Knowledge Builders

why does my toilet cistern keep making a noise

by Ashlee Deckow DDS Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
image

How to Repair Noisy Toilet Cisterns

  • Dirty Valve One of the most common reasons behind a noisy cistern is dirt and debris getting stuck in the fill valve. A horn or whistle-like sound is caused due to water pressure running across this dirt and debris. ...
  • Water Hammer Another common problem is a humming noise when the toilet is flushed. ...
  • Broken Float Switch ...
  • Vibration in Washer Assembly and Stem ...

It is usually caused by a blockage somewhere along with your sewer system. That could be a blockage in the vent stack, a clog inside the toilet, a blocked drain- or the sewer drain itself may have broken and collapsed. Some of these causes are easier to fix than others.

Full Answer

Why does my toilet make a noise?

Why does my toilet make a hissing sound?

What happens if the toilet flapper is too tight?

Why does my toilet flush on its own?

What does ghost flushing mean?

How to hold a toilet float?

Why does my water tank make a hissing noise?

See 2 more

image

Why does my toilet make noise when not in use?

If your toilet is making noise when not in use, a worn or faulty flapper is likely the reason. If the flapper is not working properly, it can cause your toilet to constantly run, make noise, and ultimately, increase your water bill. Replace the flapper.

Why is my toilet making a constant running noise?

Running noises when no one flushes could mean a variety of things: The valve in the tank allows water to escape into the bowl. The flapper chain in the tank is too tight and prevents the valve from shutting all the way. The float in the toilet tank is set to a high mark, causing the toilet to run constantly.

Why is my toilet cistern making a high pitched noise?

These ballcock valves come with an armature and ball that begin to vibrate when the toilet tank refills after flushing. This vibration of valves causes the whistling sound that you hear. The valves vibrate due to a damaged fill valve gasket, or it could also be due to simple wear and tear that has worn down the valve.

How do I stop my toilet from running randomly?

You Need to Lower the Float Among the most common causes for a running toilet is overflow water leaking down into the bowl from the tank via the overflow tube. This happens when there's too much water in the tank. You can adjust the water level by adjusting the height of the float.

How do you fix a humming toilet?

If the fill valve in your toilet is old and made of metal, the pressure can make it vibrate with an audible humming sound. The solution is to replace the fill valve.

How do you fix a whistling toilet tank?

0:082:16Quickly Fix a Whistling Toilet - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipNote the position of the valve arm lift the arm in float. And grasp the fill valve stem with yourMoreNote the position of the valve arm lift the arm in float. And grasp the fill valve stem with your right hand with your left hand twist the valve cap one quarter turn counterclockwise.

Why does my toilet sound like its hissing?

A hissing sound means that the refill valve is still allowing a little bit of water into the tank because it has not shut off like it is actually designed to. So, when you hear your toilet hissing, take the lid off your toilet tank immediately.

Why does my toilet sound like a motor?

The noise is produced because debris and dirt are stuck inside the fill valve, a plumbing component found inside the toilet tank. It's some sort of tube that's connected to the water supply line of the toilet and a ball filled with air, known as the float.

Why does my toilet sound like a jet engine?

When there is high pressure from your pressure tank or water heater, the toilet flush releases pressure, resulting in the banging sound. To fix this problem and get rid of that irritating sound, lower the water pressure in the pipes. A pressure reducing valve can often be found near your main water supply line.

Why does my toilet sound like a jackhammer?

The jackhammer sound coming from your toilet isn't produced by the toilet, but by the water pipes. It occurs when water slams against the pipes when the toilet valve shuts off. Since water is incompressible, the vibrations are transferred through the pipes to the wall framing or to the toilet through the fill valve.

A High-Pitched Noise When Toilet Fills Back Up With Water

When your toilet makes a high-pitched noise, such as a screech or a squeal while filling, it is often a sign that the fill valve located on your tank has malfunctioned. Typically the noise will continue until the tank completely has almost completely refilled, at which point it subsides.

Toilet Making High-Pitched Noise: Here’s a Quick Fix

A toilet making a high-pitched noise may sound like a nightmare, but it’s easy to fix. The cause is the fill valve that needs a new gasket or a faulty ballcock and float valve. Both the fill valve and the ballcock and float valve are cheap and easy to replace.

