When the toilet starts to overflow, your first instinct might be to panic. Staying calm, and getting the water stopped as quickly as possible can prevent a significant mess and serious damage. Once the overflow is taken care of, you can deal with the broken toilet or clog to keep it from happening again. Here’s what you should know about this situation.

How to Stop the Overflow 

When the toilet bowl continues to fill with water after it’s been flushed, your first priority is to stop the water. There are several ways you can do this.

The first is to reach behind the toilet and turn off the water valve, cutting off the water supply. This will keep the bowl from filling any more.

The other option is to remove the tank cover and reach in to close the flapper valve, the small rubber disc covering a hole in the bottom of the tank. Gently push down on this valve to stop water from flowing into the bowl.

While holding the flapper, pull up the tank float (the ball-shaped valve located above the tank water line) to stop water from entering the tank. Do this for about a minute, and the water level in the bowl should start to go down. 

Clearing the Clog

In most cases, toilets overflow after being flushed because there’s a clog. Sometimes, the cause is a broken toilet part that needs to be repaired or replaced, a clog in the main sewer line, or a full septic tank. If the toilet overflows or backs up even when you don’t flush the toilet, it’s likely because of one of these more serious issues. 

If the toilet overflows because of a minor clog, you can clear it yourself. Place a plunger over the drain hole in the toilet and give it a few pumps. This will likely clear the clog and the toilet will drain.

If the plunger doesn’t work, you may need to contact a plumber so that they can use a plumbing snake or auger to break up the clog. Be gentle and don't force the tools down the drain, or you could be looking at a broken toilet or a more significant plumbing problem. 

If you have a broken toilet that keeps clogging and overflowing, or you can’t clear a clog, contact Murphy's Plumbing Company in Mebane, NC. These plumbers have served homes and businesses for more than three decades, providing exceptional plumbing installation and repair services. Visit their website for helpful plumbing tips or call (919) 563-5165 to request a service appointment.