Toilet problems often don’t get much worse than the occasional clog, which is often solved with a bit of vigorous plumbing. Sometimes, however, toilet problems get quite a bit worse. Even a minor crack in the bowl or seal can cause massive water damage over a long enough period of time. If you discover a major problem with your toilet, like if it is cracked or overflowing, read on to find out what you should do.
Turn Off the Water
With any plumbing emergency, the first thing you need to do is shut off the water. As far as toilet emergencies go, you don’t necessarily need to turn off water to the entire house. There should be a shutoff valve either on the wall behind the toilet or around the base. Turn the valve to the right to close it and shut off flow to the toilet. If you can’t find any valve around the toilet, you may have to shut off water to the entire house.
Clear the Area
Even a minor amount of water can damage furniture and other objects around your house beyond repair. It is best to clear the area to limit the damage as much as possible. This will also help your plumber to reach the problem more easily when he or she shows up to fix it.
Mop Up
You may not be able to solve the problem on your own, but at least you can clean up the water that is already spilled into the surrounding area. Once you have made sure that no new water can spill out, mop up what you can and wait for your plumber to arrive.
