How the job runs
- 1Close the stopturn the oval handle behind the toilet clockwise until the water stops
- 2Check the tanklift the lid and see whether the float or flapper is stuck
- 3Clear the bowluse a closet auger to reach blockages in the trapway without scratching porcelain
- 4Look downstreamif the tub or basin fills too, the blockage lies further down the branch
- 5Reseal if neededpull the toilet and fit a new wax ring when water has leaked under the base
01Why it overflows
A toilet is a simple machine. The tank fills to a set level and shuts off; the bowl drains through a curved trapway built into the porcelain. If the trapway is blocked, a flush has nowhere to go. If the fill valve fails, water keeps running into the bowl until it spills.
The closet auger is the tool for the first problem. A new fill valve, usually under half an hour of work, solves the second.
| Most common blockage | Wipes, too much paper, small toys |
|---|---|
| Water under the floor | Can stain the ceiling below within hours |
| Stop valve stuck? | Close the main and we will replace the stop |
02Wipes and older toilets
Older 13- and 20-litre toilets were forgiving. Newer low-flow models are efficient but less tolerant of so-called flushable wipes, which do not break down like paper. If your toilet clogs every couple of weeks, the cure may be habits rather than hardware.
03When water reaches the ceiling
In a two-storey or a condo, overflow water travels along joists and shows up in surprising places. We check the flange and wax ring so the floor dries out from a sealed toilet, not one still seeping.