3 Fast Methods to Stop an Overflowing Toilet

Is your toilet overflowing?  This is a common situation in homes across the country, and often it seems to happen in the middle of a party or gathering, when people put too much paper or even hand towels down a low-flush toilet.  If your toilet is overflowing and you need to stop it immediately, the following steps will help you get the job done without calling in a plumber.

When you first spot that the toilet is overflowing, there are three ways to stop the water fast:

Method #1 – Look down beside the toilet for the water shutoff valve. This is usually a silver or white handle connected to a pipe or flexible hose.  Turn the handle, and the water will immediately stop flowing into the toilet once the cistern is empty.

Method #2 – If the cistern is full and the toilet bowl is already overflowing, more drastic action is called for. Lift the lid off of the back tank.  Place it down and reach inside the cistern tank.  The water in the back of the tank is actually clean so you can use your bare hands.  When you find the flapper valve that empties the tank into the bowl, press it down completely.  This will stop the flow of water instantly and may keep the commode from backing up onto your floors.

Method #3 – Open the cistern as above, reach inside and lift the valve that allows water to flow into your tank.  When the valve is high enough, the toilet will act as though it is already full, keeping more water from entering via the water supply.  When this is done, wait a moment to see if the water in your commode slowly drops back to the normal level.  If so, the overflow should be stopped.  If not, you will want to reach down and turn off the water supply to the toilet.

When the overflow has stopped, you should check to see how badly the toilet is clogged.  Use a plunger to eliminate any water in the bowl and push down the blockage. Then see if it flushes properly.  When you are confident the blockage is gone, you can restore water to the bowl by turning on the water again.

Be sure to wash your hands thoroughly using soap and hot water after touching any part of the toilet.