Bathroom Flooding — Toilet Overflow, Shower Leak, Supply Line Break

Stop the water: close the toilet supply valve (behind/below the toilet), shut the faucet supply valves under the sink, or turn off the main if the source is unclear

⚠ Toilet overflow from a sewage blockage is Category 2–3 water — treat as contaminated until confirmed otherwise

Determine water category: supply line break = clean water (Category 1); toilet overflow = gray or black water (Category 2–3)

⚠ Category 2–3 water requires PPE — gloves, eye protection, and N95 mask minimum; do not let pets or children near affected areas

Cut power to the bathroom at the circuit breaker — especially if water has reached outlets, exhaust fan, or heated floor mats

⚠ GFCI outlets do not protect against shock if submerged

Photograph the source, overflow level on walls and baseboards, any discoloration on tile grout or drywall, and check the ceiling of the room directly below for water staining

⚠ Water traveling through subfloor to the level below is extremely common in bathroom floods — document both levels

For Category 1 only: use towels or a wet/dry vac to remove surface water. For Category 2–3: do not clean up — call restoration immediately

⚠ Gray and black water toilet overflow contamination requires professional decontamination with EPA-registered antimicrobials

Call IICRC restoration — bathroom subfloor under tile is especially prone to hidden moisture that causes mold and structural rot

⚠ Tile floors look dry on the surface but can have saturated subfloor and wall framing for weeks without commercial drying