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Collapsing building © Daniel FriedmanToilet overflow: how to stop

  • POST a QUESTION or COMMENT about how to stop an overflowing toilet & what to do about cleaning up sewage spills from a toilet overflow

How to stop a toilet from overflowing: this article describes simple and quick steps you can take to stop an overflowing toilet or a toilet whose bowl is filling and that is about to overflow.

Our unpleasant page top photo illustrates the problem with which you may be confronted, often alone, perhaps just after having used the toilet.

Here we explain that quickly lifting the toilet tank lid and taking one or two simple steps can avoid a messy toilet overflow catastrophe.

We also explain how to prevent a septic or sewer system backup during heavy use of a private septic tank and system.

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Emergency Toilet Overflow Rescue Procedure - how to stop a toilet from overflowing

Toilet with tank lid on seatIf the toilet is about to overflow here is what you do to prevent sewage from running over the toilet bowl and onto the floor:


Take off the toilet tank lid - Quickly but carefully
, remove the lid from the toilet tank and set it aside.

You can place the toilet tank lid right across the toilet bowl.

Don't knock the lid on the floor - they break.

Don't waste time moving towels and stuff - we're in a rush to stop the toilet from overflowing.

 


Reach inside the toilet and push down the flapper valve that is letting the tank empty water into the toilet bowl - this will stop water from entering the toilet and if you're quick enough, prevent sewage from overflowing onto the floor.

Toilet flush valve being pushed shut

This will be a rubber valve in the center of the bottom of the toilet tank.

This will stop water from flowing from the toilet tank into the toilet bowl.

Don't be afraid to touch the water in the toilet tank or cistern itself.

Toilet fill valve held shut

Stop the toilet & its tank from further filling by lifting up the float
 that operates the toilet tank fill valve.

This will stop water from entering the toilet tank from the toilet supply line.

The photo shows that water is stopped and the flapper in the toilet tank bottom is shut.

If the water level in the toilet bowl is dropping slowly, keep holding the toilet tank float up in its highest position so that water stops flowing into the tank and into the toilet bowl.

Wait a minute - if in the next minute or two the water level in the toilet bowl slowly drops down to a normal level, you'll be able to release the toilet tank float and let the tank and toilet bowl refill without danger of overflowing onto the floor.

Closing the toilet fill valve

If the water level in the toilet tank is not dropping, after a minute or until you can't bear standing there any longer, continue to hold up the toilet tank float while you close the toilet supply valve near the floor or in the wall behind the toilet.

Still holding up the float so that the toilet tank stops filling, reach down and carefully turn off the toilet fill valve. Turn the handle clockwise to close the valve.

If you can't do both, let the float drop and quickly close the valve.

If the toilet supply valve is hard to turn do not force it - it could break and give a terrible supply leak on top of your blocked drain problems.

Toilet bowl fill tube connected normally

If you cannot close the toilet fill valve, or if there isn't one, remove the little flexible rubber or plastic tube that is sending water into the toilet bowl through the vertical standpipe.

The photo at left shows this tube in its normal position and you can see it shooting water into the toilet bowl refill tube.

The standpipe also supports the flapper valve but the water squirting into the tube is going right into the toilet bowl.

Toilet bowl fill tube disconnected

Aim the flexible little bowl-fill tube into the toilet tank instead.

Now you can let the float drop and let the toilet tank fill.

The reason for this step is that that little tube is sending extra water into the toilet bowl even when the main toilet tank flapper valve has shut.

You're trying to avoid filling and overflowing the toilet tank.

The photo shows us directing the bowl-fill tube water into the toile tank instead.

Once the toilet tank has filled you can clip this tube back in place where as shown in the photo before this one.

OK so You Prevented the Toilet From Overflowing onto the Floor, What Next:

Photo of septic tank being pumped

If you have had sewage back up and spill out of toilets into the building, cleanup is needed and you may face bacterial hazards.

See SEWAGE CONTAMINATION in BUILDINGS for advice.

Why Does the Septic or Sewer System Back Up During a Party?

Sewage backup into bathtub
Indeed it seems to be just the luck that we are living happily along not giving the septic tank a thought until we have a bunch of guests over for Thanksgiving, Chanukah, Christmas, or a graduation party. Why is it that at events we often see the septic system backing up?

The photo shows sewage water backing up into a bath tub. This is what can happen at bottom floor fixtures in a home when the main drain is blocked or the septic system is blocked and you keep flushing toilets or running fixtures at upper floors. Don't do this.

Septic systems seem to fail during a party because the septic system was already in trouble, but our usage was modest enough that we just weren't noticing it.

The surge of waste water entering the septic tank cannot flow into a flooded drainfield so sewage may back up into the home, usually at the lowest plumbing fixture. Sometimes it's not the wastewater surge but someone flushing something down a toilet that blocks a drain - that's a problem that can be cleared by a plumber using a plumbing snake or drain router. But often the problem is in the septic field itself.

