How to Stop a Toilet from Overflowing

If water is rising in the toilet bowl, turn off the toilet's water supply valve before attempting to clear the clog by turning the valve clockwise. Do not attempt to flush the toilet again until the clog is fixed. This will flood your toilet bowl with more water and make the problem worse.

Wait for the Water Level to Go Down

Most clogs are not completely watertight and will slowly drain through the clog. If the bowl's water level is too high to plunge without splashing water over the rim, try waiting for 10 minutes. If the water doesn't drain, you may need to remove some of the water manually.

Clear the Clog with a Toilet Plunger

Most people understand the basic idea behind plunging a toilet, but having the right tool and using the correct plunging technique can make a big difference.

The plunger must form a tight seal around the toilet bowl outlet so that water can push and pull the clog without losing pressure. The Beehive Max Toilet Plunger has flexible rubber that seals all toilet bowl shapes and is perfect for the toughest clogs.

Test the Toilet Before Turning the Water Back On

Before turning the water supply back on, you can test whether the clog is fully cleared by pouring water into the bowl. The added water should flow from the bowl into the drain, confirming the clog is removed.

Using this method to test allows you to control how much water enters the bowl and prevents more water from overflowing your toilet. If the water rises or drains slowly, you may need to try plunging again.

Some clogs are more serious, such as flushing hygiene products or children's toys. There can even be blockages further down the sewer line. For more serious clogs, you should call a professional plumber.

This issue is less common, but can still happen! If water is spilling out of the tank, shut off the water supply valve by turning it clockwise. Once the water is off, you can diagnose the cause and fix it.

Check the Height of the Flush Valve Overflow Tube

The overflow tube is designed to direct excess water into the toilet bowl before it can spill out of the tank. If the overflow tube is higher than the tank lever nut, water can leak through the hole if the fill valve does not shut off. To meet plumbing code, the top of your flush valve overflow tube must be a minimum of one inch below the flush lever nut.

Korky replacement flush valves can be adjusted by unlocking a locknut and sliding the overflow tube up or down. Fixed-height flush valve overflow tubes are designed to be cut to fit. If a fixed-height flush valve is installed incorrectly and is too tall, this will create a flood risk.

Check the Fill Valve Float

Toilet fill valves feature a float that rises with the tank water and signals the valve to shut off. If the float is stuck, damaged, or not working properly, water may continue to enter the tank.

Korky fill valves use an internal float and are designed to be serviceable. IF you have a Korky valve, you can test the float and service your valve by reading our more detailed guide.

If you don't have an internal float, you can test by lifting the float by hand. If the water does not stop when the float is raised, it is defective, and the fill valve needs to be replaced.