what to do when you overflow a toilet

Joe1 · Dec 23, 2009

The new 'green' water-efficient toilets sometimes do not have the ooomph to dispose of everything.

I am always hesitant to use a friends toilet for the first time because I don't know if it have the horsepower to get the job done.

How does one handle the precarious situation that exists when this occurs?

JHZR2 · Dec 23, 2009

laugh

John_K · Dec 23, 2009

Flush part way through, then again when finished.

John

Kaboomba · Dec 23, 2009

If I get in a bind, I look for something that will hold at least a quart or two of water from the sink, tub, or toilet tank.

1. Get ready
2. Hit the lever!
3. The moment the flush lookslike it's going to slow down, hit the hole with a direct dump of all the water you've got!

Worst case, your host wonders why the trash can is a little wet.

Haw

K

benjamming · Dec 23, 2009

Originally Posted By: John_K
Flush part way through, then again when finished.

John

No go b/c if it fails when I'm only part way through, I'm really in a pickle on how to finish.

bigmike · Dec 23, 2009

Joe,

I know how you feel. I rarely use someone else's toilet. I tend to clog ones from hotels, etc. as well. I don't do it on purpose, but that's just how it is. I'd try to hold out until you get home or stop somewhere else, rather than face the embarrassing situation from clogging a friend's.

I changed my toilets to new Kohlers. Toto also makes a great flushing toilet as well.

SuperBusa · Dec 23, 2009

Originally Posted By: John_K
Flush part way through, then again when finished.

John

On mine, I can hold the handle down to give her the "full flush" mode when needed. It will empty the entire tank if I want it to. If I want a "short flush", then I just push the handle and let go and it will only empty about 1/2 the tank.

N3OO · Dec 23, 2009

I just installed one of these "green" econo flush toilets. Let me tell you , it is awesome. One flush uses very very little water, and the pressure of the flush WOOOOOoooosh.....gone in an instant. NO WAY will this get "clogged".
The day I installed it and seen how well it worked......I got the entire family to gather around in pure amazement !!!!

I'm proud........BOB

getnpsi · Dec 23, 2009

Hearing an attractive woman's voice in the other room who wasn't there before makes the situation a lot more embarrassing than a regular flood amongst men!

Those black brain boxes in the tank, I guess those are the 'green' apparatus? Those ARE king!

andyd · Dec 23, 2009

I replumbed with 3" drains and often have to double flush as a result. So far, no floods.

lyle · Dec 23, 2009

I suggest you use the full flush method like someone else said. Just depress the handle and hold it down for one or two seconds, and then release it. Most toilets should flush everything and never give you cause for embarrassment.

My nephew is a master plumber, and he got me 4 Toto Drakes "with the G-Max Flushing System!" a couple of years ago to replace every bowl in my house. What a godsend these were. I've only had one plug once, and that's because Andre the Giant wasn't feeling so well...

JHZR2 · Dec 23, 2009

Eat more oatmeal...

duaneb9729 · Dec 23, 2009

Originally Posted By: andyd
I replumbed with 3" drains and often have to double flush as a result. So far, no floods.

most homes are plumbed with 3" drains, you have other issues going on.

daves66nova · Dec 23, 2009

Use a bare foot to "help it along"

ryan2022 · Dec 23, 2009

Originally Posted By: daves66nova
Use a bare foot to "help it along"

yyyyyuck. lol/

seriously though, its the T.P. thats the killer, unless you're one mean mamma jamma.

I have a family full of plumbers and have seen everything out on the job.

Just flush part way through.

Man, this site covers everything.

CROWNVIC4LIFE · Dec 23, 2009

Originally Posted By: John_K
Flush part way through, then again when finished.

John

+1

I flush several times to make sure there will be no backup.

CivicFan · Dec 23, 2009

This reminds me of Al Bundy.

Tom NJ · Dec 23, 2009

Well now, since we have the attention of all the toilet experts out there, please excuse a slight but related diversion.

One of my toilets started having a problem recently - the bowl fills normally, swirls like a champ, and begins to go down, but about 80% of the time it will not complete the flush, requiring 2 to 5 flushes to get out the last bit of paper. I tried plunging and snaking, but to no avail. the other 20% of the time it works fine.

I would think that if the bowl fills, the siphon effect will be established and suck out all the water, but obviously I am missing something here. Any ideas?

Tom NJ

mechtech2 · Dec 23, 2009

There are some pretty good low water volume toilets out there.
But how do we know which is which ?
Carry a 'cheat sheet' list in our wallets when visiting a friend's house?

I'd take the necessary dump anyway .
If it overflows, scramble as best you can.

But for our own home use, consider that the drains were often designed for larger flow, and NEED more water to continue the flush downstream. Newer toilets don;t provide the volume necessary. And what good is flushing twice, instead of one good one? We can end up using MORE water.

Quattro Pete · Dec 23, 2009

Originally Posted By: Joe1
what to do when you overflow a toilet

Second result in google (the first one is this thread on BITOG):

http://www.inspectapedia.com/septic/Septic_Backup_Response.htm

what to do when you overflow a toilet

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