Water Damage Commode | Toilet Overflows

Water Damage Commode | Toilet Overflows

Immediate Response is needed when your toilet or commode overflows or leaks. This means you MUST talke all of the critical steps now that need to be taken if you want to maximize the chance of avoiding a costly cleanup project and to avoid the hazards assoicated with raw sewage on the floor.

Commode overflows are usually caused by clogs in the toilet flange. Most common clogs are excessive toilet paper, hair, soap and other materials that find themselves flushed down the toilet and jammed in the drainpipes. Most toilet backups can be dislodged by a few pumps from a plunger. More stubborn ones can be removed with the use of a plumber's snake or a set of toilet auger. The tools are inserted into the bowl through the flange until it reaches the clogged material. The tip is then threaded through the material in an attempt to remove it from the pipes.

Other causes of sewage backup are seepage through cracks or damage to the wax rings. If this happens it may require dismantling of the commode and replacing the rings. Sewage damage cleanup can then commence after the source of the overflow and sewage backup has been controlled and should only be done by a professional.

To start the sewage damage cleanup begin by removing all of the excess sewage on the floor with proper hazmat equipment. If the drain has been cleared and is free of any blockage, excess sewage may be hosed away. Follow through by cleaning up the affected areas with a strong commercial grade detergent solution. Ensure that all surfaces that came into contact with the sewage have been cleaned with the solution.

Some of the sewage material could penetrate the grout filler material in between tiles. Grout is porous and is susceptible to absorption of water and other deposits. If this happens, microorganisms can live and grow in the grout which could result in a foul smell in and around the toilet. This smell can be removed by pouring hydrogen peroxide along the grout lines and brushing with a used toothbrush or similar brush. If the chemical foams, it would indicate the presence of bacteria and other microorganisms. To finalize the sewage damage cleanup, use a good disinfectant to rinse off the grout lines and kill any remnants of bacteria.

A toilet overflow involving sewage is an unpleasant incident in a home. Unless sewage damage cleanup is performed immediately and properly, it can put the home and its occupant at risk. 

Don’t take a chance call the professionals at AAA Emergency Services immediately @ 513-769-0555.