Your Toilet Overflowed...Now What?

6/21/2018 (Permalink)

From sewer damage and a malfunctioning toilet to foreign objects and too much toilet paper, an overflowing toilet can happen to anyone.

It's the last thing you want to happen, but sometimes you can't avoid it—your home in Mesa, AZ, has a flooded toilet. Whether it's from sewer damage, clogged pipes, or a malfunctioning toilet, there's still a mess to clean up. So, what do you do? Follow these four steps.

1. Turn off the water. The first thing to do is twist the turn-off valve located at the base of your toilet to stop the flow of water. If your toilet doesn't have one or you're unable to twist it completely, remove the tank lid and place the "ball" or "float" into a resting position until water ceases to fill. You should also ensure there are no electronics, cords, or outlets exposed to the water. If there are, leave the room immediately and use the circuit breaker to turn off the electricity.

2. Check for obvious obstructions. A mass of toilet paper or a foreign object may have been mistakenly flushed. Use a toilet plunger and attempt to remove the blockage. If there is no blockage, sewer damage may be the cause of your issue.

3. Clean the area. Clean up as much as you can, taking extra care to treat anything the toilet water touched. If the toilet is not on the ground floor, check the room below it, too. Make sure to wear rubber gloves and thoroughly wash any bath mats or towels that got wet in the process. If something was damaged by the water and you're unable to clean it yourself, contact a local water damage restoration company to avoid throwing these items away. They'll have the tools needed to restore cabinets, fabrics, and other items you can't clean properly.

4. Call the professionals. If you're unable to fix your flooded toilet yourself, call for help. If a plumber can't locate the source of the overflow, you may need to contact the sewage company directly.

From sewer damage and a malfunctioning toilet to foreign objects and too much toilet paper, an overflowing toilet can happen to anyone. Follow these four steps to save your home—and yourself—from unnecessary stress. For more information, visit http://www.SERVPROmesaeast.com/.