How to Fix Overflowing Toilets

An overflowing toilet is caused by a clog somewhere in your plumbing.

Your toilet sends sewage away from your home to help keep you and your family safe from disease. This refuse is carried out of your house through the same pipes that carry used water away from your sinks, showers and bathtubs. The hairs, soap, grease and food from these fixtures occasionally binds with the sewage from your toilet and forms a clog. These clogs are not completely solid, but can still prevent water from escaping down the drains of your home. Fixing overflowing toilets involves unclogging the drain pipes running from your house and a thorough cleaning.

Things You'll Need

• Mop
• Mop bucket with wringer
• Plumber's snake
• Wet vac
• Rags
• Bucket with 1 gallon of water and 1/2 cup of bleach
• Leather work gloves
• Rubber gloves
• Safety glasses

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Instructions

1. Locate the shut off valve on the back of your toilet. Turn off the water supply to the toilet. Suck up the excess water from your floor with the wet vac. Dump the wet vac as necessary. Soak up the remaining water by swabbing the floor with your mop. Wring out the mop with the wringer on your mop bucket as necessary.

2. Place the rubber stopper of the plunger into the bowl of the toilet and cover the outflow drain. Push down sharply on the plunger and immediately remove the plunger from the toilet. Repeat several times to break the clog loose.

3. Pull the wire end of the plumber's snake free from the body of the tool. Push the wire end of the snake down the drain of the toilet until it hits the clog. Hold the bottom handle of the snake with one hand and rotate the top handle to drive the wire through the clog.

4. Push the hose of the wet vac into the toilet drain. Pack rags around the hose. Turn on the vacuum and fill the reservoir. Dump the captured water, and repeat until the clog in your pipes is broken.

5. Turn on the water supply valve on the back of your toilet. Let the reservoir fill completely and flush the toilet. Wet a rag with the bleach water in your bucket. Wipe down the toilet and clean the floor completely with the bleach water. Clean every surface that was touched by the contaminated water. Open windows and let the bleach water evaporate for 2 hours before using the bathroom.

Tips & Warnings

• Leather work gloves worn over rubber gloves is necessary for protection against contaminants.

• Safety glasses are necessary when working with sewage.

References

• Toiletology: Overflowing Toilet Bowl