Is It OK to Leave a Toilet Clogged Overnight?
If you’re asking, “Is it OK to leave a toilet clogged overnight,” your day may not be ending on a high note. At the end of a bad day, it’s normal to want to go to bed, leaving the problem for the morning.
No one wants to call a plumber in the middle of the night. But, can you leave a toilet clogged overnight? It’s not the best decision.
Leaving your toilet in bad shape for several hours has consequences. There’s no guarantee of a problem, but is it worth the risk?
If it’s 6 AM and you plan to call an experienced plumber around 8 AM, that’s no problem. But if it’s 8 PM and you want to wait until morning, there are some risks you need to know about.
4 Reasons NOT to Leave a Toiled Clogged Overnight
1. Bacteria and Smells
The ability to flush our waste away is more of a gift than you realize. A clogged toilet can give off a strong odor after a few hours. Part of that smell is the bacteria growing in your toilet.
The still, nasty water gives the bacteria a space to build a home. It’s gross and makes the mess even less sanitary the longer it sits there.
2. Overflowing Toilet
A clogged toilet can start to overflow even when no one uses or flushes it. For example, the toilet might leak water into the bowl even when no one is using it. Usually, you wouldn’t notice this.
However, it fills the bowl little by little and can cause your toilet to overflow. Water in a clogged toilet is “black water.” The waste and bacteria from the clog contaminate the water. This makes it potentially harmful to your health.
That also means you need to sanitize the area around your toilet. So, is it okay to leave a toilet clogged overnight? No, because you risk the clog escalating into a worse problem.
3. Clogs Can Worsen Over Time
The longer you leave a clog in a toilet, the more opportunity it has to get worse. Water-soluble parts of clogs dissolve over time, but the rest of the material can fill the gaps. This makes the clog stronger and harder to break up.
Additionally, human error is a factor to consider. Someone might wake up and completely forget about the clog – until they try to flush the toilet.
4. You Can’t Use the Bathroom
You should not use a clogged toilet until you fix it. If your home has a second bathroom, that makes the solution easier. However, single-bathroom homes are stuck without a usable bathroom.
If you only have one toilet, we recommend calling a plumber as soon as possible.
Will a Toilet Clog Clear On Its Own?
No, most toilet clogs do not clear on their own. Some water-soluble materials slowly dissolve over time. However, the other materials can fill those gaps.
It is very rare for a clog to clear itself. Many clogs aren’t water-soluble, made of fats, starches, and oils that don’t break down. Additionally, menstrual products, diapers, and “flushable” wipes are common problems.
Some people also believe that pressure from the water can push a clog through the pipe. This can cause the clog to get stuck further down the pipe, making it more difficult for a plumber to remove.
Is It OK to Leave a Toilet Clogged Overnight?
No one wants to deal with a clogged toilet, but it is best to take care of it instead of leaving it for later. Imagine waking up, having to use the bathroom but being unable to. The sooner you call an experienced plumber the better.
MET Plumbing LLC specializes in every aspect of plumbing repair. Whenever you need our help to handle a clog, we are here for you. Contact our team at 281-599-3336 to see what we can do for you!
