What To Do When a Toilet Overflows During a Shower

12/17/2018 (Permalink)

Sewer back up in a Dover,NJ home

Methods to Clear Clogs that Form Between the Toilet and Sewer

A toilet overflow that occurs during a shower is a clear sign of a clogged pipe. If you own a toilet snake, you may be able to clear the clog. Otherwise, it will be necessary to call a plumber. Use the following sewage cleaning methods to clear clogs that form between the toilet and sewer.

1. Snake the Toilet

Use an auger or snake designed for use in toilets. Models are available with hand cranks or adapters that fit a power drill. Depending on the severity of the clog, you may want to run the snake through the toilet or remove the toilet and insert the snake directly into the floor drain.

2. Clear the Drain Cleanout

If snaking does not work, try clearing the clogged pipe at the drain cleanout. This cap on the main drain is located in the basement or crawlspace of a home. Use a long pipe wrench to remove the cap. Keep in mind that sewage cleaning may be necessary if the backup flows out of the uncapped cleanout. Run the snake through the cleanout opening.

3. Call a Plumber

If snaking the toilet, floor drain, or drain cleanout does not clear a clog, it will be necessary to call a plumber. Professionals have tools that can reach further than consumer-grade snakes and can also help with issues such as a sewer line that has become blocked by tree roots or that has collapsed.

The best way to test whether each measure is working is to run the shower and see if another toilet overflow occurs. If you are not sure how to use a snake, you may want to call a professional as soon as you notice the toilet overflowing during a shower. If your residence sustains sewage damage, you should also call a sewage cleaning and water damage restoration service in Dover, NJ.