Is your toilet backing up? We’re truly sorry to hear it! A toilet backing up is one of the most unpleasant experiences one can deal with. The question you’re asking now is, why? What is the cause? After all, the first step to fixing a problem is knowing what’s causing it. Leaquida Waterproofing is here to help. Let’s start at the beginning.
What Is Backing Up?
If you’re not sure what a backed up toilet is, it’s when there is sewage coming up from your toilet or other drains in the house. That can mean you have sewage coming up from the tub drain, or even sinks as well. If you need help with a clogged toilet, that’s a different beast, and usually much easier to fix. Not sure how to tell the difference? A clogged toilet will only have recent waste in it. A backed up toilet can have old waste as well and will usually look muddy, as it contains waste that has already broken down.
How to Recognize a Sewer Backup Before It Gets Worse
Not every plumbing issue starts with a flood — many sewer backups offer warning signs before they become full-blown emergencies. By catching these early, you can prevent major damage. Watch out for the following red flags:
- Gurgling sounds in your toilet or bathtub when using other fixtures
- Foul sewage odors around drains or in the basement
- Water rising in the shower or sink when you flush the toilet
- Persistent slow draining, even after plunging
- Unusual water stains or moisture around the base of your toilet or floor drains
If you notice even one of these signs, it’s time to act quickly.
Flooding the Pipes
The reason you’re dealing with a back up is actually because of something called backwater. The root cause of this is that there is a clog somewhere further down in the plumbing system. Because that clog is keeping things from moving along, every time someone flushes a toilet or takes a shower, the waste level rises. The additional water and waste ends up flooding the pipes. That’s where backwater comes in. The waste begins to move backwards, filling all of the pipes in the home’s plumbing system until it overflows into a tub, sink, or toilet – or out of them.
That clog causing the backwater can be as near as the intersection between the tub and toilet drain pipes. It could be where your home system dumps into the local system. It can even be as far as where the local system dumps into the city system. As long as there is a clog somewhere in the plumbing system, enough water added to it will begin to cause backwater.
Home or Local
So, the question is, how do you know if the problem is home or local? Without doing an extensive inspection of your home system, there are two easy ways to find out. The easiest is to call your local plumber. If the problem lies beyond your home, they’ve probably already received hundreds of calls from the other locals. If they haven’t, you can also check with your neighbors. If they’re having issues too, call back your local plumber and let them know there is likely a local blockage. This will allow them to get to work right away and minimize damage. Plus, early response can prevent disaster in all of your neighbor’s houses, as they can be notified.
Health and Property Risks of Ignoring a Toilet Backup
A sewer backup is more than just an inconvenience. Ignoring it can cause serious health hazards and structural issues in your home.
Here’s what can happen if it’s left unaddressed:
- Mold and mildew growth behind walls or under floors
- Rotting of wooden structures like subfloors and framing
- Corrosion in plumbing lines, leading to more frequent failures
- Contamination of clean water lines or nearby surfaces
- Exposure to harmful bacteria like E. coli, salmonella, and parasites
- Increased risk of fire due to contact between water and electrical systems
Timely intervention prevents these long-term, costly outcomes.
Solving the Problem
The solution to backwater is actually quite simple. You need a backwater valve. Backwater valves are legally mandatory in many parts of Canada and are often necessary for insurance to cover backwater flood damages. However, even though many homes are built with them, there are many that are without. It could be from poor construction or because the house is old and never had one to begin with. If you don’t know that when buying, it’s best to have one installed right away.
A backwater valve prevents sewage from the local system from being able to enter your home system. It makes it a one-way exit for your own sewage and keeps all of your neighbors’ waste from reaching your toilet.
If the problem is just within your house, a backwater valve won’t help. However, Leaquida Waterproofing can. Clogs within your own plumbing can be equally disastrous if not handled quickly. So, give us a call and let us come out and rid your pipes of clogs.
Emergency Steps to Take When Your Toilet Is Backing Up
If you’re currently facing a backup, here’s what to do while waiting for help:
- Stop using water throughout the house — this prevents more wastewater from entering the system
- Turn off the main water valve if water keeps rising
- Avoid using chemical drain cleaners, as they can worsen the situation or damage pipes
- Use a wet/dry vacuum to remove standing water, if it’s safe
- Keep children and pets away from contaminated areas
Call Leaquida Waterproofing immediately — fast action can prevent extensive damage.
Why Choose Leaquida for Emergency Backup Repairs
At Leaquida Waterproofing, we don’t just clear blockages — we solve the root cause of the problem. Our certified experts offer:
- 24/7 emergency service across Toronto and the GTA
- State-of-the-art camera inspections to locate deep clogs
- Long-term sewer and foundation protection, not just temporary fixes
- Backwater valve installations, approved for insurance coverage
- Transparent pricing and free initial consultations
Don’t wait for sewage to ruin your space. Contact us today for professional help that lasts.
FAQ
Yes. Heavy rainfall or rapid snowmelt can overwhelm municipal sewer systems, especially if your home lacks a backwater valve. This can cause sewage to back up into your toilet or drains.
This usually points to a clog deeper in your shared drainage system. Shower and toilet lines often connect, so if there’s a blockage between them, wastewater from the shower can push sewage back through the toilet.
Generally, yes. Older homes may have corroded or undersized pipes and are less likely to have backwater valves. Tree roots are also more likely to invade older sewer lines, leading to frequent backups.
A clog affects a single fixture and only includes recent waste. A sewer backup involves multiple drains and can include dark, foul-smelling water with decomposed waste — a sign of a bigger problem in your mainline or beyond.
Absolutely. Even “flushable” wipes don’t break down like toilet paper. They accumulate in pipes and municipal lines, acting like netting that catches other waste, forming massive clogs over time.
Besides the obvious mess and smell, delayed action can cause pipe corrosion, mold growth, structural damage, and even contamination of clean water supplies. It can also void insurance claims if not addressed promptly.
CLOGGED OR BROKEN WEEPING TILE