How to Minimize Damage From an Overflowing Toilet

It’s one of the most dreaded household occurrences: an overflowing toilet. It’s natural to panic when we see the water level rising and spilling over the rim of the toilet. However, it’s important to take a deep breath and work your way through the steps below to prevent the flood from spreading, clear up the water, and figure out what’s caused the problem in order to minimize the damage. While sorting out an overflowing toilet is no one’s favorite job, getting things sorted out - and preventing a further overflow -  may be easier than you think.

Turn off the Water Supply Immediately

First things first: stay calm and minimize the damage by turning off the water supply immediately. To do this, look behind the toilet for the shutoff valve and turn it clockwise. Now the water flow has been turned off, this will prevent further overflow from occurring. Phew. Put down some rags or towels to stop existing water from spreading to other areas.

Before moving on to the next step, test the water supply to ensure it really is properly shut off. To do this, flush the toilet to see if the water flow has stopped. If the water continues to flow or the tank continues to fill, turn the shutoff valve clockwise again. If this still doesn’t work, it may be best to turn off the main supply to the property. Let all members of your household know about this situation.

Mop Up Excess Water

You’re likely to have something of a small flood on your hands, and clearing up this water is a key part of reducing damage. Given where this water has emanated from, it’s a good idea to take some sensible precautions when clearing up by using rubber gloves and an anti-bacterial or disinfecting solution to clean up affected floors and surfaces.

Don’t forget to check for signs of water damage or seepage. Carefully check the area around the toilet, including the surrounding floor and the base. If you spot anything, it may be best to seek professional assistance to assess the damage and make repairs as necessary.

Sort Out the Problem

Some of the most common causes of an overflowing toilet include a blockage, broken fill tube, or faulty flapper valve. If the issue is a clogged toilet, then it’s likely you can fix this yourself with the help of a plunger, drain snake, or toilet auger. However, if the overflow situation has been caused by a faulty fill tube or flapper valve, it’s best to call in a professional contractor to resolve things. 

It’s important to bear in mind that if a sewage backup has caused the overflow, a professional plumber or water remediation team should be called to deal with the problem. Such a situation may be dangerous and should only be tackled by professionals.

Easy Ways to Prevent an Overflowing Toilet

Once the situation is resolved, it’s important to take steps to prevent an overflowing toilet from occurring again in the process:

• Make sure non-flushable items, such as nappies, sanitary towels, wet wipes, and cotton balls, are never put down the toilet. If you live in a household with others, ensure everyone else knows the importance of this.

• Be mindful of the amount of toilet paper used - excessive amounts can cause clogs.

• Consider installing a toilet overflow alarm, which will alert you promptly should the water level become too high, enabling you to take swift action.

• Inspect the toilet at regular intervals: you’re looking for signs of cracks, leaks, or loose connections.

• Schedule plumbing maintenance visits on a regular basis: a plumber will check the toilet, drains, and pipes to quickly identify and repair any potential problems that could lead to an overflow situation.

Don’t Forget to Take Out Insurance

If you rent your home, it’s always a good idea to take out a renters insurance policy. As well as being an essential means of protecting your personal possessions from damage or theft, renters insurance covers a lot of water-related damages, such as that caused by an overflowing toilet. You’ll likely be happily surprised by just how affordable such a policy is, too: you could get cover from as little as $5 a month. 

Final Thoughts

No one wants to be faced with an overflowing toilet. However, working calmly through the steps we’ve outlined above will help you quickly get on top of the situation and minimize potential damage. Once whatever’s caused the problem has been resolved - whether with the aid of a plunger or a professional plumber - it’s important to take precautions to help avoid a future toilet overflow. Simple things like being mindful of the amount of toilet paper being used, installing a water level alert, and periodically inspecting the toilet for signs of damage can guard against further toilet nightmares!