What to do if the toilet overflow does not stop?
If you notice that the overflow of your toilet does not stop running after flushing, you may have a problem with the toilet's water tank or with the float mechanism that shuts off the toilet tank overflow when the bowl has refilled.
If the toilet fills up until the water in the bowl overflows, you must act quickly to prevent your bathroom floor from being covered with toilet water.
Remove the lid from the toilet tank
When you are ready to begin, turn off the water supply that provides the water to fill the tank. This is usually done by turning a small knob just below the tank. Turn it clockwise to turn off the water. You can also turn off the main water supply outside the tank if you cannot find or reach this water overflow knob. Once the water is turned off, flush the toilet once or twice to remove the water in the tank. Then remove the lid of the toilet tank and place it on a towel nearby. Do not place the lid in the bathtub or on a window sill, as these porcelain lids break easily and can be expensive to replace.
Locate the float
Once you have removed the lid, you need to locate the float. On most older toilet models, this is a rubber ball about the size of your hand; on newer models, it is a large vertical column attached to the toilet pipe. Once you have found the float, you need to find the device that controls how high or low the float sits in the water. Usually this is just a small clip that holds the ball in place. However, newer models may also have a series of switches that control the movement of the column.
Adjusting the mechanism
Once you have found the float and mechanism, you can adjust it so that the float sits lower in the toilet, restricting the toilet's overflow mechanism. If you are concerned that the float is damaged or not working properly, remove it with a screwdriver and replace it with a new float. Adjust the mechanism as needed and turn the water back on. Flush the toilet and observe how the toilet overflow starts working. The water in the bowl should no longer fill as quickly and the water line in the tank should be lower. If there is still too much water flowing into the tank, you should lower the float mechanism again until you are sure that the toilet overflow is now working at the right level.
Call the Emergency Plumber in Sutton. We are available around the clock. Call us whenever you want, 02080894359.
