TL;DR: If your toilet is blocked and overflowing in Christchurch, stop the water immediately, avoid flushing again, contain the overflow if possible, and arrange for the blockage to be cleared as soon as you can.

First step – stop the water flow

If the toilet is overflowing, the priority is to stop more water from entering the bowl.

You can do this by:

• Turning off the water supply valve behind or beside the toilet
• Removing the cistern lid and lifting the float to stop water refilling

Acting quickly can prevent water from spilling onto the floor and causing further damage.

Do not flush again.

It may seem like flushing again will clear the blockage, but this usually makes the situation worse.

If the pipe is already blocked, another flush will add more water, increasing the overflow.

Leave the toilet as it is until the blockage has been dealt with.

Contain the overflow

If water has already spilled, try to limit the spread.

• Use towels or cloths to contain the water
• Keep the area as dry as possible to avoid slipping
• Remove nearby items that could be damaged

This helps reduce the impact while the issue is being resolved.

Try a plunger if it’s safe to do so

If the water level has settled and it is safe, a plunger can sometimes clear the blockage.

• Ensure there is enough water in the bowl to cover the plunger head
• Create a firm seal and use steady pressure

If the blockage does not clear quickly, it is best not to keep trying, as this can push the obstruction further into the pipe.

Common causes of an overflowing toilet

Toilets usually overflow because something is preventing waste and water from passing through the pipe.

Common causes include:

• Too much toilet paper or waste in one flush
• Items that should not be flushed, such as wipes or sanitary products
• A blockage further down the drain line

In some cases, the problem may not be in the toilet itself but deeper in the drainage system.