Why Does the Toilet Overflow When I Take a Shower?

8/23/2019 (Permalink)

Having plumbing problems in your home in West Wood Hills, KS, can be a big headache, especially when something like a toilet overflow starts happening unexpectedly and requires sewage cleaning. If one of your toilets is overflowing when you take a shower, it is likely being caused by a clog between the shower and the sewer. As the shower runs, the water is stopped by the clog and pushed into the wastewater lines and comes out the first spot it can, which in this case is your toilet.

Sewage Cleaning

When this type of problem happens, it can create a major mess in your bathroom. It can be even worse if you take a shower upstairs and the overflow is happening in a bathroom you don’t use every day, such as in the basement or in a guest bathroom. If you have a toilet overflow that has gone unnoticed for a few days, to the point where water damage and mold has begun to set in, there are many professional water damage remediation companies that can thoroughly repair and clean up the area. Proper sewage cleaning is important to ensure everything is fully decontaminated to prevent disease.
You may be able to clear out the clogged pipe yourself using an auger “snake”:

• Through the toilet drain.
  
• Directly through the floor drain after you remove the toilet (this is often easier for cleaning out the clog).
  
• If this doesn't work, you can also take a snake through your drain clean-out which may be located in your basement or crawlspace. Be aware that sewage could spill out after removing the cap if it's clogged here.
  
  

Hiring a professional is often recommended to avoid spending money and time only to realize the problem is bigger than you expected, or unreachable by a common snake.

Fix Your Pipes

A clogged pipe can be an easy, quick fix and may not cause much of a mess or damage if taken care of immediately. But, if the clog has been building up for many years and is far down in the sewage lines, it could require professional tools and the hand of an experienced plumber.