Toilet, Washer or Dishwasher Overflow: What to Do
A toilet that won't stop running, a burst washing machine hose, a dishwasher leak or a cracked refrigerator ice-maker line is one of the most common reasons we get called. These leaks look small at first, but water runs under flooring, into cabinets and through the ceiling below. And not all overflow water is equal: a toilet overflow with waste in it is a health hazard. Here's what to do.
Need help right now? Call or text MaxClean Restoration at 732-539-2942 · Text us Open 24/7 and usually on site within an hour in Monmouth, Ocean and Middlesex counties.
Safety first
- Know what kind of water it is. Clean water from a supply line is one thing. Water from a toilet bowl, especially with urine or feces, or dirty water from a washing machine or dishwasher drain, is contaminated. The IICRC S500 standard treats toilet water with feces as Category 3 (grossly contaminated). Wear gloves and keep kids and pets away.
- Electricity: if water is near outlets, cords or the appliance's plug, turn off the breaker for that area before touching anything, but only if you can reach the panel without standing in water.
- Check the ceiling below. If an upstairs overflow is coming through, stay out from under a stained or sagging ceiling, and turn off lights and fans there.
What to do right now
- Stop the water.- Toilet: turn the oval valve behind the toilet, near the floor, clockwise until it stops. You can also lift the tank lid and raise the float to stop the fill. - Washing machine: turn off the hot and cold valves behind the washer and unplug it once it's safe. - Dishwasher: turn off the valve under the kitchen sink (often a small valve on the hot line) and the dishwasher's breaker. - Refrigerator or ice maker: turn off the small supply valve behind the fridge or under the sink, or in the basement below the kitchen. - Can't find the valve? Shut off the main water valve for the house.
- Take photos and video of the appliance, the broken part (like a split hose) and the water damage, including any ceiling below.
- Soak up clean water with towels or a wet/dry vacuum. For toilet water with waste, don't mop it around; call us.
- Move rugs, furniture and stored items out of the wet area. Empty the cabinet under the sink if it's wet.
- Keep the broken part(hose, supply line, valve) for your insurance company and plumber.
- Call a plumber or appliance technician for the repair, and call MaxClean at 732-539-2942 to dry the area.
- Report the damage to your insurance company and write down the claim number.
What NOT to do
- Don't keep flushing a toilet that's overflowing or clogged.
- Don't use a household vacuum on water.
- Don't spread toilet overflow water around with a mop, or use the same towels in clean areas.
- Don't run the washer or dishwasher again until it's repaired.
- Don't assume the floor is dry because the surface looks dry. Water hides under vinyl, laminate, tile and hardwood, and inside cabinets and walls.
- Don't throw away the failed hose or part before it's photographed.
What MaxClean does
- Identifies the water category(clean, contaminated or grossly contaminated) and follows the IICRC S500 steps for that category.
- Finds hidden water under flooring, inside cabinets and walls, and in the ceiling and room below, using moisture meters and thermal imaging.
- Extracts water and removes what can't be saved, like carpet and pad, drywall or insulation that was soaked by contaminated water.
- Cleans and disinfects when the water was contaminated, using EPA-registered products according to the label.
- Dries floors, cabinets and walls with commercial dehumidifiers, air movers and specialty drying systems, and checks readings every day.
- Documents everything for your claim and rebuilds what had to come out.
Learn more on our water damage restoration page or our sewage cleanup page.
Working with your insurance
We work directly with your insurance company and send the invoice to your carrier for you; you're responsible for your deductible and anything your policy doesn't cover.
In New Jersey, homeowners usually have the right to choose their own restoration contractor. We specialize in working with both homeowners and insurance companies to make sure the work is properly documented and covered, so your home gets back to its pre-loss condition.
For general steps to follow after any loss, see the insurance claim process, step by step or our insurance claims page.
When to call a professional
- A toilet overflow had waste in it, or water reached carpet.
- Water got under flooring, into cabinets or through the ceiling to the floor below.
- The leak may have been running for a while (for example, a slow ice-maker or dishwasher leak).
- Floors are buckling, cupping or feel soft.
- You notice a musty smell under a sink or behind an appliance.
Frequently asked questions
Is toilet overflow water dangerous? If it contains urine or feces, yes, it's contaminated and should be cleaned and disinfected properly. Water overflowing from the tank, before it reaches the bowl, is usually clean. When in doubt, treat it as contaminated.
My dishwasher leaked under the kitchen floor. Will it dry on its own? Usually not well. Water trapped under flooring and cabinets can stay wet for weeks, warping the floor and growing mold. Professional drying systems can often dry these areas without tearing out everything.
How often should I replace washing machine hoses? Many manufacturers recommend checking hoses regularly and replacing them every five years or so. Braided stainless steel hoses are more durable than plain rubber. Turn off the valves when you're away for a while.
What's the best way to prevent appliance leaks? Check hoses and supply lines once a year, put water leak alarms under sinks and behind the washer, dishwasher and fridge, and know where every shutoff valve is. A smart water shutoff valve can stop the water automatically.
Can water from an upstairs toilet damage the ceiling below? Yes. Water often travels through the floor and into the ceiling below, where it soaks insulation and drywall. Stay out from under a stained or sagging ceiling and have it checked.
Need help right now? Call or text MaxClean Restoration at 732-539-2942 · Text us Open 24/7 and usually on site within an hour in Monmouth, Ocean and Middlesex counties.
Related guides: Sewage backup · Water heater leaking · Burst pipe: what to do in the first hour · What happens on day 1 of water mitigation · All guides
MaxClean Restoration, 11 Bannard Street, Freehold, NJ · IICRC Certified Firm · NJ HIC #13VH12188600 Open 24/7 and usually on site within an hour across Monmouth, Ocean and Middlesex counties.
