Nobody wants to deal with a sudden emergency. This is perhaps especially true of plumbing emergencies. And of all possible plumbing situations you don’t want to deal with, anything regarding a toilet is probably top of the list. But, like it or not, toilet emergencies do occasionally happen.
It’s easy to panic when toilet water is flowing onto your floor. But panic will slow you down and make it harder to figure out what needs to be done. The best antidote to panic is information. If you have a plan ahead of time, you’ll be able to execute it calmly. We’ll give you a straightforward checklist of exactly what to do when your toilet overflows, and how to know if you need an emergency plumber.
Step 1: Shut the Water Off
Before you can deal with whatever caused the problem, you need to stop that water from flowing. Toilets almost always have their own water shut-off valves. This will probably look like a football-shaped knob on a pipe or hose toward the back left of the toilet. Turn it counter-clockwise until the water stops running.
There are some situations which are a little more challenging. Perhaps your toilet doesn’t have that valve. Or maybe it’s stuck in position, or it breaks when you try to turn it. Oh no! Still, don’t panic. There’s a whole-house water shut-off valve as well. It’s probably in your basement, on the wall facing the street. Again, turn counter-clockwise.
Step 2: Clean the Water Up
You really do not want water of any sort to soak into your subfloor. It’s even worse if that water is full of toilet bacteria. Soak it up as quickly as you can. It’s ideal if you can use towels you’re able to wash with bleach to kill any germs. Then clean the area with disinfectant.
Step 3: Address the Clog
The toilet is probably overflowing because it is clogged. Your trusted ally in this type of battle is a plunger. Remember that your goal is to push the blockage down and through, not use suction to pull it up. With water around the bell of the plunger, thrust downward. The strokes should be firm but short. Try this several times to see if you can get things moving again.
Step 4: Call the Plumber
If you can’t resolve the clog yourself with just a plunger, it’s time for professional plumbing assistance. But is it an emergency? Do you need a plumber right away, even if it’s the middle of the night or a holiday weekend? What you’ll need to consider is how urgent the situation is.
If this is your only toilet, consider it an emergency so you’ll be able to meet your basic needs as soon as possible. If you’ve had to shut off the water to the whole house to stop the overflowing, it is definitely an emergency. And if somehow you have been unable to get the water to stop flowing, you’ve probably already come to the conclusion that you need emergency plumbing in Boston, MA!
Reach out to Cooling Unlimited, Inc. to speak with qualified plumbing experts.
