Yes, you can flush the toilet when the power is out, as long
as your home is on city water and city sewer. A standard toilet uses gravity
and water pressure from the municipal system, not electricity, so it will keep
flushing normally. The same goes for your sinks and shower. Exceptions include homes that rely on electric pumps: well water systems, septic systems with an
effluent pump, and basement bathrooms that drain through a sewage ejector pump.
Around Atlanta, power outages usually come with summer
thunderstorms, winter ice, or the remnants of tropical storms moving up from
the Gulf. Knowing what your plumbing can and cannot do without electricity
helps you avoid a messy backup or a cold, flooded basement while you wait for
the lights to come back on.
Does Plumbing Use Electricity?
For most homes in metro Atlanta, the basic plumbing does not
use electricity at all. Water arrives at your home already under pressure from
the utility, whether that is the City of Atlanta, DeKalb County, Cobb County,
Gwinnett County, or another local system. Utilities keep that pressure up with
elevated storage tanks and pumping stations, which is why your faucets typically keep running during an ordinary neighborhood outage.
Drainage works the same way. Wastewater leaves your home
through gravity, flowing downhill through the drain lines to the sewer main. No
power is needed for that either.
Where electricity does come into play is with the equipment connected to your plumbing:
- Electric water heaters and tankless water heaters
- Well pumps and pressure tanks
- Sump pumps
- Sewage ejector pumps and upflush toilets
- Septic systems with an effluent or lift pump
- Dishwashers, washing machines, and some smart or electric-assist toilets
Can You Flush the Toilet When the Power Is Out?
It depends on how your home gets water and where the waste
goes. Here is how it breaks down for the most common setups around Atlanta.
City Water and City Sewer
This covers most homes inside the Perimeter and in
established suburbs like Decatur, Smyrna, Marietta, and Sandy Springs. Your
toilet will flush normally, and the tank will refill on its own because the
water supply is still pressurized. There is no limit on how many times you can
flush.
Well Water
Many homes in the outer suburbs, including parts of
Cherokee, Forsyth, and Paulding counties, get their water from a private well.
The well pump needs electricity. Once power goes out, you only have whatever
water is left in the pressure tank. That may be enough for a flush or two, then
the tank will stop refilling.
Septic Systems With a Pump
A conventional gravity septic system keeps working during an
outage. Some septic systems, especially on lots where the drain field sits
uphill from the house, use an electric pump to move effluent. When that pump is
down, the tank can fill up. Keep water use to a minimum until the power returns
so waste does not back up into the house.
Basement Bathrooms With an Ejector Pump
Atlanta has a lot of homes built on sloped lots with
finished basements. When a basement bathroom sits below the level of the main
sewer line, it drains into a sealed pit with a sewage ejector pump that pushes
waste up and out. During an outage, that pump stops. Do not use basement
toilets, showers, or laundry until the power is back, or the pit can overflow.
Electric-Assist and Upflush Toilets
Upflush or macerating toilets need power to grind and pump
waste. Some smart toilets with electric flush controls may not flush normally
without power either. Check whether your model has a manual flush option.
Standard gravity toilets and most pressure-assist toilets do not need
electricity.
How Many Times Can You Flush a Toilet Without Power?
On city water, you can flush as many times as you normally
would. The utility keeps supplying water to refill the tank after each flush.
On a well, you usually get one flush from the water already
in the toilet tank, plus whatever remains in the pressure tank. After that, the
tank will not refill. You can still flush by pouring a bucket of water directly
into the toilet bowl, which forces the waste down the drain by gravity. This
works as long as the drain and sewer or septic side is working.
Why Fill the Bathtub With Water During a Power Outage?
Filling the bathtub before a big storm gives you a backup
supply of water for flushing toilets and basic cleaning if your water service
stops. This is most useful for homes on well water, since the pump will not run
without power. It also helps if a widespread outage or a water main issue
causes your utility to lose pressure or issue a boil water advisory.
Tub water is meant for flushing and cleaning, not drinking.
Store drinking water separately in clean, covered containers.
Can You Shower When the Power Is Out?
Yes, you can shower when the power is out if your home is on
city water. Water pressure will be normal. The bigger question is whether it
will be hot.
There is one important safety exception. If the outage is
caused by a thunderstorm and lightning is still in the area, wait to shower.
Lightning can travel through metal plumbing, and safety agencies recommend
avoiding showers, baths, and dishwashing during a lightning storm.
