| Now that you've stopped your toilet from | | | | able to stop using the clogged toilet but continue |
| overflowing, you're probably wondering what to do | | | | using other |
| next. At this point, you probably don't know exactly | | | | - toilets and fixtures in the house |
| why your toilet overflowed in the first place, so you | | | | - If all toilets and drains are slow or are backing up, |
| will need to do a bit of trouble shooting to find out. | | | | you may have a septic issue |
| In the meantime, here are some dos and don'ts to | | | | - In this case, you will have to stop using all toilets |
| help you avoid another messy inconvenience. | | | | and fixtures. You may be able to have limited use of |
| - Stop flushing all toilets and using all water fixtures | | | | toilets after |
| such as sinks and showers. | | | | - an hour when the drain field has had a chance to |
| - Investigate a possible cause by asking family | | | | rest if you don't run any water into drains during that |
| members if an item in the bathroom might have | | | | time |
| fallen into the toilet | | | | - If your home is connected to a private septic tank, |
| - accidentally such as a tooth brush | | | | look outside at the septic field. If you see waste |
| - Try using a plunger created specifically for toilets | | | | matter and |
| (has a cone on the bottom) | | | | - sewage, then no amount of plunging will help fix the |
| - Put the plunger over the large hole in the bowl and | | | | problem |
| slowly push down | | | | - If you are connected to a municipal sewer, you |
| - Gradually build up intensity by pushing down on the | | | | may be dealing with a block main drain |
| plunger with more force and picking up on it faster | | | | - If you determine that plunging will not work out the |
| - Don't give up until you have given the effort a | | | | problem, call a plumber so they can clear a blocked |
| minute or two | | | | drain or |
| - If you see sewage coming into your tub, close the | | | | - call a septic company and request an emergency |
| drain to prevent any more from coming in | | | | pump out. |
| - Check all fixtures and toilets in the house to | | | | These tips on what to do after stopping an |
| determine if it is just a local problem with one toilet | | | | overflowing toilet will hopefully guide you into your |
| or if the blockage | | | | next course of action so that you can solve your |
| - is affecting all toilets and fixtures in your house | | | | overall plumbing problem. |
| - If you only have a local problem, then you will be | | | | |