What Does It Mean When Your Toilet Sounds Like It Randomly ... - Hunker

A toilet does not actually flush by itself, even though your toilet makes flushing noises when nobody is in the bathroom at the time. A malfunctioning problem in a toilet that's caused by a faulty part, such as a worn-out flapper valve, or a mechanical problem, such as loose toilet bolts, can cause it to sound as if it is being flushed by an unseen force.

Why does my toilet make a gurgling noise?

There are several things that could be causing your toilet to make either a gurgling noise or a loud noise, but the three most common reasons include calcium deposits that have accumulated over time on the inner portion of the pipes, faulty fill valves, or leaky toilet valves.

Why does my toilet run constantly?

If your toilet’s handle is in fact stuck or broke, it can cause your toilet to constantly run. To repair the handle, you’ll want to shut the water off and remove the lid of the toilet. Once removed, drain the water in the tank. This will give you the ability to work on it.

What happens if the toilet flapper is not working?

If the flapper is not working properly, it can cause your toilet to constantly run and even waste several gallons of water. Fixing a bad flapper is not a tough job though. With the toilet lid off, you’ll want to locate the flush handle and unclip the flapper chain from it.

What to do if toilet handle is broken?

To do this, you’ll want to equip your self with a pair of plyers and locate the nut that holds the handle firmly in place. This will always be on the inside of the tank.

How to stop a valve from leaking?

Now, try and tighten up the packing nut located on the shutoff valve. Make sure that you turn it clockwise and you do it slowly to prevent damaging the water lines.

How to tell if toilet is leaking water?

The easiest way to know whether or not this is the problem is by simply getting down and inspecting your shutoff valve. You’ll want to look for leaking or any sort of moisture.

How to prevent calcium build up in pipes?

As a side note, to prevent the build-up of calcium, you’ll want to make sure that you clean the fittings and the surrounding pipes regularly. It doesn’t take long for the calcium to build-up and start causing problems.

What does it mean when a toilet makes a noise?

Banging. One of the more serious noises you can hear is banging in your toilet. Many know this sound as a “water hammer.”. When you hear this, you’re hearing the water inside of your pipes hitting the valve. The valve makes the banging noise as the water hits it.

Why does my toilet make a running sound?

When you flush your toilet, you hear a running sound that indicates that the water is filling back up. This is normal to hear after flushing. The trouble starts when the running noise sticks around for too long or never shuts off. While this can be worrying, it’s almost never a serious issue.

What to do if your toilet isn't working?

If you notice that something isn’t working as it should, you should get it checked by a plumber immediately. With these tips, your toilet will be working its best.

Why does my water valve make a noise?

The valve makes the banging noise as the water hits it. The reason that the water does this is due to the high pressure inside of the pipes. While this may seem like a mild problem, it can be very detrimental to your pipes. The more that this happens, the faster your pipes will start to deteriorate.

How to prevent noises in the future?

The best way that you can prevent these noises in the future is to invest in regular maintenance. With this, you’ll be able to catch these problems before they have the chance to happen. A certified plumber can carry out regular maintenance to check for this. You can also do a few things yourself to prevent these noises.

What is the easiest way to fix a clogged toilet?

A clogged toilet is the easiest fix. A plunger can help to get rid of the clog and open up the toilet for use again.

What causes a toilet to run constantly?

One last way that it can cause issues is by the float . If it isn’t set right, it can cause the toilet to run constantly.

Why is my toilet cistern so noisy?

Noisy toilet cisterns are a common problem in most households. They can be especially annoying if the toilet is situated close to a bedroom . The main reason behind this problem is that cisterns are usually the most overworked parts in a plumbing system . However, a noisy toilet cistern can easily be repaired with basic plumbing tools ...

Why is my cistern making a noise?

One of the most common reasons behind a noisy cistern is dirt and debris getting stuck in the fill valve. A horn or whistle-like sound is caused due to water pressure running across this dirt and debris. Fixing this problem is quite easy.

Why does my toilet make a horn when flushing?

If you find your toilet cistern making a loud noise like a horn when flushing, the problem can be due to vibration of the fill valve’s washer assembly and stem. To solve this problem, turn off the water supply again. Unscrew the top of the fill valve or ballcock assembly, which is inside the cistern. Take out the washer assembly, stem, and float ball; then pry out the washer and turn it over. Firmly press it back into place, and with your hand over the open ballcock, turn on the water. This will flush out any crud that could be stuck inside. Once you have done this, reassemble the system and test flush it.

