Shower Flooding Your Toilet: How To Restore Order to Your Morning Routine

3/14/2019 (Permalink)

Restored bathroom in Thornton, CO

Shower Flooding Your Toilet

The shower and the toilet typically share a drain path, and while this common path is far down the line, it can sometimes clog resulting in toilet overflow. You will have to use an auger in the drain, performing some minor sewage cleaning to remove the clog and allow water to flow freely again.

1. Use a Snake

To clear the drain, you will likely need an auger – more commonly referred to as a snake – that is at least 25 feet long. While it is possible that the clogged pipe is blocked closer to bathroom, a long auger ensures that you can meet the drain intersection. However, this does depend on the size of your home and the location of the connections.

2. Clear From the Toilet

While you may wish to work from the shower, it is better to come at the clog from the toilet. Some people find it more accessible, when using an auger for sewage cleaning, to remove the toilet and put the snake into the floor drain, rather than forcing it through the toilet trap. Whichever way you decide, it is necessary to test the drain afterward. If you feel that the clog has been cleared, then turn the shower on to see if the toilet is still overflowing.

3. Access the Drain Cleanout

If the auger didn’t work, then you will have to find the cap for the drain cleanout. This is likely located in the basement or a crawlspace. You will need a pipe wrench to remove the cap. It is necessary to work slowly and cautiously at this point because the pipe may be filled with sewage that’ll spill out once the cap is removed.

A plumbing specialist in the Thornton, CO, area can offer assistance. These individuals know the appropriate safety measures to take to get your home functioning properly again.

Showers leading to overflowing toilets are common. However, to fix the issue, you may need to perform some sewage cleaning with an auger or hire a professional.