An overflowing toilet can cause tremendous water damage. If you don’t fix it quickly, imagine how bad it can be! If the clogged toilet is not fixed, the toilet backs up. And as a result, your home suffers water damage.

As a commercial and residential water damage restoration service in Marietta, we’ve provided our services for restorations that have resulted from toilet backups and other bathroom water damage issues. Here’s what you need to do if your toilet overflows.

Don’t Flush the Toilet

This is a mistake most homeowners make; they flush the toilet when water backs up. This makes the problem worse, and your toilet can overflow a lot more. This is understandable because people assume there is a clog in the pipes. Next time, instead of flushing the toilet, try using a plunger to remove the clog.

Stop the Flow of Water

Stopping the water flow is a crucial step. Stop the flow as soon as possible to minimize water damage. You can do this by taking off the tank lid and then finding the flapper valve. It is a circular rubber valve at the bottom of the tank. Turning this off will stop water from entering the toilet bowl. The next step is to turn off the water valve on the base of the toilet towards the wall. The more water escapes, the more water damage will occur.

Block Access

Once you’ve stopped the water flow and prevented the toilet bowl from excessively overflowing, the next step is to block access to the washroom. Not only is this a physical safety issue, but if you’re not able to flush, it is critical to prevent people from going in to protect them from hazardous waste and to prevent the spread of contamination.

Contact Your Insurance Provider

Toilet overflow and water damage can be a costly process if the damage is extensive. Unfortunately, not all types of water damage are covered by insurance. Many factors determine if the insurance you have would cover the costs of the water damage. Mainly, the reason that caused the water to overflow determines whether the insurance company would cover costs or not.

A toilet can get clogged due to too much toilet paper or a toy falling into it and getting stuck. In such cases, the insurance company would cover costs. However, if the toilet overflowed because of a sewage issue, insurance will not cover it.

In cases where you spot dirtiness in the overflowing water, know the problem lies deep within the plumbing system. In this scenario, water backup coverage is necessary. This coverage generally covers water damage from an overflowing toilet, if only caused by a pipe or drain, sump pump, or other devices that bring water into your home.

Water Removal Is Essential

When you see your water flowing remove as much water as possible as quickly as possible, this is an important step you’ll have to take before you call 911 Restoration. This is essential because the longer the water sits and comes into contact with surfaces, the more water damage it will do. Water damage can lead to other issues, such as mold damage in your bathroom if it’s not remedied quickly. Use a wet-dry vacuum to dry up the place.

However, if the water is contaminated, it is not advisable to remove it on your own as it is a far more complicated process and poses some health risks. If you’re dealing with a water overflow, and if the water is contaminated with urine, then it is considered Category 2 water.

In worst cases, if the water contains feces, it is considered Category 3 water and is the worst water classification. Category 2 and Category 3 water types are unsanitary and should be handled by homeowners. It is wise to reach out to 911 Restoration if you’re in a similar situation to help you out of this.

Assess for Water Damage

Once you have solved the water backup issue with the help of a restoration company, it is essential to inspect for water damage in areas that were in contact with water. The damage does not end once the water has been removed.

Check the surfaces and cabinets that could have come in contact with water, especially those close to the toilet, for water damage. If the toilet backing up were on the second floor, you would need to check the ceiling and rooms below for evidence of water damage.

Contact Restoration Professionals for Emergency Services

Fortunately, 911 Restoration of Marietta is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. With our advanced equipment and IICRC-certified water damage experts, we provide reliable services at any time. We help you deal with overflowing toilet issues, sewage backup errors, and similar water damage issues.

To prevent water damage, quick action is critical. The sooner you act, the better! Contact us now at (678) 325-7841!