Why is my cistern overflowing?

If the water in the cistern is overflowing from the pipe in the center, the problem could be a broken float switch. It can also be caused if the float switch is not adjusted properly. There are two ways to adjust this switch. One way is by unscrewing the float a bit using the adjustment screw on top of the valve to regulate the float.

Can a toilet cistern be repaired?

However, a noisy toilet cistern can easily be repaired with basic plumbing tools and in a very short time. There can be many reasons behind a noisy toilet cistern. Listed below are some of the most common problems and the ways to fix them. Continue reading below Our Video of the Day.

What is the sound of a toilet flush?

1. GHOST FLUSHING: This can happen intermittently, cycling every few minutes or every few hours. 2. FILL VALVE HISS: A noise that is constant and sounds like forced air moving through the toilet. 3. WATER RESONANCE: (constant thumping) A noise you hear when the toilet is flushed and the toilet is running water during its flush cycle. 1.

What does it mean when a toilet leaks from under the tank?

Leaks coming from under the tank onto the toilet bowl: These leaks indicate failed bolt seals. The tank to bowl gasket and toilet bolts with washers should be replaced.

What valve to use to stop noise?

a). If you are based in the U.S., we recommend using a regulated fill val ve to stop noise like our 400AH PerforMAX® Fill Valve or the 400H PerforMAX® Toilet Fill Valve

How to stop a leak in a leaking overflow pipe?

Check refill tube first: If refill tube is inserted or shoved into the overflow pipe, remove it and reattach clipping the tube to the overflow pipe. This will keep the tube from entering the overflow pipe and stop the leak.

How to turn a float cup?

With your right hand hold onto the gray shaft keeping the float cup all the way up. Do not allow the float cup to drop or valve shaft to turn. Place your left hand on the top of the valve cap and while placing your left hand thumb on the side of the arm coming out of the top.

Where is the water draining from in a tank?

Water draining from bottom of tank around fill valve and water supply connection: Leaks coming from the bottom of the fill valve that have been in use for a long period of time (not new installations) should be removed along with the supply line and replaced.

What is the bottom hand on a float cup?

The bottom hand is lifting up on the float cup which raises the black arm under the top cap. The top hand is gripping the cap while the thumb is pressing on the raised lever arm.

Why does my toilet make a loud noise?

If your toilet is making a high pitched sound or is making the wall around it vibrate every few minutes, it could be an issue with your toilet valve leaking. It could also mean your fill valve is not functioning properly as well.

Why does my toilet make a sloshing sound?

Sloshing and resonant water sound coming from your toilet can indicate that you’ve got a blockage. This can be a simple fix that a plunger can help ease, but that may not always be the case. Over time, calcium can build up on the interior of your plumbing system, and it can create severe blockages within your pipes. You’ll need a professional with a video snake to properly determine if this is the cause.

What does ghost flushing sound like?

Ghost flushing – This can sound like the toilet is flushing on its own, and is trying to refill itself. This tends to happen intermittently from a few minutes to a few hours.

How Do I Determine What’s Causing the Noise?

There are multiple causes for strange noises coming from your toilet, none of which include what you had for dinner last night.

Why does my toilet make a noise?

When a toilet keeps making noise it hisses, which is often attributed to a failing flapper. Alternatively, water draining into the overflow tube may cause the problem. The fill valve, also known as the toilet ballcock, prevents the toilet tank from filling to the proper level. Water starts to fill the overflow valve if the fill valve or toilet ballcock are not adjusted properly. This problem can be easily solved by setting the fill valve or toilet ballcock to a level below the overflow valve.

Why does my toilet make a ghost sound?

Ghost flushing happens when your toilet tank is slowly leaking water, possibly thanks to a defective flapper. The water activates when the float drops below a specific level , and therefore the toilet flushes magically on its own. Put some food coloring in the toilet tank to determine if the flapper is the true culprit. After half-hour, check to determine if the coloring has made its way into the toilet bowl . Fortunately, replacing the toilet flapper is another fast and simple task that you can complete on your own when the toilet keeps making noise.

How to test a toilet flapper?

