Toilet water may rise too high when flushed if your toilet has a blocked drain, vent, or faulty components. You can use a toilet plunger or toilet auger to clear the blockage. After that, you’ll need to check the roof vent for any debris.
The worst surprise you can get from your toilet is watching the toilet water level rise after you flush. You should take immediate action to prevent overflowing if you notice that the toilet water rises too high when flushed.
Finding out what causes the water to rise so much is the most crucial task. Your toilet may have a partial clog, the flapper may be broken, or there may be debris in the air vent. Read on to learn how to stop the toilet from overflowing, as each issue requires a different strategy.
Possible reasons
There are a variety of causes for water in the toilet to rise and not drain rapidly.
Blockage in the drain
The most common cause is probably just a clogged drain in the bathroom. The slow rate at which the water drains after being flushed suggests that something is stuck in the plumbing.
Blockage in the vent pipe
An obstruction in the sewage system’s vent pipes is another possible cause.
Internal fault
Having eliminated the possibility of a clog in the toilet’s drain and vent in the sewerage system, the problem may be a malfunctioning part. Numerous parts work together to ensure that waste is efficiently transported through the sewers.
A flush valve, flapper, drain hole, etc., are all examples of such parts. After flushing the toilet, if the water level is too high, it could be due to a problem with any of these parts.
Essential tools
- Rubber gloves
- Toilet plunger
- Toilet auger
- Screwdriver
- Plumbing snake
- Hand plunger
- Drain opening chemicals
The 3 factors that make the water level go up in detail
The most important thing for you to do now is to figure out what caused the water level to rise in the first place. Three variables can contribute to it, so let’s look at how to identify each one.
A partial clog in the toilet
The most common cause of the problem is a partial clog in your toilet trap or pipes. The good news is that you don’t have a completely clogged toilet—you can tell since it can still flush without overflowing.
However, the danger remains, and you must unclog the toilet to avoid more clogs. When you flush materials that do not belong in the toilet bowl, you cause a partial clog. Q-tips, hygiene items, baby wipes, toys, hair, and so on are examples.
In the long run, waste collects, preventing water from flowing freely down drains. That is why toilet water rises too high when flushed.
Malfunctioning toilet flapper
A toilet flapper is a rubber item that lies on top of the toilet tank’s outlet hole. Its function is to open and close the flush drain, allowing the flapper to manage the amount of water that flows out of the tank.
However, after many years of regular operation, this small device tends to lose its grasp on the outlet rim. Another issue could be the cleaning product you’re using to clean the toilet tank—most of them chew away rubber, destroying the flapper.
When the flapper becomes old or worn, the tank outlet remains open, allowing additional gallons of water to flow into the toilet bowl. Another thing that will make the flapper go crazy is the chain that connects the flapper to the flush handle. If the chain is too short, it will constantly hold the rubber piece up, preventing the outlet from closing.
The air vent is clogged
The majority of homeowners are unaware of the little air vent on their roofs. It’s a ventilation tube that aids the system in restoring air pressure after flushing, which is critical for your toilet.
In the case of a clogged air vent, the drains lose their flushing capacity, and the water level in the toilet bowl rises. What might clog the air vent pipe?
It’s on the roof, where it collects fallen leaves and other garbage. It accumulates and blocks the vent over time, so, you should provide an immediate vent opening.
Solution #1: Unclog your toilet
The first tip is to unclog the toilet with a particular tool. Don’t wait for the toilet to unclog itself—the obstacle is too difficult for it to digest on its own.
Pump it with a toilet plunger
It’s time to get your toilet plunger out from under the sink—or wherever you’ve been keeping it. Place the plunger’s cup over the drain hole, ensuring that the tool completely seals the porcelain.
After that, begin pumping up and down by pressing and pulling the plunger with your hands. Wear rubber gloves to protect your hands while plunging. The plunger creates a vacuum seal, which drives the clog out.
Continue pushing until you have dislodged whatever is causing the toilet to clog. When the clog dissolves, you will hear gurgling sounds emanating from the pipes. It indicates that you can withdraw the plunger and allow the water to flow out of the bowl.
