Toilet Overflowing? What to Do Right Now and When to Call a Plumber

Most toilet floods get worse because the tank keeps refilling. Take the lid off the tank and set it somewhere safe, because it is heavy and breaks easily. Push the rubber flapper at the bottom of the tank down so it seals, and the bowl will stop filling. If the fill valve is still running, lift the float arm or float cup up to shut it off.

Next, find the oval shutoff handle on the small pipe that comes out of the wall or floor behind the toilet. Turn it clockwise until it stops. Do not force a valve that will not move; older valves in many local homes can be stiff or corroded and may crack. If the valve will not close and water is still running, close the home's main water valve, which is usually where the water line enters the basement, or call a plumber right away.

The most important question is whether the problem is only this toilet. A single toilet that overflows while every sink, tub and shower drains normally usually has a clog in the toilet itself or the pipe just past it. Too much paper, wipes, cotton swabs, a child's toy or a weak older flush can cause this.

If water bubbles up in a bathtub or shower when you flush, a floor drain in the basement backs up, or several fixtures gurgle and drain slowly at the same time, the blockage is likely farther down in the main drain or sewer line that all of them share. Plunging the toilet will not fix that, and running more water anywhere in the house can push wastewater out of the lowest drain, which is often in the basement. Stop using water and call a plumber.

Use a flange plunger, the kind with an extra rubber sleeve that fits into the toilet's drain opening. A flat sink plunger does not seal well in a toilet. If the bowl is very full, wait a few minutes for the level to drop, or bail some water into a bucket wearing gloves.

Seat the plunger over the opening, push down gently the first time to push the air out, then work it firmly up and down 10 to 15 times while keeping the seal. When the water drains away, turn the shutoff back on, let the tank refill and test with one flush while you keep a hand ready on the flapper.

Skip chemical drain cleaners. They seldom clear a toilet clog, they can damage older pipes, and they are dangerous for you or a plumber if the water splashes. If you already poured one in, tell the plumber before they start.

Treat overflow water as dirty, especially if it came after use. The CDC advises wearing rubber boots, rubber gloves and goggles when cleaning up where sewage is involved, washing with soap and clean water afterward, and washing work clothes separately in hot water and detergent. Keep children and pets out of the room until it is cleaned.

Keep water away from outlets, cords, space heaters and floor vents. If water has reached an outlet or is dripping from a ceiling light below the bathroom, do not touch it; switch off that circuit at the panel only if you can reach the panel from a dry floor.

Mop hard floors and clean them with hot water and detergent. The Washington State Department of Health notes that wall-to-wall carpet and pad soaked with sewage usually cannot be cleaned well enough and should be removed. The EPA advises drying water-damaged areas and items within 24 to 48 hours to help prevent mold growth.

Many homes in this area are decades old. Census estimates put the median home in Indiana Borough at 1957, and many houses in Blairsville, Greensburg and Latrobe are of a similar age. Older cast iron and clay drain lines can build up scale, crack, sag or let tree roots in, which narrows the pipe until a normal flush backs up.

Homes outside town sewer service often rely on a private septic system. If toilets and drains back up together on a septic system, the tank may be full or the drain field may be struggling, and the EPA says the average household septic system should be inspected at least every three years, with tanks typically pumped every three to five years. Avoid running laundry or dishwashers until it has been checked.

Who is responsible for which part of a sewer line varies by town. Ask your local sewer authority or borough office before assuming the city will fix a line on your property.

A toilet that runs on its own or refills between uses is not an emergency, but it wastes water and can hide a weak flush that leads to clogs. The EPA's WaterSense program suggests putting a few drops of food coloring in the tank: if color shows up in the bowl within 10 minutes without flushing, the flapper is leaking. WaterSense also recommends checking the flapper and replacing it at least every five years.