Connect the flush valve to the current flapper. Clip the lift chain to the lower end of the toilet handle lever, then slide the openings on either side of the rubber seal over the pegs on the valve. Lower the flapper to make sure it’s centered over the flush valve and provide complete coverage. Swing the shutoff valve counterclockwise all the way to turn the water back on. Flushing a couple of times and seeing the flapper go up and down is a good way to test the new flapper and the chain length.

How to stop a toilet from making a noise?

so replace them all. Replace the screws or pins on the ballcock and replace the plunger in the tube. Fill the tank with water by turning on the water. There you go, you can stop the toilet which keeps making noise.

What is the ballcock in a toilet?

The ballcock assembly monitors water flow from the reservoir to the bowl, while the flush valve assembly controls water loading in the tank. When you flush the toilet, the chain or wire tied to the flapper is raised by the lever or arm. So, why does your toilet make loud noises when filling?

How to stop a squealing sound when you flush a toilet?

Remove the lid from the tank, flush the toilet, and watch the fill valve as the tank refills see whether the toilet squeals after flushing or even makes a squealing noise from the tank. You’ll actually find that the device is vibrating where the water comes out if you have a fill valve with a metal float arm attached to a ball float, and that’s where the sound comes from. If this is the case, removing the washer should help to calm things down. You’ll need to disassemble the fill valve to do so.

How to stop a toilet from gurgling?

Using a plunger to force the obstruction out of the drain if only one of your toilet is making gurgling noises. Place a plunger in the toilet bowl while it is full of water to accomplish this. Over the drain hole, push the plunger up and down. To force water to flow through the drain, do this quickly.

Why does my toilet make a noise after flushing?

Depending on the type of noise, a toilet that makes noise after flushing or filling can indicate a leak in the system, a buildup of calcium or other debris in your pipes, or the need to replace the toilet altogether.

Why does my toilet make a loud noise?

If you notice your toilet making a loud noise, either when flushed or randomly, it’s a clear indicator that something is wrong with your toilet. The problem is most likely a loose washer in the ballcock assembly, which is common among older toilets with a metal ballcock-style fill valve. Tighten or replace the washer and fill valve assembly. If this doesn’t solve the noise problem, call Donley Service Center for help.

What happens when a toilet tank fills to its appropriate level?

You see, when the toilet tank fills to its appropriate level, the fill valve or toilet ballcock stops it from running. If the fill valve or toilet ballcock are not adjusted to the appropriate level, water then begins filling into the overflow valve.

How to tell if toilet flapper is a ghost?

To determine whether or not the flapper really is the culprit, put some food dye in the toilet tank. Wait for about 30 minutes and then look to see if any of the food coloring has traveled into the bowl. If so, you have caught your ghost, so to speak. Luckily, replacing the toilet flapper is another quick and easy job that you can tackle yourself or count on a plumber to complete for an incredibly reasonable price.

What is wrong with my toilet?

From a simple running toilet (most often cured by a simple valve replacement) to a toilet overflow or more complex problems like water leaks, there are many things that can go wrong with your toilet. When the toilet keeps making noise is the first indication that something is wrong. If your toilet keeps making noise when it’s being flushed or ...

What is the phone number to call a plumber for a toilet?

If you need immediate help, please give us a call at 602-483-6868. From a simple running toilet (most often cured by a simple valve replacement) ...

Why does my toilet gurgle?

A gurgling toilet could be the result of a blocked sewer drain, blockage in a vent stack or a blockage in the toilet itself. If you find that your toilet is making a gurgling noise, ...

Why Does Your Toilet Make High-Pitched Noise?

High-pitched noises can happen when you’re flushing or when the toilet is not in use. Let’s check out the main culprit for each instance.

How Does a Toilet Fill Valve Work?

The toilet fill valve is a simple mechanism that, like any valve, opens and closes. When you flush the toilet, the lever opens the valve, letting the water flow into the tank.

How to Replace a Whistling Toilet Fill Valve in 5 Easy Steps

Replacing a faulty fill valve is so easy that even beginners can tackle the project successfully. Simply follow the steps below.

FAQs

As you’ve read, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to replace a toilet fill valve. However, you may still have questions. Check out the answers below.

Final Thoughts

High-pitched, whistle-like sounds coming from the toilet aren’t a real cause for concern. You can solve the issue in under two hours and without spending too much. We hope this guide can help you replace the valve yourself or at least understand what’s happening if you decide to hire a plumber.

Why does my toilet make a noise?

