Toilet Water Full To The Brim? Troubleshooting Tips

If you hear gurgling sounds in your bathroom and check out the problem, you may find that your toilet bowl is overflowing. Since you cannot stick a plunger in without making a mess, here's how you should proceed.

Turn off the water supply.

This is a very easy step, and it can drain most of the water out of the toilet bowl and tank. Behind your toilet you will see a water line and a football-shaped handle. This handle is the shut-off valve, so twist it to stop the water from flowing over your toilet. If some water has already spilled over, keep the shut-off valve off, while you wipe up the excess water with towels.

Turn the valve back on and check for clogs.

Once the bowl has drained, turn the valve back on and let the bowl and tank refill. Ideally, the bowl will not overflow again. Some homes naturally have "slow toilets" which either don't fill up quickly enough or they don't drain quickly—so that could be the problem. The other issue you may be facing is a clog. If you have a clog, make sure the plunger's rubber cup is suctioned tightly to the bowl as you pump it a few times.

If you turn the water valve on and the bowl tends to want to overflow, even with plunging efforts, turn the valve back off again.

Turn to other declogging methods.

Your rubber plunger may have loosened up particles, but now they just need to drain away. Boil some water in a pot, then slowly pour this hot water down the drain and flush. If the hot water doesn't work, baking soda, and vinegar mixes can be tried. You do not want to use harsh store-bought chemicals to unclog the drain. While these products can remove a clog, they also corrode pipes, setting you up for bigger problems in the future.

Still have a clog? Check other areas.

Gurgling sounds, bubbles, and clogs in your toilet could indicate a deeper problem. If any water is coming up other drains, like your shower drain, then you could have a main sewer line clog. Sometimes debris, like twigs or a dead animal, can block the rooftop vent pipe.

These problems are more difficult to clear on your own, so it's best to consult a plumber for toilet repair questions, since he or she can use a plumbing snake and other tools to remove clogs in hard-to-reach areas.

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