A properly working toilet should be primarily silent, beyond the flushing sound from the toilet tank when you flush it. Therefore, if you hear your toilet making noise, it is likely to experience some malfunction or technical issues.
Here are some of the most common toilet noises you need to recognize and what they mean for your toilet.
Your Bathroom Emits a Hissing Sound or Whistles
If your toilet emits a hissing sound when you use it, it has a damaged or faulty fill valve. The fill valve is meant to regulate the flow of water between the pipes and the toilet tank and is essential to your toilet’s functionality.
A fill valve that cannot fully open or close will result in the uneven flow of water into the tank, as there is nothing to control the water pressure.
If you suspect that a broken fill valve is responsible for the sounds coming out of your toilet, you should first check for its integrity, and if it is indeed damaged, replace it. Here is how to do so:
First, you must flush the toilet bowl to empty the tank.
Then, lift the toilet tank lid and look for the fill valve, removing the cap to see if it is filled with debris or damaged.
Clean the tight seal and screw the lid back on.
If the sound persists, you will need to purchase a new fill valve to ensure that the toilet’s connection to the water supply line remains working.
Ghost Flushing Sounds
A running toilet that is leaking water constantly can be a massive problem for your bathroom. It can be caused by several different things, making diagnosing the cause of the noise crucial.
Cracked Flush Valve
Because of this, it isn’t always easy to fix ghost flushing. If the problem is a cracked flush valve, you must remove the entire toilet tank to replace it.
While this is certainly doable at home, it is better to call a professional plumber if you are uncomfortable with the repair.
Toilet Flapper Issues
Another thing that can result in ghost flushing is a malfunction of the toilet flapper. This flapper sits on top of the flush valve drain and is responsible for allowing water to reach it during flushing.
If it fails to close after you flush the toilet, the water flow will continue slower, causing the tank to make strange noises as it keeps losing water.
This is especially common in older toilets that have functioned for a long time.
The easiest way to see if running water is leaking from your toilet is by food coloring the water in the tank, then waiting to see if that water leaks into the bowl. If it does, you have a problem with the toilet flapper or flush valve.
Sometimes, you will be able to clean the worn or faulty flapper instead of replacing it.
Removing it if it is clogged by sediment or debris will allow it to close again. On the other hand, if it has suffered physical damage or the rubber has degraded, you will need to buy a new one.
Toilet Bowl Issues
These toilet noises don’t always come from the tank. Sometimes, the toilet bowl is at fault, especially if it is cracked or the screws connecting it to the floor are loose.
These plumbing issues don’t usually require a professional plumber to solve, though it is recommended to call one regardless. If you decide to remedy the situation yourself, here is how to do it:
Cut off the toilet from incoming water, then check for cracks.
If the toilet bowl is cracked, you will have to replace it.
If it’s just gotten loose, you will have to return and tighten the failed bolt seals bolting them to the floor, then reconnecting them to the pipes.
Vibrating Sound
If you can hear a vibrating sound coming from your toilet, the issue lies in the shut-off valve connecting it to the pipes in your home.
When the rubber used to regulate water pressure begins to deteriorate, it becomes loose and emits a vibrating noise you can hear.
Replacing a shut-off valve is relatively simple.
However, you will need to disconnect your bathroom from the overall pipeline first and drain the pipes entirely by opening any other facet, such as the one in your bathtub or shower.
Gurgling Toilet Noises
If your toilet makes a gurgling noise, the issue lies in the toilet bowl itself.
This sound results from a blocked sewer drain caused by a clogged toilet. In addition, if the vent stack used to remove excess air from the system gets stuck, it begins making a noise similar to gurgling.
Therefore, when you hear this gurgling noise, you must check both of these parts for any issues and unclog them. Just remember to disconnect your toilet from the water system first.
Hammering Sound
A hammering sound can be heard when your shut-off valve experiences an issue. When a water hammer occurs, it means that the water coming in from the pipes is hitting the shutoff valve that closed too quickly.
As it has nowhere else to go, it slams into the valve, creating these odd noises.
The best way to fix water hammer problems is by replacing the shutoff valve entirely, as the new one will be able to control the water flow as intended, removing the noise even in the case of high water pressure.
High-Pitched Squealing – Fill Valve Problems
A common toilet makes noises akin to squealing when the float valve gets damaged; this problem can be fixed exceptionally cheaply: replacing the float valve is all that is needed.
Afterward, you can install a regulated fill valve in your bathroom, eliminating this toilet noise forever.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Does It Mean When Your Toilet Sounds Like it’s Running?
A running toilet noise is usually the result of issues with the flapper valve regulating the flow of the water from the tank.
When this valve works as intended, the tank fills after you flush it, stopping the noise after a few moments, but when it malfunctions, you get a running toilet tank, emitting constant noise and ramping up your water bill.
What Do You Do When Your Toilet Won’t Stop Making Noises?
A toilet making noise constantly can be annoying to deal with, but the greater problem is the underlying malfunction.
Because of this, it is advised to call a professional plumber with the experience needed to diagnose the issue and all the tools and replacement parts needed to fix it.
Alternatively, if you have the necessary knowledge, you can go and purchase replacement parts from the local hardware store and install them yourself. Just remember to turn off the water switches and flush the toilet first.
Conclusion
Toilet noises can be extremely annoying to deal with, as they keep repeating every time you use the toilet.
Furthermore, they can sometimes be a consequence of a severe issue, such as water draining from the bathroom constantly or even an issue with your home’s water supply.
Therefore, checking which toilet valve or other parts, such as the tank, are at fault and applying an immediate fix can save you a lot of time and money down the line.