When the water in the tank falls beyond that level, the refill mechanism is triggered and the fill valve refills the tank to compensate the lost water. This goes on and on. This is the reason your toilet could be making noise after a few minutes.

Why does my toilet make a hissing sound?

Toilet making a hissing sound. Noises in toilets are as a result of a faulty fill valve, flapper , flush valve, water supply line or shut off valve . A gurgling toilet noise however is a sign that your toilet drain/vent is clogged and therefore backing up in your toilet bowl.

What happens if the toilet flapper is too tight?

If the toilet flapper is too tight, it will slightly unseat the toilet flapper from the flush valve. As a result water will escape to the toilet bowl and ultimately trigger a ghost flush.

Why does my toilet flush on its own?

When the flush valve is cracked or simply worn out, water will slowly start to leak from the tank to the bowl. As a result the toilet will constantly flush on its own as the fill valve compensates for the lost water. A faulty flush valve will need to be replaced.

What does ghost flushing mean?

Ghost flushing has nothing to do with ghosts but everything to do with a leaking or running toilet. When you have a slow running or leaking toilet, the water level in the toilet tank will gradually reduce until the critical point when the toilet float will trigger the fill valve to start filling the tank.

How to hold a toilet float?

Hold the bottom of the fill valve shank with one hand, lift the toilet float all the way up and hold it together with the cap with your other hand.

Why does my water tank make a hissing noise?

A loose washer in the case of a ballcock or debris trapped inside the valve will restrict the flow of water to the tank resulting in a hissing/whistling sound due to the pressure of the water.

image

1.Why Your Toilet Makes That Noise and How to Fix It

Url:https://toilethaven.com/2020/05/06/why-your-toilet-makes-that-noise-and-how-to-fix-it/

35 hours ago  · Toilet making a hissing sound. If your toilet is making noise when not in use, it is a sign that the toilet flapper is allow water to leak to the bowl. When the level of water in the …

2.4 Common Toilet Noises and What They Mean is Wrong

Url:https://suburbanplumbingoc.com/4-common-toilet-noises-and-what-they-mean/

9 hours ago  · You’ll need to take off the toilet lid to do this. A worn or faulty flapper could be the reason why your toilet is making noise when not in use. If the flapper is not working properly, it …

3.How to Repair Noisy Toilet Cisterns | DoItYourself.com

Url:https://www.doityourself.com/stry/how-to-repair-noisy-toilet-cisterns

13 hours ago  · If you find your toilet cistern making a loud noise like a horn when flushing, the problem can be due to vibration of the fill valve’s washer assembly and stem. To solve …

4.How to Determine What a Toilet Noise Is - Fluidmaster

Url:https://www.fluidmaster.com/toilet-problems/determining-toilets-noise-fix/

10 hours ago  · If your toilet is making a high pitched sound, a whistling sound, a hissing sound, or is making the wall around it vibrate every few minutes, it could be an issue with your toilet …

5.Why Does My Toilet Make Noises When Not In Use?

Url:https://plumbingsolved.com/why-does-my-toilet-make-noises-when-not-in-use/

13 hours ago The movement of water is hampered by blockages or damage inside the ballcock assembly, resulting in a noisy fill. When your toilet makes loud noise when filling, it could indicate that …

6.Toilet Keeps Making Noise Fix it fast - Pete's Tools

Url:https://www.petes-tools.com/toilet-keeps-making-noise-fix-it-fast/

14 hours ago A toilet making an air noise or a whistling or hissing sound is a sign that the fill valve is not closing and sealing properly, and air or water is leaking from the fill valve. If the fill valve isn’t …

7.Diagnosing Toilet Noises - Donley A/C & Plumbing

Url:https://www.donleyservice.com/diagnosing-toilet-noises-like-hissing-whistles-or-ghost-flushes/

4 hours ago  · A toilet making an air noise or a whistling or hissing sound is a sign that the fill valve is not closing and sealing properly, and air or water is leaking from the fill valve. If …

8.Toilet Making High-Pitched Noise: Here’s a Quick Fix

Url:https://homecarehow.com/toilet-making-high-pitched-noise/

13 hours ago A toilet making a high-pitched noise may sound like a nightmare, but it’s easy to fix. The cause is the fill valve that needs a new gasket or a faulty ballcock and float valve. Both the fill valve …

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9