Toilets are crucial and one of the most used home plumbing fixtures. They help maintain the sanitation levels and ensure good family health. Even with their excellent durability, toilets can experience problems once in a while. A toilet issue that often arises is the fixture producing weird sounds.Â
Toilets make some noise when they flush and refill. For the rest of the time, they should remain quiet. Loud, unusual sounds coming from your toilet are annoying and worrying. It indicates a plumbing problem that may translate to expensive repairs when not promptly addressed. Homeowners need to assess the severity of the issues and whether it warrants calling a professional plumber.
Here we explore how to troubleshoot some of the weird toilet sounds:
Ghost flushing
Hearing the sound of the toilet flushing on its own randomly in the middle of the night is scary. The common culprits of ghost flushing, also known as phantom flushing, include a tank leak, faulty flapper or flush valve, short flapper chain, and improper positioning of refill tube. Continuous ghost flushing wastes water and increases the water bills. Locate the leak’s source and perform necessary repairs. Consider replacing the flapper or flush valve drain, adjusting the chain, and repositioning the refill tube to fix other issues.
Persistent hissing
A toilet making continuous hissing sounds is a cause of concern. It usually happens due to a worn-out flapper. As the flap or flush valve deteriorates or breaks down due to age, is not positioned correctly, or is set at the right level, it fails to create a proper seal. It causes the water to overflow and slip into the bowl and the tank to refill constantly, leading to a hissing noise. A professional plumber can quickly replace the damaged part to fix the issue.
Gurgling
Gurgling or bubbling noises most commonly indicate a partial block in the drainpipe, sewer drain, or vent stack, preventing water from passing through it freely. Clogs lead to air pressure build-up, which causes gurgling or bubbling sounds while releasing. It is a severe issue, and homeowners need to act right away to avoid a nasty backup. If a drain snake fails to fix the problem, call an experienced plumber right away.
Constant running
A toilet produces a running sound briefly when the tank refills after a flush and should cease after the tank fills. However, if it continues to run even after the tank finishes filling, it could mean that a leak is allowing water to flow into the bowl, the flapper chain is short or tight, or the float is at a higher mark. Inspecting your tank can help determine the actual cause.
Banging
An immediate banging or clunking noise after a toilet refill is known as a water hammer. It occurs when the water flowing through the pipes stops abruptly and hits the closed valve. Repeated hitting can damage the pipes eventually. The water hammer can also result from the air in the drain and high water pressure. Consider draining or refilling the pipe and contact a plumber if that doesn’t solve the problem.
Keep your porcelain throne in excellent condition
Call in the professionals if you don’t want to tackle the issue yourself. If you choose to DIY a bit, get in touch with a local plumbing service if you fail to figure out the reason behind the weird sounds coming from your toilet. Experienced plumbers will quickly diagnose the problem and restore proper toilet functionality in no time.
Royalty Plumbing offers high-quality residential plumbing services in the areas of Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas, and Summerlin