WHY IS MY TOILET OVERFLOWING?

Help! My Toilet Bowl Keeps Overflowing!

If your toilet overflows when flushed, you need to find out what’s causing the problem so you can fix it immediately. If your toilet is about to overflow – or it keeps flooding your bathroom- there are a few likely culprits. Does it seem like your toilet is overflowing for no reason? Check out these common problems that could be causing the issue.

Toilet Problem 1: Clogged Drain Line

The primary reason for an overflowing toilet is because it’s clogged. You can quickly fix a clogged toilet using a plunger, but some clogged toilets need a bit more coaxing. If the drain line is clogged farther down, a plunger may not reach the problem. At the back of your toilet is an S-shaped trap between your bowl and drain line that is supposed to keep the drain from clogging. A blocked trap will stop the water from getting to the drain, so your toilet overflows. In this case, you’d need to use a toilet snake or closet auger to get into the drain line and remove the obstruction.

Toilet Problem 2: Sewer Issues

Is the problem with the pipes inside your house or the lines outside of it? The lines that run from your house to the main sewer line can get clogged with foreign objects, and the root systems from trees in your yard can dislocate the pipes or block them. For example, if the ac drain is clogged, it might block the line to your sewage system or septic tank. If you find water in the basement or crawlspace, this is another indicator that the sewer is the problem.

Toilet Problem 3: Septic System Problems

If your house is on a septic system, you might have a problem with the septic tank. A septic tank works by slowly releasing the water from your pipes into the soil around it, called the drain field. If the area around your underground tank isn’t capable of dissipating all of the water that is coming into it, your septic tank will fill up and your toilet might overflow.

Toilet Problem 4: Low-Flow Toilet

If you have an older low-flow toilet, it may not be able to handle everything you’re asking it to do. Non-flushable items or too much toilet paper may simply be more than your toilet can take, causing it to back up and overflow. Don’t flush paper towels, napkins, diapers, feminine products, or even dental floss or hair down the drain. Just a small amount of these things can lead to a big problem very quickly. This plumbing problem can also lead to higher water bills as your toilet becomes inefficient and ineffective.

Toilet Repair from Newcomb and Company

Is your toilet overflowing when you flush it? Does your toilet keep flooding? Check out our Raleigh Plumbers Guide on How to Stop an Overflowing Toilet. If it seems like your toilet is overflowing for no reason, contact Newcomb and Company. Our expert plumbers are proud to serve the Raleigh area and surrounding cities including Cary, Durham, Clayton, Knightdale, Garner, and beyond. Call us today to make your toilet bowl overflow issues a thing of the past.