Toilet Backing up into Shower? Here’s What to Do

It happens more than you might think. You flush the toilet, hear a gurgle from the tub, and then panic; there’s liquid or solid waste coming up from the shower drain. As disconcerting as it might be, toilets back up into the shower surprisingly often.

Luckily, there are a few early warning signs to watch for and avoid the worst result – and you know what we mean.

Why Is My Toilet Backing up into My Shower?

Every drain in your home ultimately connects to your property’s main sewer line, and any blockages along the way will cause backups between the drain and the location of the obstruction. Because your toilet and shower likely connect to your sewer line in the same place, these plumbing components are essentially intertwined. Blockages near where they connect can affect both the toilet and the shower drain – leading to, you know what, toilet water coming up in the shower.

No matter what causes the blockage, the result is the same. The sudden surge of water caused by a flushing toilet causes a backup, and since water follows the path of least resistance, it retreats up the low-pressure, empty drain line into the shower.

Toilet and Shower Backing up? The Three Probable Causes

There are three common reasons for a toilet backing up into the tub, all of which occur between the drainpipes and where your sewer line connects to the city sewer or septic tank.

The usual suspects:

  1. Tree roots. Tree roots can penetrate sewer lines and residential plumbing over time, causing substantial blockages. It can take weeks or months for a tree root to cause real problems, but there are plenty of warning signs. If you hear shower “gurgles” when the toilet is flushed, it could be the work of tentacle-like tree roots.
  2. Household or personal objects. We’ve seen everything in clogged pipes and drains: toys, food, paper towels, rags; everything you know shouldn’t make it into your pipes, we’ve found it. These items don’t break down, reducing the flow of water and collecting more debris like hair and dirt to make the blockage worse and worse.
  3. Pipe scale. A mineral deposit comprised of magnesium or calcium, pipe scale accumulates inside piping and restricts water flow. Like tree roots, it can take years for pipe scale to cause problems. If there’s gurgling in the shower when flushing the toilet for several weeks, it’s usually pipe scale or tree roots.

 The best way to solve any plumbing problem is to call in the professionals. Contact your local Benjamin Franklin Plumbing for fast, thorough drain clearing done right the first time!

How to Prevent Your Toilet Backing up into the Shower

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure! Slow drains and gurgling sounds are the first signs of trouble. Clearing these blockages quickly, or preventing them from happening, is often the best way to avoid a bigger problem.

Here’s how:

Clear clogged shower drains. Use a drain snake to remove hair, dirt, or your child’s toy tugboat from the drain, if possible. Individuals with long hair should use a mesh drain cover to keep hair from causing recurring issues.

Know what to flush. The list of flushable items is short: human waste and toilet paper. Don’t flush any other paper products or “disposable” wipes, even if they claim to be flushable. Most products won’t break down fast enough and may build up in pipes, your home’s sewer line, or septic tank. Make sure everyone in your home is on the same page about what can – and can’t – be tossed in the toilet.

We’re Your Backup (When Your Toilet Backs Up)

Whether your toilet backs up into the shower or you’ve spotted a gushing leak in the laundry room, your local Benjamin Franklin Plumbing has you covered. Our licensed, experienced plumbers provide the prompt service you need and don’t charge after-hours fees. No matter what, or when, trouble bubbles up, find the location near you or simply call 1-877-BEN-1776 today!