How Much Damage Can a Toilet Overflow Cause?

11/5/2019 (Permalink)

A flooded toilet can cause damage on one or more floors of a home in Elk Grove, CA.  You should immediately contact a plumber upon noticing signs of a blocked drain line and take measures to limit sewer damage. Here are some of the types of damage a toilet overflow can cause.

Contaminated Water

Water from a toilet overflow is almost always contaminated. Restoration professionals categorize water damage into three categories:

• Category One clean water, originating from supply lines
• Category Two contaminated water, from showers or appliances
• Category Three contaminated water containing solid waste
  
  

Water from a flooded toilet is likely either Category Two gray water or Category Three black water. Either category of sewer damage calls for disinfection in addition to cleaning and drying. 

Damaged Building Materials

Contaminated water can permeate porous materials such as carpet or drywall. These materials cannot be completely disinfected, and may pose a continued risk of microbial growth. For this reason, mitigation experts recommend tearing out these materials prior to disinfecting and drying the area. Carpet, drywall, or damaged ceilings on a lower floor can be replaced during the restoration process.

Secondary Damage Risks

If damage is not cleaned up quickly or disinfected, there may be an increased risk of several types of secondary damage. Here are a few of the most common forms of additional damage:

• Bacteria
• Staining
• Mold
  
  

Immediate mitigation and timely cleanup can limit the extent of primary and secondary damage. Try to keep water from spreading until a plumber arrives to clear the drain line blockage.