If you’ve just flushed your toilet and the water starts to rise, it’s only natural to be a little alarmed. Whether it overflows or not, rising toilet water is never a good sign and is usually a symptom of a more serious problem inside your toilet or pipe systems.
Understanding why toilet water can rise can help you prevent this from happening in your home or business. So next time the water level of your toilet starts to get uncomfortably close to the rim, don’t stress–the team at Sven’s Blocked Drains is here to help with any blocked toilet in Melbourne we come across!
Why Does Toilet Water Rise?
The right amount of water in your toilet helps keep it clean, allows waste to be flushed away smoothly, and keeps water cycling through all its pipes and parts correctly. Your toilet’s water should be at a pretty consistent level, so if you notice it is sitting higher than normal, or if it comes up and overflows after a flush, then you know something is definitely wrong.
With this in mind, here are some of the most common reasons the water in your toilet bowl might rise unexpectedly.
Clogged Drain
The most common cause of rising water in your toilet bowl (and the cause of most other drain-related problems) is a blockage in your toilet’s pipes. Blockages can occur when you try to flush too much material at once, or if you have previously flushed something you shouldn’t have, like sanitary items or nappies.
If your toilet’s pipes are clogged, water that comes into flush the bowl from the tank will be unable to exit via the pipes and instead will rise in the bowl as more water is added for the flush. A partial clog may still allow some water to exit, leading to a slow drain, but if it’s fully clogged? Expect an overflow, especially if you try to flush the blockage more than once.
Float Malfunction
If you’ve ever lifted the lid on your toilet’s tank, you’ve probably noticed the float in there. The float plays a role in helping your tank fill up with the right amount of water for flushing later on, and if it malfunctions or gets stuck it can cause two different things to happen.
- Your tank will fill up with too much water after a flush. This can cause water to spill out from the tank itself.
- Too much water in the tank can cause the water in your bowl to fill up higher than normal, and can even lead to an overflow.
Floats tend to come in two types: ball and cylinder-shaped floats. You can tell which type your toilet has by lifting the lid of the tank and having a look inside. When your toilet is flushing, the float will be the accessory that moves up and down with the water.
Broken Flapper Valve
The flapper valve is located at the bottom of your toilet’s tank, and is responsible for controlling the flow of water into the bowl. When you flush, the valve lifts up and allows water from the tank into the bowl. But if the valve isn’t working correctly (whether from damage or if it’s not hanging correctly), then it may not seal the hole correctly, allowing water to continuously enter your toilet bowl.
A flapper valve that can’t work correctly will cause your toilet to ‘continually flush’ which wastes a lot of water and means your bowl will have a constant stream of water leading into it, which can lead to an overflow if the rest of your pipes aren’t too healthy (like if you have a minor blockage).
Blocked Vent Pipe
The final cause of rising water in your toilet bowl is a vent pipe blockage. The vent pipe is responsible for moving air into your toilet’s pipes to replace the air that is carried away with each flush. If the vent pipe becomes blocked, then a clog can occur when you flush which, as we know, is the leading cause of toilet overflows.
Vent pipes also help keep the smells of your sewage system inside the pipes and away from the open air. If this vent has stopped working, your nose will tell you!
Concerned that you might have a blocked toilet in Glen Waverley, Kew, Northcote or Richmond? Call 1300 3 DRAIN and the team from Sven’s Blocked Drains will arrive in no time to assist you.
How Can I Get My Toilet’s Water Level Back To Normal?
Suspect that these issues are the reason your toilet’s water level continues to rise? Here are some quick DIY methods you can perform to help.
For all of these, remember to turn off your toilet’s water supply first in order to stop water from entering your toilet and potentially contributing to the rise in the bowl. Then, once the repair has been made, turn the water back on to test it.
Unclogging a Blocked Drain
If you own a toilet, you should own a plunger. A flange or an accordion plunger are both great, as these are the types best used with toilets! If you suspect a blockage, you can try using a plunger to force the blockage through the pipes and into the larger sewer system.
If plunging doesn’t work, you can also use a drain snake or drain auger. These tools can be bought or even rented from hardware stores and can break up a clog in your pipes, either by grabbing it and bringing it back up through your toilet for you to dispose of or breaking it into smaller chunks that are easier to flush.
Once the drain has been cleared, flush your toilet a few times to make sure your pipes are in good health and the water no longer rises up.
Need expert help with your blocked drain? Sven’s Blocked Drains uses powerful pressure jets to clear stubborn blockages quickly!
Adjusting Your Float
If you want to fix the float in your toilet’s tank, you have a few options depending on whether you have a ball-style float or a cylinder-style float.
- For a ball float, the fill valve will have a screw on it that you can adjust to raise or lower the water in the tank.
- For a cylinder float, you can adjust the clip on the side of it to alter the water level.
Once you have lowered the level of your float, give your toilet a flush to see if the problem of water rising too high has been resolved.
Fixing a Malfunctioning Flapper Valve
If the flapper valve is damaged and cannot seal water properly, then you will need to either repair or replace it. If your flapper valve isn’t correctly aligning with the opening, you may be able to make some small adjustments to it to correct it.
Otherwise, a cracked or very old flapper can easily be replaced. You can find repair kits that can match the type of toilet you own, so make sure to have a good look to find the right kit for your system. Then, once you have installed it, flush the toilet to make sure it is working properly.
Clearing a Blocked Vent Pipe
Unfortunately, a blocked vent pipe isn’t something you can clear on your own. Because the pipe is located behind or underneath the toilet itself, it’s best to hire a professional who can safely access the pipe, clear it and then restore your bathroom to normal once they’re done with repairs.
Trying to access the vent pipe yourself could lead to you accidentally damaging your floor, walls or the toilet itself, necessitating the need for extra work and meaning you can’t use your toilet until the repairs have taken place. If you suspect you have a blocked vent pipe, reach out to an expert for a fast and professional fix!
In a bit of a plumbing pinch? Call Sven’s Blocked Drains when you need help with blocked drains in an emergency! We also offer reliable general plumbing services.
Dealing with a Blocked Toilet in Melbourne? We Can Help!
If the water in your toilet bowl is always rising, it’s a smart move to get professional help, quickly! Expert plumbers, like those from Sven’s Blocked Drains, can quickly determine the cause of the rising water, prevent any further damage to your bathroom, and implement a permanent fix. They can also advise you on steps to take to prevent the problem from occurring again in the future.
To book a visit from a member of our team, call 1300 3 DRAIN (1300 337 246) or use our portal to book an appointment online. We can serve all areas of Melbourne from our Hawthorn base, and can assist you with any plumbing issues you may have, which can include blocked drains in your kitchen, stormwater system or sewer pipes.
Get in touch with Sven’s Blocked Drains today and enjoy peace of mind with a perfectly functioning toilet tomorrow!
