How to Stop an Overflowing Toilet

If your toilet overflows or if you suspect a clog, never test by flushing again. The toilet may overflow and flood the bathroom a second time.

Instead, clean up the water with a mop, spread old towels on the floor to absorb any more water, and follow a few basic procedures to remove the clog. In the time it takes to do initial clean up, water in the backed-up toilet bowl will often drain away slowly, making the remainder of the job easier.

First, see if you can remove the obstruction. Solid objects, such as toys or bathroom objects that become jammed in the drain cam often be removed by hand. Paper products can usually be forced down the drain with a plunger.

There are two types of plungers: the standard suction cup and the force ball. The force ball has a cone-shaped end that fits tightly into the drain. It exerts more pressure and is the more effective of the two types.

If the plunger method does not work, the next step is to use an Auger. The flexible auger / snake is designed to be cranked down into the drainpipe through the toilet bowl to break up deep-set obstructions.

After using either a plunger or auger, test the water flow by slowing pouring water from a bucket into the toilet bowl. This method of checking the drain is safer than flushing.

If both fail, you may need professional help to clear the drain. Make sure you have turned off the water supply to the toilet. This is usually located below the tank. Then call a plumber.

To prevent overflows in the future, keep cotton swabs, dental floss, feminine hygiene products and other objects out of the bowl. Children have been known to flush toys, crayons and other objects, but adults can be equally thoughtless. Toilet paper is the only household product that should be flushed down a toilet.

Some things to remember:

-Keep a plunger and snake in a handy place so they can be easily accessed when the need arises.

-Remember that the porcelain cover on a toilet tank is fragile-remove with care.

-If using a force ball plunger, smear petroleum jelly around the bottom of the cup to improve suction.

-The reason toilets back up and overflow is usually because the toilet is improperly used as a general disposal for other household wastes.

Step by Step:

-If you see the toilet start to overflow, shutting off the water valve, usually found below the tank, can stop the flow.

-If there is no water valve, or if you want to stop the flow quickly, reach into the tank and push down the flapper valve.

-For a plunger to work effectively, the toilet bowl should be about half full of water. Add or remove water with a bucket.

-Place the plunger over the drain and pump vigorously about 10 times. Test for proper water flow by pouring water into the bowl.

-If a auger is necessary to "snake the drain", place the end into the drain and crank clockwise until you feel resistance. Remove the auger while cranking.