{"id":1626,"date":"2024-11-18T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-11-18T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.relianceplumbing.com\/blog\/?p=1626"},"modified":"2024-11-15T13:29:34","modified_gmt":"2024-11-15T19:29:34","slug":"overflowing-toilet-dont-panic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.relianceplumbing.com\/blog\/plumbing-service\/overflowing-toilet-dont-panic\/","title":{"rendered":"Overflowing Toilet? Don\u2019t Panic!"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"plumber-fixing-a-toilet\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

It\u2019s easy to get stressed and freak out during an emergency. And if the emergency has to do with your toilet, it can be even more upsetting and worrisome. But if you panic, you\u2019re likely to waste time and not make the best decisions. How can you avoid panic when something truly unpleasant is happening, and getting worse by the second, like a toilet overflowing<\/a>? By having a plan!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ll take you through some basics here: what it\u2019s helpful to know before an emergency like this happens, and what steps to take if it does. Read on, and we\u2019ll arm you with the knowledge you need to stay calm in the face of an overflowing toilet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

What to Know About Your Home\u2019s Plumbing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The thing you\u2019re most likely to need to know if a major leak or overflow happens somewhere in your home is how to shut off the water. In general, each fixture such as a sink or shower should have its own shut-off valve. It\u2019s usually at the back of your toilet, on a pipe or water line. It\u2019s probably an oval-shaped knob, which you should turn clockwise to stop the toilet from refilling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is also a main water line shut-off that can stop the water to your entire home at the point where the water first enters your building. This is most likely to be the side of your home facing the street, but if you have a well, it will be on the wall closest to that. Often it\u2019s in a basement. Just look for water pipes and find a knob. Turning it clockwise will shut off your whole house\u2019s water supply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 1: Shut the Water Off<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When your toilet overflows, your top priority has to be decreasing the risk of major water damage. Shut off the toilet valve. If your toilet doesn\u2019t have one, or it isn\u2019t working, proceed to the whole-house shut-off. It\u2019s a bother to have no running water, but it\u2019s better than having it run all over your floor!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 2: Clean the Mess Up<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Your next priority should be making sure the water doesn\u2019t soak into your floor and subfloor, and making sure the germs don\u2019t spread. Soak everything up, ideally with old towels or something you can launder with bleach. Then wipe the area down with disinfectant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 3: Plunge<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s an oldie but a goodie. The best tool for clogged toilets is a plunger! Just make sure you are thrusting down vertically and not at an angle. With a few minutes\u2019 patience and a little luck, you might get this sorted out all by yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 4: Seek Help<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you can\u2019t unblock the toilet, you need a plumber. But is it an emergency? If you\u2019ve only got one toilet, or if you\u2019ve had to shut off your entire water supply, yes. Emergency plumbing in Skokie, IL<\/a> is the way to go. Otherwise, you can wash your hands, put up a sign warning your family not to use this toilet, and schedule an appointment during regular business hours.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For expert plumbing service, <\/strong>contact Reliance Plumbing Sewer & Drainage, Inc.<\/strong><\/a> Our knowledgeable plumbers serve the North Shore and Northwest Chicago suburbs. Rely on Reliance!<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

How can you avoid panic when something truly unpleasant is happening, and getting worse by the second, like a toilet overflowing? By having a plan!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[81],"tags":[186,111],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.relianceplumbing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1626"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.relianceplumbing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.relianceplumbing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.relianceplumbing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.relianceplumbing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1626"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.relianceplumbing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1626\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1629,"href":"https:\/\/www.relianceplumbing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1626\/revisions\/1629"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.relianceplumbing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1626"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.relianceplumbing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1626"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.relianceplumbing.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1626"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}