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Many issues at home may require water mitigation and flood cleanup in Suffolk County. Among these issues, there is one problem that most homeowners may want to avoid – an overflowing toilet.
These issues often come at inopportune times, such as after using it, making cleanup extremely messy and inconvenient. Unfortunately, failing to resolve these issues immediately may lead to water damage to your property.
Below, we talk about what causes your toilet to overflow and what you need to do when it doesn’t stop flushing to prevent water damage.
What Causes an Overflowed Toilet?
An overflowing toilet can be messy and a frustrating problem to deal with. To prevent this from happening, it’s important to be aware of the issues that lead to it, so you can know how to avoid them.
The following are some of the problems that can lead to an overflowing toilet:
Clogged Toilet Drain
The most common cause of an overflowing toilet is a clogged toilet drain. Often, this is caused when too many items are flushed down and accumulate at some point inside the toilet’s plumbing system.
Some examples of flushed items that can cause a blockage include:
- Disposable yet non-flushable items like wet wipes and sanitary napkins
- Foreign objects like kitchen waste, dental floss, and bandages
- Pet waste
- Motor oil and other automotive fluids
Issues With Internal Toilet Components
The toilet’s internal mechanism is designed to allow only a sufficient amount of water to flow to flush down any waste. Some parts, such as the float mechanism, regulate the amount of water that flows into the bowl.
If the mechanism is faulty, it may fail to close the drain that releases the water, causing the system to overflow. At this point, you may require flood cleanup in Suffolk County.
Using a Low Flow Toilet
Low-flow toilets are designed to conserve as much water as they can. These toilet systems limit the amount of water released into the bowl and are not ideal for heavy usage. Unfortunately, when items are flushed that are beyond the capacity of the toilet, the system may clog and cause water to overflow.
Blocked Vent Pipe
The vent pipe is one of the least known yet essential parts of the home. These are small pipes that exit through the roof and are responsible for regulating water pressure in your plumbing system. As an additional function, they assist the toilet in flushing waste and water from the toilet bowl. If these vent pipes are blocked for some reason, your toilet may not allow water to flush and will instead overflow.
What To Do If Your Toilet Doesn’t Stop
The issues above may lead to water flow problems that cause your toilet to overflow. When this happens, here are steps you can take to prevent further damage:
Shut Off the Main Water Valve
If your toilet doesn’t stop flowing for some reason, you can control the flow of water by shutting off the main valve. Knowing where and how to access the main water valve is a crucial aspect of any plan for water mitigation in Suffolk County, as it solves most issues connected with water damage.
Remove Excess Water
To prevent any form of water damage to your property, it is paramount that you remove excess water right away. Use an absorbent material like a piece of cloth or sponge to soak up the water so it drains properly. Then, use a dry piece of cloth or rag to wipe up the water to keep the area dry.
Use a Drain Snake or Plunger
If your toilet is clogged, you can use a plunger to remove the blockage and create some space for the water to flow. If the plunger doesn’t work, you can use a drain snake to dislodge the cause of the issue. Just insert the snake inside the toilet drain and turn the handle counterclockwise until you reach the blockage. Then, turn it counterclockwise to remove it.
Restoration 1, Your Go-To Provider For Flood Cleanup in Suffolk County
An overflowing toilet is a major cause for concern in many ways. However, your biggest concern should be its impact on your property, as failing to act fast can cause water damage and may require restoration to undo the damage.
If you find yourself needing assistance with flood cleanup in Suffolk County due to an overflowing toilet or other issues, get in touch with the experts at Restoration 1 immediately to solve your water damage woes.
