An Overflowing Toilet is a universal panic trigger. While many homeowners agree that a toilet overflow is a major, unpleasant inconvenience, they may not realize just how serious the situation can be. Overflow from a toilet can cause damage to any material it encounters in the home.
Mitigating the damage caused by a toilet overflow necessitates special consideration. Tip Top Restoration of Bakersfield has the expertise and equipment to handle any overflowing toilet.
Toilets connect to a clean water source through the supply line and dispose of contaminated water through the drainage system. It’s crucial to locate the source of water when navigating a toilet overflow. There are three categories of water quality:
- Category 1 is considered sanitary. This is water from a clean water source like a supply line.
- Category 2 is referred to as “grey water.” This water may contain some contaminants that could pose health risks.
- Category 3 poses great risks to human health. This is commonly called “black water” and is contaminated with sewage or other pathogens.
Plumbing systems rely on gravity to work as intended. When water is unable to exit your home due to a clogged pipe, blocked vent, full septic tank, or other sewage issue, the result is an overflowing toilet.
- A large enough clog in your toilet or in the pipes connecting to it can stop water from draining after you flush. Products like wet wipes and paper towels comprise the majority of toilet clogs. Clogs are also more prevalent in low-flow toilets.
- Plumbing vents are vertical pipes that allow air into the pipes to replace air used when flushing your toilet and regulate the pressure of the water. Plumbing vents connect to outside air via an outlet, which can be susceptible to clogs depending on their placement.
- Septic tanks store waste and release excess water into the soil around them. A full septic tank can result in sewage backing up when the toilet is flushed.
- Pipes outside of the home can experience issues that lead to a toilet overflow. Tree roots can infiltrate a cracked pipe and cause blockages.
It can be easy to take a functioning plumbing system for granted. We flush a toilet, and the waste and water disappear down the drain, and we resume our day. In any event, the risk of sewage exposure necessitates extreme caution.
Diseases associated with raw sewage exposure can pose serious risks. These can include:
- Many different types of bacteria are present in sewage. Many illnesses such as campylobacteriosis, E. coli infection, gastroenteritis, and salmonellosis can develop from sewage exposure.
- Parasites can be present in sewage, transmitting diseases such as cryptosporidiosis or giardiasis.
- Viruses can be present in raw sewage, such as Hepatitis A.
Tip Top Restoration of Bakersfield’s team of experts has the knowledge and experience to restore your home. Our professionals are available 24/7 to answer your questions and guide you through the process.
We work with all insurance companies to relieve you of any stress and offer you peace of mind. Each homeowner’s policy is unique, so it is crucial to review your policy to see what events are covered. Some exclusions apply, such as not covering a flood-caused toilet overflow unless the policy explicitly covers flood-related damage.
