If you are sitting on the toilet and water is spraying upwards, it can lead to an unpleasant surprise. Let’s take a look at what is going on and get it fixed. There are several reasons that this can happen so let’s explore them. The reasons might be different for a toilet upstairs than one downstairs as gravity has a big impact on how the wastewater flows inside your drains.
The toilet downstairs shoots up water
Let’s discuss some reasons why a toilet downstairs can shoot up water:
- If you have multiple levels in the home, it is possible that the drains are not properly vented. Vents add air to the drains and this makes sure that the water can flow away properly. If too much air gets in your drain, the water might flow too fast.
- The angle and size of the drain can be wrong or it might be installed wrongly. This can result in water that splashes up in the toilet as it has nowhere else to go.
- It is possible that the toilet is installed too close to the vertical drain in your home. The water has too much speed and shoots up in the toilet downstairs
- It is possible that water leaks from the toilet tank. A small hole in the tank can push water out of the tank and inside the toilet room. This has to be fixed as soon as possible as water can cause a lot of damage.
Other reasons why this can happen include:
- There can be a hole in the water supply. This is often a flexible pipe that can break over time. The water in this pipe is under a lot of pressure. Close the water pipe and replace this pipe to avoid further issues.
- The toilet tank can get overfilled if the floater is broken. This floater regulates how much water gets in the toilet tank. If it breaks, the water keeps flowing and can overfill your toilet tank. You can turn the valve on your water supply line to stop the water. This is typically located next to your toilet. Just turn it counterclockwise and the water should stop. If this doesn’t work, you can turn another valve on the water supply.
- Check if the toilet rim is clean. Dirt can clog up and disturb the water flow. This can shoot up the water. If you have hard water, you can use some descaler to get it cleaned as well. You can use a sponge and a small brush to clean under the rim. It is an area that is often neglected as it is difficult to access.
- If you live in a rural area and have a septic system, it is possible that your tank needs to be pumped. Once this tank is full, it can be difficult to flush items away.
For these issues, you will have to ask your plumber to update the drains. This is often quite easy to do but it can be a lot of work. If the drains are built on the floor, it can also cause a lot of damage as the walls and floors might have to be opened up.
These problems will generally occur when someone flushes on the first or second floor. Given that most of the time no one is on the toilet on the lower level at the same point, it is generally not too much of an issue. Just close the toilet seat so that the water doesn’t splatter around.
Issues with the toilet upstairs: shoots up water
If this happens to a toilet upstairs, there might be some other reasons:
- It is possible that the city cleans the main drains. In some instances, water might splash around in your toilet.
- There could be a clog in the toilet. This holds up the water and can shoot up water when you flush. We have discussed how to unclog a toilet here.
- The drains might not be installed or vented properly. Your plumber will have to check the angle and size of the drains to confirm that everything is up to code.
- If the water in your drains has frozen, it can start to unfreeze after a while. This can shoot up water as well. Be careful with freezing drains and pipes as these can burst and cause a lot of damage. We have discussed how to avoid this issue here.
- It is possible that water leaks from the toilet tank. A small hole in the tank can push water out of the tank and inside the toilet room. This has to be fixed as soon as possible as water can cause a lot of damage.
- There can be a hole in the water supply. This is often a flexible pipe that can break over time. The water in this pipe is under a lot of pressure. Close the water pipe and replace this pipe to avoid further issues.
Other reasons are related to the toilet itself. Make sure that it is cleaned often and that it is installed properly.
- The toilet tank can get overfilled if the floater is broken. This floater regulates how much water gets in the toilet tank. If it breaks, the water keeps flowing and can overfill your toilet tank. You can turn the valve on your water supply line to stop the water. This is typically located next to your toilet. Just turn it counterclockwise and the water should stop. If this doesn’t work, you can turn another valve on the water supply.
- Check if the toilet rim is clean. Dirt can clog up and disturb the water flow. This can shoot up the water. If you have hard water, you can use some descaler to get it cleaned as well. You can use a sponge and a small brush to clean under the rim. It is an area that is often neglected as it is difficult to access.
It is also possible that the toilet has a bidet. This is an alternative to toilet paper and is popular in some areas. It is activated by pushing a button and releasing a spray of water inside the toilet bowl. This is a normal system and you shouldn’t worry about it. It can take some getting used to but can be quite comfortable if you have tried it a few times. It is not for everyone but some people really enjoy using it.
To conclude, we can state that a toilet that shoots water can have multiple causes. From an improper drain installation to leaks and clogs. All of these require the proper attention as they can cause expensive damage. Your plumber can help you with these problems.
Resources
https://www.brondell.com/healthy-living-blog/what-are-bidets-and-bidet-toilet-seats/
