Toilet Overflow? What Should You Do?
Homeowner emergencies are bound to occur at some point, but oh, the dreaded toilet overflow is one that no homeowner wants to deal with. Not only does it create a nasty mess, but it can cause water damage to your home if not stopped in time. Don’t worry, we have all you need to know to stop an overflow before it is too late. Stay calm and follow these simple steps.
STEP 1
First you must stop the water flow to your toilet. Located on the bottom side of most toilets is the water shut off valve. Twist the valve counterclockwise until the water is turned off. Now, no more water can flow to the toilet.
STEP 2
Now, carefully remove the lid to your toilet and place in on the ground. Do this gently because toilet lids can easily be cracked. Find the float that is on the fill valve and lift it up. This will stop water from filling up inside of the toilet. Don’t worry about reaching into the lid of the toilet, the water is clean.
STEP 3
Now that you have stopped all water flow, it is time to clean up the mess. First be sure to put on some gloves, grab some old towels and a mop and wipe up as much of the water that you can. If the water is up to the top of the toilet still, get a bucket and empty some of it out. Then dispose of it properly. You can always flush the water in the bucket down another functioning toilet.
STEP 4
After you have cleaned up, you can attempt to see if a toilet plunger will fix the problem. Most of the time your toilet is clogged, causing an overflow. If a plunger does not fix the issue than you will need to call a plumber so assess your toilet. Do not use your toilet again until the problem is solved.
If your toilet overflow is bad enough, you may experience water damage to your home. ServiceMaster Restoration is on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, ready to help in emergencies such as these. The cleaning professionals at ServiceMaster Quality Restoration use advanced products, procedures, and equipment to assure the highest level of cleaning performance. Don’t try to handle it on your own. We are here to answer any of your questions.
Call us at (704) 324-8528
