How to Stop Your Toilet from Overflowing

09/12/2016

Toilet overflows can be a massive headache for homeowners. They can cause a lot of water damage, they’re unsanitary, and they tend to happen so fast that it can be difficult to mitigate a great deal of the damage. Fortunately, there are a number of different methods you can use to stop your toilet from overflowing before it gets too out of hand. Read on to find out how.

Close the Water Valve

All toilets have a water line that connects them to the plumbing system. The vast majority of toilets have a valve in this water line, which controls the flow of water. Find the valve, which is typically located on the wall near the toilet or on the actual base, and turn it to the right. This will cut off the flow of water to the toilet. If your toilet doesn’t seem to have a shutoff valve that you can find, you’ll have to try another method.

The Ball Cock

Lift off the top part of your toilet and look for the ball cock. This is a rubber ball attached to a lever, which monitors the level of water in the tank. Once the ball cock lifts the lever to a certain point, the system will automatically shut off the flow of water into the tank. This is how the toilet prevents the tank from overflowing. So all you need to do is manually lift the ball cock. This should stop the flow of water into the tank, which will in turn prevent water from flowing into the bowl. Please note that the ball cock will not stay in the lifted position on its own; you’ll need to find something to secure it until you can have the toilet checked out.

Rooter Man provides a full range of toilet repair services throughout Clifton Park, NY.