An overflowing toilet is often caused by a blockage in the plumbing, a problem with the ball-cock mechanism in the cistern, or a combination of both. When that happens, water can continue to rise without draining away properly, which quickly turns into a messy and stressful problem.
If a plumber cannot get to you immediately, there are a few practical steps you can take to limit the damage and make the situation safer.
1. Switch Off The Supply Valve
Most toilets have a supply line near the bottom side of the bowl with a shut-off valve. Turn that valve off to stop water flowing into the toilet.
2. Manually Raise The Ball-Cock
If water is still running into the cistern, lift the ball-cock high enough to stop the flow. This can help temporarily if the mechanism is failing to shut off properly after flushing.
3. Shut Off The Water To The House
If the first two steps do not work, locate the internal stop-cock that controls the water supply to the house and turn it clockwise to shut the water off. While this is inconvenient, it is usually better than allowing more water damage to occur.
Act Quickly To Limit Damage
These steps may leave you temporarily without the use of the toilet, or even without water in the house, but they can help prevent a more expensive clean-up and repair job later on. Once the immediate risk is under control, it is best to have the cause checked properly by a plumber.
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