When you have a runaway toilet on your hands, it can be a frustrating mess that no one wants to clean up. If you have a blockage that prevents your toilet from draining, your problems can get even bigger as the water rises.
If your toilet is overflowing, the first steps should be to stop the immediate floodwaters and then discover the underlying problem. You can always count on Mr. Rooter for Oneida plumbing services, but here are a few basic tips that every homeowner should know.
How to Stop an Overflowing Toilet
A running toilet is a problem many homeowners face, and it often requires immediate action. To get rid of the water, start with a few simple steps:
- Turn off the water. Your toilet should have a valve near its base that can shut off the water. Ignore the righty-tighty rule and turn it counterclockwise to shut off the water.
- Check the tank. Remove the cover, and lift your float ball or cup high until it stops running. Hold it there for a moment until your toilet stops running completely.
- Grab some rubber gloves and a plunger. Put your gloves on right away. If you’re feeling sick from the smell, grab yourself a dust mask, too. Dust masks will keep splashes off your face and keep you more sanitary.
- Use a bucket and a small bowl to remove some of the excess water. Don’t pour this down another drain! Keep the bucket, and pour this wastewater down your toilet when it’s fixed.
- Center your plunger on the hole in your toilet bowl. Apply downward pressure in a slow, steady motion. Take your time, and increase the pressure and speed to unclog your toilet. Plungers can get rid of recent clogs and get your toilet running properly again. If the plunger doesn’t work, use a toilet auger to clean out a strong clog or a foreign object stuck in the toilet. Follow the instructions on your auger carefully, and don’t try to force it if you get a lot of resistance. You may feel some pressure once you clear a clog, so back it out slowly.
- Reset the float mechanism in your toilet and turn the water back on.
- Flush the toilet to see if parts are working well.
- Flush again while holding up your float ball or cup, so you can pour your bucket of wastewater down the toilet.
Call Mr. Rooter Plumbing for Clogged Toilets & Drains
If you’re experiencing consistent clogs or these steps didn’t help you solve the problem, the experienced team at Mr. Rooter Plumbing can help. We offer a wide range of Oneida plumbing services from fixing sinks and septic tanks to showing you how to stop a running toilet. Contact us today!