilet plunger is something no home should be without. Just a quick note, not all plungers are created equal. Plungers with a flat head should only be used on sinks. Toilet plungers have a bell shape. When you insert the bell shape into the toilet drain, it creates a better seal to clear a small clog. Before you grab the plunger, you’ll want to wait for the toilet to stop flowing. Using a plunger while the toilet is still running will create a bigger mess and probably won’t solve the problem.

Third Step: Call the Plumber

Even if you clear the blockage on your own, the best next step is to call a plumber. If a simple plunging was all you needed to clear the toilet, you never know what could be lurking beyond the bowl. If you were unable to open anything up after plunging, then it is definitely time to call a plumber. At Bell Brothers, we offer expert drain clearing services for any and all of your clogged pipes. We also provide plumbing maintenance inspections. During a plumbing maintenance inspection, we will check interior and exterior fixtures, toilet flushing systems, p-traps and drains and much more!. We recommend scheduling your plumbing maintenance inspection once every year.

Save Yourself from the Disaster of an Overflowing Toilet, Call the Experts at Bell Brothers

If you’re ever worried about dealing with an overflowing toilet, don’t hesitate to reach out to Bell Brothers. Our expert plumbers provide plumbing maintenance inspections to ensure the longevity and safety of your entire plumbing system. If you’re a part of our Sacramento, Stockton, Vacaville, or Bay Area communities, call the number at the top of the screen or click here to schedule an appointment today.