Does a Power Outage Affect Hot Water?
How much hot water you have depends on the type of water
heater in your home.
- Electric tank water heaters stop heating when the power goes out. The water already in the insulated tank stays warm for a while, so you may get a lukewarm shower early in the outage, but it will not be reheated until power returns.
- Gas tank water heaters with a standing pilot usually keep working, because the pilot and gas valve do not rely on household electricity.
- Gas water heaters with electronic ignition or a power vent need electricity to light and vent safely, so they stop working in an outage.
- Tankless water heaters, both gas and electric, need power for their controls and ignition. No power means no hot water. Learn more about how a tankless water heater works.
If you have a gas water heater and smell gas at any point,
leave the house right away and call your gas provider or 911 from outside.
What Plumbing Should You Avoid Using During an Outage?
To protect your home from backups and water damage, hold off
on these until the power is back:
- Basement bathrooms and laundry that drain to an ejector pump
- Heavy water use on a pumped septic system, including laundry and long showers
- Dishwashers and washing machines, which need power anyway and add a lot of water to the drain system
- Upflush or macerating toilets
The Sump Pump Problem: Storms and Outages Arrive Together
In Atlanta, the same storm that knocks out power often dumps
heavy rain at the same time. That is exactly when a sump
pump is needed most, and exactly when it cannot run. Homes with basements
or crawlspaces in low spots, or on the downhill side of a sloped lot, are
especially at risk of water getting in during a long outage.
A battery backup sump pump or a standby generator can keep
water out while the power is down. If your home has flooded during a past
outage, talk with a plumber about sump
pump installation options that include backup power.
Winter Outages and Frozen Pipes
Atlanta does not get many hard freezes, but when an ice
storm takes down power lines, homes can lose heat during the coldest nights of
the year. Pipes in crawlspaces, exterior walls, attics, and unheated garages
are the most vulnerable. Our guide on protecting
your pipes from winter freezes explains which pipes are most at risk and
how to prepare before a cold snap.
If a pipe does freeze and burst, shut off your main water
valve and call a plumber right away.
What to Check After the Power Comes Back On
Once power is restored, take a quick look at your plumbing
so small problems do not turn into bigger ones:
- Confirm you have hot water. Electric water heaters can take a while to recover. If you still have no hot water later, a tripped high-limit switch is a common cause. Our post on what trips the reset button on a water heater explains why that happens.
- Listen for your sump pump and ejector pump. Make sure they cycle on when needed. A pump that hums but does not move water needs attention.
- Watch your water pressure. If pressure is weak after an outage, the cause could be on the utility side or inside your home. See why water pressure suddenly drops for the most common reasons.
- Check for leaks. Look under sinks, around the water heater, and in the basement or crawlspace for any signs of water, especially after a freeze.
- Follow any boil water advisory from your local utility before drinking tap water.
If your water heater will not come back on or you notice no
hot water at all, our guide to sudden
loss of hot water covers what could be going on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do toilets use electricity?
Standard toilets do not use electricity. They rely on
gravity and water pressure. Upflush toilets, some smart toilets, and toilets
that drain through a sewage ejector pump do need power.
Does water work when the power is out?
On city water, yes. Your utility keeps the system
pressurized through storage tanks and pumping stations. On well water, no. The
well pump needs electricity, so water stops once the pressure tank runs dry.
Can you use city water during a power outage?
Yes. City water customers can use sinks, toilets, and
showers normally during most outages. During very large or long outages,
pressure may drop and utilities may issue boil water advisories, so check with
your water provider if anything seems off.
Does a gas water heater work without power?
A gas tank water heater with a standing pilot light usually
does. Gas water heaters with electronic ignition, power venting, and tankless
gas units need electricity and will stop working.
Can you shower during a thunderstorm power outage?
Not while lightning is nearby. Wait until the storm has
passed. After that, showering is fine on city water, though the water may not
be hot.
Need a Plumber After the Storm? Call Dalmatian Plumbing
If a power outage left you with a flooded basement, a water
heater that will not come back on, a backed-up ejector pit, or a frozen pipe,
Dalmatian Plumbing is here to help. Our family-owned team brings 25+ years of
local experience and 75+ years of combined technician experience to homes
across metro Atlanta.
Our technicians are licensed and background-checked, carry parts on every truck, and back every job with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Learn more about our emergency plumbing services and water heater repair and replacement, or call 404-314-3993 for same-day service from our team.