Break the clog with a toilet auger
If the plunger isn’t producing the desired results, try a stronger tool. A toilet auger is a sharp metal wire that penetrates the plumbing system deeply. Its spiral line is connected to a long handle, which allows you to direct and push the auger.
Using the toilet snake, twist the metal spiral line counterclockwise. To reach the barrier, grip the handle tightly and keep twisting it. When the drill’s corkscrew comes into contact with the clog, it will come to a halt for a brief while.
That suggests you need to give it a little extra push to get over the impediment. The nicest thing about augers is that they collect a lot of waste on their way out, so the pipes are cleaner after they have been unclogged.
If required, repeat the entire procedure to ensure that the toilet drain is clean. However, be cautious when drilling because the auger is sharp and has the potential to scrape the drain, produce cracks, or even drill a hole through plastic pipes.
Solution #2: Change the flapper or extend the chain
We go on to the second issue, which is the toilet flapper. There are two options, but in both cases, the first step is to remove the toilet tank lid. Take the tank top with your hands and pull it up tightly.
If it doesn’t move, push a flathead screwdriver into the narrow crack between the tank and its cover. Push the lid up, and it should release instantly. After that, choose one of the following:
Replace the old flapper
Almost all toilet flappers are circular bits of rubber or plastic, making it easy to spot faults and flaws. You can also flush the toilet to see if the flapper drops in time to close the outlet. Otherwise, the flapper is broken.
All that is required is to remove it from the tank and replace the flapper. This will lower the tank’s water level, but remember to test it by flushing the toilet a couple more times.
Set the new flapper chain
Short flapper chains are uncommon in the tank, but let’s not take any chances. When you press the flush handle, the chain pulls up the flapper; however, shorter chains hold the flapper too high.
The water rises in the toilet bowl
The water in your toilet bowl can settle at a higher level than it normally is. In most cases, this occurs when you flush the toilet, adding water to the bowl.
When the water in the toilet bowl rises too high, it indicates that a faulty flapper is responsible. Opt for the toilet plunger, also called a closet plunger or flange plunger.
Why is the toilet water rising before going down when flushed?
To begin, if there is a pressure difference between the water exiting the P-trap and what enters the bowl, there may be a brief rise in water after a flush.
The water in the toilet bowl will rise due to air pressure before being flushed completely to the drain and settling at normal water level. This is not a problem; it is simply how the toilet works.
If your toilet won’t stop running?
If your toilet does not stop running or is noisy while you are not using it, the toilet fill valve may need to be replaced. Your running toilet could potentially be caused by an overflowing tank, which you should have addressed above.
Solution
Locate the float arm. This should be bent downward. It should finally reach a point when the water is turned off. You may have to shift it around a little to locate the “sweet spot.” To test the flapper, turn on the water and flush the toilet.
Caution
If your toilet flapper or flush valve is broken, you may experience a “phantom flush.” This happens when your toilet flushes without someone pressing the handle. In this instance, you’ll almost certainly need to replace the flapper or the entire flush valve.
Check that the water supply valve is completely turned to the open position. You can also look for leaks in the water supply pipe.
Conclusion. Excess water in the bowl effects
Too much water in the bowl will render the toilet inoperable… The wastewater may eventually back up into the rest of the house’s outlets, including the bathroom sink, shower, or tub.
Early detection and resolution of the problem will save you a lot of money in the long run.
How do you fix a high water level in a toilet bowl?
Determine whether the water level should be raised or lowered. Locate the screw that connects the float to the fill valve (usually on top of the fill valve).
To change the water level, use a screwdriver to spin the screw in small increments. It can be moved clockwise or counterclockwise.
Why is the water in my toilet bowl high?
If your toilet is backing up with dirty, rising water levels, you may also notice tub drains and sinks doing the same. A clog can be caused by excessive toilet paper or foreign objects in the bowl.
A full septic tank could mean the tank is unable to drain properly through the lines. Homeowners may remove any blocked areas through the use of plungers & drain snakes.
Read also: Wood or plastic toilet seat choosing. What is the best toilet seat?