Readers should see CAMPING & EMERGENCY TOILETS and also s

ee ALTERNATIVE & WATERLESS TOILETS for a discussion of camping toilets, chemical toilets, emergency-use toilets, waterless toilets, graywater systems, composting toilets, home health care toilets, incinerating toilets, outhouses, and latrines.

 




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Reader Comments, Questions & Answers About The Article Above

Below you will find questions and answers previously posted on this page at its page bottom reader comment box.

Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

On 2019-01-21 - by (mod) -

Kathleen

Once the toilet tank and bowl have filled after a flush, turn off the water supply valve to the toilet.

That will prevent more than one tank of water from leaking down the drain and can avoid a frozen drain pipe.

If you let the toilet run and it's very cold out a shallow outdoor sewer or drain line could freeze and even break, causing costly sewer line repairs and even a worse sewer backup in the building.

The ARTICLE INDEX near the end of the article on this page gives links to articles on diagnosing and fixing a RUNNING TOILET

On 2019-01-20 by Kathleen

Toilet running constantly. Will be repaired in a couple of days. Meanwhile it is good for a couple of flushes and then we turn water off after it refills. Trying to save water. Supposed to drop to 7 degrees Tonite and tomorrow.

Should I turn valve back on so it won't freeze. I rather pay for some wasted water rather than burst pipes. Tankless hot water/furnace in garage but I don't know where water for toilet pipes are.

On 2017-11-13 by T

Thank you for this! I'm a renter and this helped mitigate a midnight overflow.

On 2016-02-11 - by (mod) -

It sounds as if there is a toilet drain blockage but perhaps not close to the toilet. Try longer, patient plunging. Sometimes 5 minutes or so will work.

Flush the toilet, taking care not to let it overflow (as described in the article above). With the bowl full try plunging for 4-5 minutes, forcing water into the drain. The water level should drop some as you force water into the drain line - that may help free a blockage.

IF that doesn't work I'm afraid you need to call a plumber.

On 2016-02-11 - by (mod) -

It sounds as if there is a toilet drain blockage but perhaps not close to the toilet.

Try longer, patient plunging. Sometimes 5 minutes or so will work. IF that doesn't work I'm afraid you need to call a plumber.

On 2016-02-11 by Mary

Hi, I'm hoping someone can help me so I don't have to call a plumber :-) I went to use my toilet and noticed the water level was extremely low (just enough to see where the flush hole is). I didn't think much of it and used the toilet. I flushed and the water just rose up in the bowl to the top. I have tried plunging multiple, multiple times and nothing unclogs. I then tried a snake and got the same result.

I did not feel the snake bump into anything. In both cases, no organic material or debris appeared and the water remains practically clear.

I also tried the home remedy of vinegar, baking soda and hot water and let that sit overnight. In the morning, the water level was again extremely low but when I flushed, it still rose to the top. I've looked in the holding tank and everything looks intact. Nothing broken off and the chain is still intact as well.

I am completely stumped. Any other troubleshooting suggestions out there for me? Thanks a lot!

On 2015-05-12 by DanialThomas

Good information shared. This information is helpful in emergency condition.

Thanks

PPplumbing

On 2015-02-22 - by (mod) -

Helen we don't know from your note if the problem was a frozen drain, blocked drain, or failed septic system. The last is likely to be the most costly.

Don't forget to check for and fix any running toilets or dripping faucets as those slow outflows can freeze up and block a shallow drain line n cold weather.

On 2015-02-17 by Helen M

Freezing cold temperatures outside and 2 feet of snow. We have a septic tank. Basement toilet is overflowing when toilets are flushed upstairs or when washingmachine is on. Just noticed this tonight. Septic was last pumped 2.5 years ago and we were told it looked fine. Original septic 1976. My husband thinks a drain pipe outside may be frozen and causing back-up. All water is usage has stopped in the house. Water coming up from basement toilet looks muddy(fecal Matter) and bits of tissue. How bad is this? W. Spfld,Mass.

On 2014-03-30 by (mod)

Marie,

That "gurgling" noise suggests that either the main drain is partly blocked (most likely) or the vent system is not functioning. If the problem has always been there one might suspect the vent but otherwise it's time to ask a plumber to check and unclog the main drain.

On 2014-03-29 by MARIE

My toilet always clogs up when you do #2. I have been able to unclog by using a plunger and it take a while to unclog. I tested the toilet by pouring a bucket of water down the toilet, I can hear a gurgling noise once all the water drains out and also when I use the plunger. When you first unclog and flush , dirt is always in the bottom of the toilet.


...

Continue reading  at TOILET REPAIR GUIDE or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

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TOILET OVERFLOW EMERGENCY at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.


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