You are explaining why you pulled the float in the toilet tank to
stop the toilet from overflowing. Your explanation might go something like
this:
"If your toilet is clogged, and you want to prevent
your toilet from overflowing, do not flush the toilet. Toilet bowls are designed
so that they will usually hold the entire contents of the tank without overflowing.
But that's only if the water level in the bowl was at its normal
height before the toilet was flushed.
"Unfortunately, when a toilet
bowl is clogged and the water level rises and doesn't flush the contents away,
some people are too hasty and will flush the toilet again. This causes a toilet
bowl to overflow.
"If it is too late and the water is running over
the sides, the first thing you want to do is stop the water flow. The water
supply is attached to the tank through a thin pipe under the toilet. You've
got to turn off the valve to stop the water supply.
"Some toilets,
however, do not have a water control valve underneath the tank. Instead, it
is located at the main shutoff. In this case, your next best option is to
remove the tank lid and lift up on the float ball or cup (at the left side
of the tank).
"This float ball is connected to the refill valve, which
controls water flow into the tank. By lifting up the float ball, you will
be controlling the water supply by hand. That's because when the float ball
drops, the refill valve drops and turns the water on to refill the tank.
"Eventually,
you'll have to turn off the water to give yourself a chance to work on the
clog."