A number of components can degrade to cause the water inside of the porcelain throne and a sense of panic to rise. Any toilet troubles are an unsanitary pain, especially if the toilet water overflows onto the floor, precious rugs, and discarded laundry. But can a bad flapper cause a toilet to overflow in this way?
At Iron Mountain Plumbing, Cedar City’s reliable plumbers, we see these issues daily. Here, we share more about the reasons behind an overflowing toilet so that you can, hopefully, avoid facing this messy business in your bathroom.
Stopping the Overflow in Your Toilet
Before diagnosing the problem, you might want to put an end to the seemingly endless flow of water emanating from your toilet. Toilet overflow can cause structural damage to any home or business once it soaks into the building materials. It could also contain bacteria, viruses, and other microbes associated with sewage and unsanitary substances.
One way to stop the water involves handling the components inside the toilet tank. Remove the tank lid and push down on the flapper valve—it looks like a large, circular piece of rubber—to allow your toilet tank to refill. Doing so should trigger the toilet to stop running.
Next, turn off the toilet’s main water supply. This move will prevent any further water from entering the toilet tank or bowl in case the problem continues.
- Locate the pipe that runs from your toilet tank to the wall.
- You’ll notice another metal valve with a turning handle. Turn it for a tightly sealed-off main water supply.
Can a Bad Flapper Cause a Toilet to Overflow?
Now that you’ve eliminated further water flow, you can assess the situation. Many toilet components can fail, causing that dreaded, aggressive flow of water that hovers at the toilet bowl’s rim and threatens to ruin your day.
Can a bad flapper cause a toilet to overflow? Yes, it absolutely can. The flapper is the flat, rubbery piece at the bottom of a toilet tank, easily identifiable by its circular shape.
It gets its name from the floppy disconnected area at the top that allows water to flow from the tank to the bowl. Most flapper valves have a chain attached to them. The chain connects to the mechanism responsible for opening and closing the flap.
Although the flapper may look like a nondescript piece of plumbing, it plays an essential role in the function of all toilets, including smart models with cutting-edge capabilities. When your toilet has leaky valves or pipes of any variety, they can cause serious damage. But since flappers are directly responsible for the water filling your toilet bowl, you should check on their integrity first.
Signs of a Bad Flapper or Flapper Valve
How do you know your toilet needs a new flapper valve? Most property owners don’t check their tank’s contents at all. Plus, flapper valves are fairly sturdy and have a lifespan lasting up to five years.
However, if you don’t check on it occasionally, you may not notice when it has deteriorated or shifted out of position. So, as soon as you notice your toilet is not working correctly, you should look under your toilet tank’s hood. Some signs that your flapper valve needs professional attention may include the following:
- Water constantly trickling down the edges of your toilet bowl
- Previous plumbing services have revealed toilet blockages or clogged drains
- Excessive water usage increasing water bills
- Unusual or loud flushing noises compared to normal
If you pick up on any of these tell-tale signs, you might want to troubleshoot your toilet before you have a disaster on your hands.
How to Troubleshoot for a Bad Flapper Valve
Can a bad flapper cause a toilet to overflow if you don’t see much evidence of a problem? How do you troubleshoot a toilet’s flapper valve if you get it wrong? And shouldn’t you leave diagnostics up to trained plumbers?
In most instances, you should. Plumbing repairs are delicate services on a complex system. However, testing for flapper valve failure is uncomplicated.
- Locate a tube of food coloring.
- Open your toilet tank.
- Add a few drops of liquid to the tank’s contents (too much will stain the porcelain!)
- Let the coloring settle for half an hour.
After 30 minutes, return to the toilet for a diagnostic inspection. If you see no color in the tank’s water or find the bowl’s water tinted, then the flapper valve needs professional attention. If the tank still holds the food coloring, then the flapper valve is still doing its job well!
Flapper Replacement Services
If you’ve determined that your flapper valve allows water to trickle from the tank to the bowl, you need flapper replacement services from a qualified plumber like Iron Mountain Plumbing. DIY methods could accidentally break the replacement valve, damage something else, or incorrectly install the new part, all of which easily lead to unwanted plumbing disasters.
Qualified plumbers will verify that the flapper is your only area of concern, checking the fill valve and then sourcing the perfect fit for your toilet model. They’ll also install everything correctly so that it gives you another five years of hassle-free toilet use. After the service, you can use your toilet in peace again, knowing that the bowl’s contents won’t sneak up on you post-flush.
Other Reasons for Toilet Overflow
If you test the flapper with food coloring only to discover the flapper works perfectly, you could have myriad other plumbing issues on your hands. Whether it’s a faulty toilet component or a deeper plumbing and sewage system issue, common reasons for toilet overflow include the following:
- Mineral buildup in pipes
- Low water pressure
- Tree roots infiltrating sewage lines
- A full septic tank
In all cases, only an experienced plumber can get to the root of the issue.
Solve Your Toilet Troubles with Iron Mountain Plumbing
Can a bad flapper cause a toilet to overflow? Yes, it can, along with various other potential issues. After troubleshooting for a bad flapper as per above, why not call 435-500-2576 for toilet repair services from Iron Mountain Plumbing?
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