Stop the overflow
Lift the tank lid
Push the flapper at the bottom of the tank down to stop more water entering the bowl, and lift the float to stop the fill.
Close the supply valve
The small oval or round handle on the wall behind the toilet. Turn it clockwise until it stops.
If the valve will not turn
Close the main water shutoff for the house.
Do not flush again
A second flush on a blocked toilet only puts more water on the floor.
Clean up carefully
Wear gloves, soak up the water, and disinfect the floor and base of the toilet.
Simple clog or main line?
- IfOnly this toilet is affected and other drains run normallyThenLikely a clog in the toilet or its short drain. A flange plunger or closet auger may clear it.
- IfThe tub or shower gurgles or rises when you flushThenProbably a main line blockage. Stop using water and call for main drain service.
- IfSeveral toilets back up at onceThenTreat it as a main line or lateral problem.
- IfWater comes up from a floor drain or cleanoutThenMain line blockage. See the sewer backup guide and keep people away from the water.
What usually causes it
Too much paper, wipes, cotton products, small toys and cat litter are the classic toilet clogs. Wipes are a special problem because they do not break down like toilet paper and tend to snag further down the line.
In older Anaheim neighborhoods a toilet that keeps clogging can point to a lateral with roots or a sag in an old clay or cast-iron line. When plunging fixes it for a few days and then it returns, the problem is usually not the toilet.
Plunger or auger
Flange plunger
- The kind with an extra rubber sleeve that seals the toilet outlet
- Works on soft clogs close to the bowl
- Use firm, steady strokes rather than violent ones
Closet auger
- A short cable made for toilets, with a guard to protect the porcelain
- Reaches clogs in the trap that a plunger cannot move
- Does not reach a main line blockage
Questions if the problem keeps coming back
- Is the toilet itself the problem, or the drain line?
- Would a camera inspection show roots or a sag in the lateral?
- Is my toilet's wax ring or flange damaged after the overflow?
- Is a low-flow toilet in my house properly matched to old drain lines?
Common questions
Can I use chemical drain cleaner in a toilet?
It is not recommended. It rarely clears toilet clogs and can damage parts or harm whoever has to work on it next.
Water is leaking around the base after the overflow. Why?
The wax ring seal under the toilet may have been disturbed. A plumber can reset the toilet with a new seal.
Is an overflowing toilet an emergency?
Once the water is stopped, a single clogged toilet can usually wait if there is another one in the house. A main line backup or the only toilet being blocked is more urgent.
General information for Anaheim, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.