An overflowing toilet is a relatively common problem that many people have had to deal with, but the commonality of this issue doesn't mean that it isn't a serious situation that needs to be handled quickly. The water from an overflowing toilet can soak into wood cabinetry, seep into the walls, or damage the floorboards, making it easier for mold, mildew, and rot to spread throughout the infrastructure of your home.
In order to solve this issue before it can become a bigger problem, it's important to find out why the toilet is overflowing, so that you can take action to resolve the situation on your own or hire a professional plumber. Take a look at this guide to learn several reasons why the toilet may be overflowing and what to do if you find yourself in this situation.
There are typically four main reasons for a toilet overflowing. The drain line may be clogged, the plumbing vents are blocked, the main sewer line for the home is plugged, or, if you have a septic system, the septic tank may be full or obstructed, causing the waste water to backflow into the home.
The most common reason for a toilet to overflow is if the drain is clogged. Typically, an individual will use the toilet as intended, but attempt to flush too much toilet paper down the drain. The excessive amount of toilet paper clumps up and causes a clog in the drain line that prevents the water in the toilet bowl from emptying into the drain. If an individual toilet does not flush or backs up, chances are it's a clogged toilet.
However, when you flush the toilet, the flush valve in the toilet tank lifts a flapper to allow the water from the tank to flow into the bowl. The flapper remains open until the tank is empty, but because the water cannot flow down the drain, it accumulates in the bowl until it overflows. This situation can also be caused by other items getting flushed down the toilet, like napkins, paper towel, feminine hygiene products, cotton balls, wipes, or other materials that are not made to be flushed.
Keep a plunger nearby in the bathroom to quickly clear clogs when someone accidentally overloads the toilet with toilet paper. You may also want to invest in a plumbing snake that can be inserted into the toilet and run down into the drain to physically break up or pull out any material that is causing the clog.
Many people don't know that plumbing drain lines have vents. While the drain lines carry the waste and wastewater down into the sewers, branching sanitary vent lines run to the outside of the home through the roof or through a side wall. The purpose of these vents is to help release pent-up gases that are created when the waste in the pipes breaks down.
Additionally, the vents bring fresh air in from the outside to replace the air that is forced down the drain when you flush the toilet. If the air isn't being replaced because the vent lines are blocked with debris, like leaves or pine needles, then the toilet will not function properly and can lead to the toilet overflowing. Even if the toilet doesn't overflow when you flush, the absence of air in the pipes can create a vacuum that can damage the plumbing infrastructure. It's recommended to contact a professional with the specialized equipment necessary to clean the plumbing vents.
Your home infrastructure isn't the only area where a problem can occur. The main sewer line that runs to the home can also cause the toilet to overflow if the sewer line becomes blocked or clogged. This issue can happen if people in the home flush items or materials that are not made to be flushed, like wet wipes, paper towels, napkins, or feminine hygiene products. Some wipes are specifically labeled as flushable, but even these products don't actually break down in the municipal wastewater system, so to avoid clogs, it's recommended to throw wipes in the trash, instead of flushing them.
External factors can also result in a sewer line blockage, such as tree roots growing into the drain line. Another situation that could end up with a blocked sewer line is if there is any type of construction on the sewer line or on the sewer main for the street because the debris built up on the inside of the drain pipe may shift due to a change in pressure or increased vibration, creating a clog.
It's important to understand that the lowest opening of the system, whether it is the cellar or slab on grade, this where the water will back up when you have a main sewer clog. It could be the septic is full, the municipal sewer is clogged, or your sewer to the street.
If you have a septic tank, then you won't have to worry about nearby construction causing problems for your plumbing, but you do need to be diligent about cleaning out the tank and making regular repairs to keep up with the septic system maintenance. Trying to flush waste and wastewater down into the septic tank is next to impossible if the tank is completely full, so when you flush the toilet the waste from the toilet and the septic tank may backflow into the home, causing the toilet to overflow.
Similarly, if the line to the septic tank or the septic tank itself is obstructed, preventing waste from entering or exiting the tank, then it's like that flushing the toilet will only result in the waste backflowing into the home and overflowing the toilet. Contact a septic tank repair and maintenance professional to troubleshoot your septic system, clean out the tank, and make any necessary repairs to resolve the problem.
Knowing the reason why the toilet is overflowing is important for solving the problem, but it's the most pressing issue when water is pouring onto the floor. Follow these steps to stop the water and plunge or snake the drain. If you suspect the issue is with the vents, sewer line, or septic tank, it's recommended to contact a plumber to resolve the situation.
Plumbing repairs come with a risk of damage to the surrounding infrastructure of the home because water can cause mold, mildew, and rot to spread through the wood, drywall, and insulation. This doesn't mean that you shouldn't attempt basic plumbing fixes, like plumbing the toilet or snaking the drain, but if you don't have the knowledge or experience dealing with plumbing systems, then it is recommended to leave the more complex jobs to a professional plumber.
There are even some toilet tank assembly repairs you can make to replace a tank flapper, float ball, fill valve, or flush valve, but issues with the vents, sewer line, or septic tank typically fall outside of the expertise of the average DIYer. If signs seem to indicate that the overflowing toilet is a result of clogged vents, a blocked sewer line, or problems with the septic tank, then you should contact a professional plumber to troubleshoot and resolve the issue.
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