We here at Steve’s Plumbing, LLC want you to have an ideal Valentine’s day. That means, no flooding toilets, no clogs, and definitely no backflow. But, sometimes the unexpected and unimaginable happens. So, how can you ensure that your night doesn’t end tragically, and in one of the least romantic scenarios known to man?
By following these tips on how to get out of toilet trouble!
How To Stop Rising Water
If the water in your toilet bowl begins to rise, you have an obstructed drain line. From flushing incompatible items to simply using too much toilet paper, this can happen out of nowhere. One day, the build-up of undeteriorated waste and other items can simply revolt—blocking your waste pipe.
How do you stop the water from filling the entire bowl, and flooding onto your bathroom floor? Stop trying to flush! Continuously flushing the toilet will only fill the bowl with more water. What you’ll need to do is locate your water valve, which is typically installed behind your toilet. Turn the valve to the right to shut off the water supply to the affected toilet. This will prevent flooding.
Then, you’ll have to grab your plunger. Once you establish a strong connection between your plunger and the toilet, begin repetitive motions, moving forward and backward. This will generate the suction needed to evacuate the water in your bowl. After the water is drained, turn your water valve to the left to resupply water to your toilet.
If the above does not provide resolution, contact a professional plumber to assess the damage.
How To Restore Proper Water Levels
If you notice low water levels in your toilet—you have entered the drain danger zone. Insufficient water in your bowl means that your flapper is likely malfunctioning.
What is a flapper? The round, rubber stopper within your toilets’ tank. A working flapper will open when a toilet is flushed, signaling for waste to be sucked down your drain. If this piece is defective, your toilet will have a weak flush and become exceedingly susceptible to clogs.
How do you rise up to this predicament? By repairing the flapper. You’ll need to lift the lid off of your tank to locate the rubber stopper attached to a chain. This chain is actually your target.
When this chain is too long, your toilet won’t flush. You’ll need to shorten the chain to regain proper flapper function. Keep shortening the chain until normal water levels are restored when you flush!
How To Prevent Backflow
First off, what even is backflow? When the pressure within your pipes becomes unbalanced, and shifts, pushing water in the opposite direction than intended—that’s backflow.
As you can imagine, this poses potential problems with respect to sanitation and the state of your plumbing systems. This can result from old plumbing and will manifest as discolored water, foul odors, or uneven water levels in multiple drains.
If you notice any of the above backflow symptoms—contact a professional plumber ASAP. This is not a calamity you can tackle solo.
For all of your emergency plumbing needs this Valentine’s Day, contact Steve’s Plumbing, LLC at (425) 979-7376. We will take care of your plumbing, so you can focus on what really matters—your special day.