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Is It Bad To Shut Off Water To Toilet?

Any toilet problem would require quick fixing. It is already irritating to have a bad toilet system. And delays can lead to more suffering. Certainly, you would not be able to rest without fixing it.

But is it bad to shut off water to toilet? No, shutting off the water to the toilet is not bad. However, you would not be able to flush the toilet without the water supply. You can shut off the water if there is any repair work, plumbing, or water overflow or when you want to go on a vacation.

Now how to shut off the water to the toilet? Is it really fine to do so? Your hesitation is obvious here. And to sort out your mind, follow the below to the end.

Is It Bad To Shut Off Water To The Toilet?

No, it is not exactly bad to shut off the water to the toilet. Not unless you need it for frequent use. If the toilet is in rapid use, why would you shut off the water to the toilet anyway?

If your toilet is having problems such as clogged toilets, water overflow, or leaks, you would need to shut off the water. The water supply to the toilet can provoke a leak and the toilet can get dirty.

Moreover, while repairing the toilet, shutting off the water supply to the toilet while repairing the toilet is mandatory. Now, it would not cause a problem unless you need to use the toilet immediately, as flushing would not work.

This problem is also solvable. Now, there is no other reason to consider shutting the toilet as bad. Apart from that, you can also shut the water supply off when going on a vacation so that no unfortunate leak happens.

is it bad to shut off water to toilet

How To Shut Off The Water To The Toilet?

As you are shutting off the water to the toilet, you do not need to turn off the main water supply line. You can simply shut off the water to the toilet by turning the shut-off valve.

Now turning off the main water supply line would turn off the water supply to the whole house. What if you need a water supply in the other room? So, no need to touch the main line. Here are the steps that you need to follow to proceed.

Step 1: Find The Shut-Off Valve

Generally, the shut-off valve is connected to the plumbing line in the toilet. Now, the plumbing line can be directly connected to the water tank. Or else, it might be mounted on the wall.

It can be behind the toilet or on the side of the toilet. You have to follow the plumbing line to find the shut-off valve. There are different types of shut-off valves found in the marketplace. Always install them after considering the possible problems.

Step 2: Turn It Off

After finding the shut-off valve, turn it clockwise until you can not turn it anymore. Remember not to push it harder. Too much pressure can also break it off. If it does not turn off at all or becomes too stiff, you might need to change it.

In that case, turn off the main water supply line. Similarly, turn the valve and it will be done.

You can follow the YouTube video below, which includes step details to turn off the shut-off valve.

When To Shut Off The Water To The Toilet?

Well, toilet problems would definitely need you to shut off the water supply line to the toilet.

  • Commonly, you can not fix the leakage problem without shutting off the toilet.
  • Also, when water overflows the toilet because of a clog, you should turn off the water supply.
  • Apart from that, if you want to save water without excess usage, you can still turn off the water to the toilet. At last, this would not cause any harm.

What Happens When You Shut Off The Water To The Toilet?

Even though shutting off the water to the toilet has no bad impact, you can still face some difficulties. If there is any repair issue, you do not have any other option than shutting off the water to the toilet.

Mainly no one often touches the shut-off valve. It is generally tightened and no one knows when it can get bad or loosen. Now, if you suddenly turn it off, you might find it difficult to turn it on. And turning it on can become an emergency when you need to use the toilet.

You should better not force the shut-off valve. Otherwise, you would need to fix it as well.

No Water Gets Filled

Apart from that, no water can get filled in the toilet tank. So you will not be able to use the flush right away after using the toilet. Why would you use the toilet if it does not flush?

No worries, there is also an alternate way for flushing. You can try an alternate way to help yourself. But mainly, there will be no water supply. Now it depends on why you are shutting off the water supply to the toilet. If there is no valid reason for it, you can better leave the supply line open.

How To Flush When The Water Supply Is Shut Off?

The toilet flush will not work if the toilet tank lacks water. Shutting off the water to the toilet means there is no water supply in the toilet.

  • So, to flush down water in the toilet, you need to fill the toilet tank first.
  • You can also solve this by using a low level of water. You just need to fill the tank with water from any source. You do not need to fill it with your water supply line to the toilet.

If you have saved water, use those. And then flush. It will be all done. So, if you are about to go on a vacation, fill the tank first. Thus, when you return home, you will need to fill the tank and turn the switch on.

How To Turn On The Toilet Valve?

The steps are similar to turning the toilet valve off. As you already know where the shut-off valve is, you can just rotate it.

Step 1: Turn the valve in the anticlockwise direction.

Step 2: After that, check whether the toilet water tank is filled. It can take up to 5 minutes.

Step 3: Well, you can use the toilet afterward and also the flush.

FAQs

There are some common questions asked by people regarding shutting off the water to the toilet. Below those questions are answered for a broad view.

Q: How to know if the shut-off valve has gone bad?

It would not get moved at all. The valve would become rusty and firm. Sometimes, leaks can also come from the broken valve. You would need to repair it before any emergency comes.

Q: Is it possible to fix the shut-off valve?

Yes, it is possible to fix the shut-off valve by yourself. But plumbers can do a better job as the shut-off valve can become too tight sometimes. You wouldn’t want to damage the pipeline as well.

Bottom Line

Overall, is it bad to shut off water to toilet? No. It is alright. Nevertheless, you should not play with the shut-off valve. Shut-off valves are not used normally. They are just present there on the wall and help the water to supply. Constant touching or handling of it can cause the shut-off valve to break.

Just because something is not bad does not mean it can always do good. If you need the water supply to the toilet to shut, do it. Otherwise, you do not need to waste your time in such a hassle at all.