Toilet Overflow

[jcc2009]

We had our toilet overflow last week... whilst we were bathing the kids the toilet was continuosly filling after flushingh and overflowing from the bowl (for about 20 mins), flooding the kitchen below. Trouble is, the insurance don't believe us and seem to think that the toilet would have only leaked the equivalent of a systern full of water .. We know that the laminate flooring in the kitchen was damaged as a result (because it was like Niagra Falls) , but they don't agree. Can anyone back us up? We know the toilet was continuosly filling and overflowing from the bowl, but lack the evidence and knowledge to explain why.

 

[swidders]

If the inlet valve was stuck open, it will continue to fill the cistern intil such time as it closes or the supply is turned off. In an extreme case (such as you describe), this can create the situation where the overflow cannot drain this excess of water as fast as the incoming supply.

As an example, ask your insurers to put the plug in their sink or bath at home and turn on the cold tap and leave it on unattended for a couple of hours (thus relying on the overflow facility) and ask them to confirm that only a sink or bathful of water has overflowed before the water fairy stopped it from continuing to do so

 

[jcc2009]

THANKS FOR THE QUICK REPLY... when we had the overflow, a quick plunge solved the problem (but the damgae was done). Just narked that the "surveyor" hasn't believed us. There appears to be so much distrust around right now.

 

[swidders]

Oops - I think I misread your original post - thought you were talking about the cistern alone was overflowing, not the pan. If you have told them that the pan was overflowing, then they have made the correct assumption that only a cisternful could have overflowed.

However, the situation that you seem to describe is that the cistern was overflowing into the pan for 20+minutes ,which unfortunately was blocked. If you explain it like this, and that you have subsequently plunged the blockage clear and fixed the sticking valve, then you stand a better chance.

In any case, water damage has occurred and they should therefore make good your claim for repair to be made under accidental damage - regardless of whether it was a thimbleful or 10 gallons.

 

[jcc2009]

Thanks for all of your help swidders. We're taking it up with the insurance people tomorrow. However, before I go (been doing some bedtime thinking) Could it be possible that the water filled the blocked pan to a level where the whole toilet formed itself into some kind of u-bend, with the excess water overflowing from the pan? Or is it simply a case of a little bit of water can go a very long way when it comes to making a mess of your stuff?

Cheers again!!!