Toilet Overflow Cleanup: Steps to Take Right Away

A toilet overflow can quickly damage floors and ceilings below. Learn what to do after a toilet overflow in your NJ home and when it's a biohazard.

Stop the flow

Turn off the water supply valve behind the toilet immediately to stop the overflow.

Assess the water

Clean water from the tank is one thing; water from the bowl with waste is contaminated and should be treated as a biohazard.

Protect floors below

Water can seep through flooring into rooms or ceilings below, causing hidden damage.

Clean and disinfect

Contaminated overflows require disinfection. Porous materials that absorbed waste water may need removal.

When to call pros

Significant or contaminated overflows, or water that reached lower floors, call for professional cleanup and drying.