3 Indications Of A Severe Toilet Backup
Plumbing problems can quickly ruin a day, but toilet backups can bring down a whole week. A backed-up toilet will inevitably produce a stinky, disgusting mess, and you may be staring down the barrel of several days of clean-up. Recognizing when you've got a severe problem on your hands is one of the best ways to prevent the damage from becoming too out of control.
Of course, you don't want to call in the big guns every time your toilet clogs, especially if it just needs a good plunging. Instead, look for these three indications that your toilet clog won't resolve itself. If this is the case, you may need an expert to help you avoid much worse trouble.
1. You Hear Gurgling in Other Drains
Drains gurgle when air can't escape through the vent stack. This situation can occur for various reasons, but it's nearly always a sign that you've got a problem somewhere deeper in your plumbing. If a toilet clogs and you hear gurgling elsewhere in your house, that's a good indication that the problem is worse than some paper stuck in the toilet's trap.
Note that gurgling isn't always obvious. Watch for tiny bubbles or ripples in other toilets, as these can be subtle signs of negative air pressure in your pipes. Anything that points to a problem in your home's main drain or sewer lines is an excellent reason to contact a professional for a more thorough diagnosis.
2. Water Is Backing Up Over the Rim
If you have water backing up over the rim of your toilet, that's another good indication of a deeper clog. Clogs in the toilet's trap typically can't cause the toilet to overflow, at least not without flushing it. If running another fixture in your house causes water to back up over the rim of your toilet, that most likely means you have a deep clog that's pushing water back to the lowest drain.
In these situations, it's best to avoid using your water until a plumber can arrive to investigate. Using other fixtures will likely cause water to continue backing up into the toilet, potentially overflowing the rim and causing significant water damage.
3. There's a Significant Wastewater Spill
Wastewater is never something you should take lightly. If soiled wastewater (commonly known as "black water") backs up into your home, you should stop using your drains and call for a plumber immediately. Depending on the severity of the problem, you may also need professional clean-up support to remove the water while drying and sanitizing the area.
Never attempt to touch or clean black water without using proper protective gear. At a minimum, you shouldn't approach any sizeable spill-over without gloves or a mask. Because of the potential risks, it's almost always better to call in a professional when facing a toilet backup that creates a significant mess. For more information, contact a company like Rob's Septic Tanks Inc.
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