Why is my toilet making loud noises?

When your toilet is making loud or strange noises, this can be a cause for concern. An odd sound can quickly lead to worrying but fortunately, most toilet noises can be easily resolved. Regardless, it’s still important to understand what each noise can mean. In some cases, it’s best to contact a professional plumber to address the issue whereas in other situations, a DIY approach is all you need for a quick fix. Within this guide, our experts at Summit Drain will highlight some common toilet flush sounds to help you diagnose any plumbing issues you may be having, as well as offer a solution to repair it.

Toilet Whistling or Squealing

If you notice your toilet is making a squealing or whistling noise after you flush as the toilet’s tank is refilling, do not panic. Most likely, the ballcock valve, or otherwise known as the float valve, is the culprit. Luckily, this is an extremely cheap and simple fix.

You’ll want to adjust the existing ballcock mechanism or, many people choose to replace the whole piece because the parts are so inexpensive. If you are not comfortable or do not have the time to make this replacement yourself, a qualified plumber can make the repair and get rid of this high-pitched toilet noise swiftly.

Toilet Making Hissing Noise

Though often scary, a hissing noise coming from your toilet is typically nothing serious. This sound is usually caused by a deteriorating flapper. Over time, it can break down and stop functioning properly. Your toilet’s ballcock can also be the source of the problem.

If the toilet ballcock or fill valve are not adjusted to the appropriate level, water then begins filling into the overflow valve. If your valve or flapper are problematic, then you may need a replacement. A professional can easily help rectify a hissing toilet issue.

Consistent Running 

It is normal to hear a running sound after flushing. This indicates that the water is filling back up. The trouble starts when the toilet tank is not filling with water after flushing, and the running noise sticks around for too long or never shuts off. While this can be worrying, it’s almost never serious.

Consistent running noises can mean one of the following: the flapper chain is strained or tight, the float valve isn’t set correctly, or the valve inside the tank is not working. You will have a much better chance of promptly getting rid of the running sound if you can narrow down the causes. You can also contact a trained plumber for assistance.

Toilet Gurgling

A gurgling noise is not so easily traced, making it one of the most perplexing toilet noises to address. A gurgling toilet could be the result of a blockage in a vent stack, a blocked sewer drain, or a blockage in the toilet itself.

A clogged toilet can simply be fixed by using a plunger to help get rid of the clog. The other issues are a little more complicated to solve. If your toilet is making a gurgling noise, avoid using that toilet if possible and call a professional ASAP to make sure this annoying noise does not turn into a full-fledged plumbing nightmare.

toilet plumbing rough in

Toilet Flushing on its Own

Ghost flushing usually happens because water in your toilet tank is slowly seeping out, probably through a worn or faulty flapper. The toilet seems to magically flush on its own once the float valve gets below a certain level causing the water to switch on.

You can put some food colouring in the toilet tank to determine whether the flapper is the problem. If after about 30 minutes the food coloring has traveled into the bowl, then you’ve found your culprit. Simply buy a new toilet flapper and replace the old one to easy fix your ghost toilet flush sound.

Water Hammer

A banging sound, often referred to as a “water hammer”, is one of the more serious noises you can hear coming from your toilet. The banging noise is a result of the water inside your pipes hitting the valve because of high pressure.

This can be very detrimental to your pipes because the more that this happens, the faster your pipes will start to deteriorate. You will need to completely drain the pipes to put an end to this noise. Then after, you will also need to refill the pipes. This is a sensitive issue that should be dealt with urgently, so we advise calling in a plumber to help.

Moaning, Rattling, Vibration Sound

Hearing these strange noises coming from your toilet may indicate a new fill valve is needed. In this case, you’ll want to purchase a new fill valve and follow the instructions to replace it.

Air or unequalized pressure in your pipes can also cause moaning, rattling, or vibration sounds. If this is the cause of your problem, close the cold main water valve and open all the cold-water faucets in the house. This flushes the cold-water line and can get rid of the vibrating sound.

Humming

If your toilet makes a humming sound, you’re likely dealing with a faulty fill valve. The fill valve controls the amount of water sitting in the tank, and a faulty fill valve can cause strange humming noises because your toilet may be taking longer to fill. Replacing the fill valve will fix this issue and prevent any more toilet humming noises from occurring.

Two other reasons why your toilet may be making a humming noise is you might have minerals and debris in the supply line or, you might need to replace your shutoff valve.

Toilet Making Loud Noise When Flushed

If you’re hearing a loud noise when flushing upstairs toilet, this may be a sign that the fill valve is not closing and sealing properly, and water or air is leaking from the fill valve.

You will need to replace the fill valve if this mechanism is not closing properly. If this doesn’t solve your problem, call a professional plumber to aid in the situation.

Let’s Fix Your Noisy Toilet Today 

If your toilet is making loud, abrupt, strange noises, don’t ignore them any longer! The experienced plumbers at Summit Drain are here to help with all your plumbing needs. Contact us today by filling out our contact form or book your appointment now by calling 613-355-7566.

Related Article: 7 Signs You Need Emergency Plumbing Services

FAQ

A main sewer line blockage can cause water to backup in random places. For instance, you run your washing machine and notice your sink overflowing – this can be a clear sign that you have a clogged drain line.

If you have ruled out a potential sewer drain clog, you can rinse your sewer drain by flushing it with water. When you flush your lines, try adding a bit of drain cleaner to the water. A great place to flush your sewer line is the toilet – a larger amount of water and drain cleaner can enter your system quickly and easily. Unfortunately, if you do this when you have a clog, it can cause backup and potential flooding – if this is the case, clear the clog first.

You should generally know if your sewer line is blocked with slow drainage. The purpose of the sewer line is to take all the water drainage away from your house via sinks, bathtubs or toilets – if you find that there is slower drainage in one drain then you can essentially clear that yourself using a drain snake or a plunger.

There is confusion regarding when you are responsible for sewer line repair. While some may believe that the homeowner is only responsible for repairing the part of the line that’s on their property, this is not the case. Sewer lines consist of multiple sections, the upper lateral, lower lateral and the main line. The city is only responsible for repairing the main sewer line.

If issues with the main sewer line cause damage to your lower lateral, which is most likely where the damage would generally first start – the city would repair this damage when they work on the main sewer line. Unfortunately, if there is backup and flooding on your property from the main sewer line, then the city would not be responsible. It is best to follow up with the city to see if they will repair any damage in these cases.

Unpleasant smells coming from your drains is indicative of sewer line issues and damage. You should always take these types of smells seriously as it could be toxic fumes slowly releasing from the sewer below into your home.

There are a number of ways to clear a slow drain using products found around the home:

Bent Wire – If you do not have a drain snake, you can try using a stiff wire – like one from a clothes hanger, leaving the hook to enter pipes and pull out any clogs. Try to make sure you don’t push debris further into the pipe.

Homemade Flush – Mixing baking soda and vinegar can dissolve any materials that are potentially clogging your drain pipes. This is a good and much safer alternative to store-bought chemical cleaners.

Toilet Plunger – Like plunging a toilet, you can try using this on your drains. Using a plunger on your drains can help get things moving by using suction. This should be enough to fix any mild blockages.

Aged drain pipes are at risk for corrosion which can lead to breaks. Summit Drain has both the technology and expertise to fix this if necessary.

Yes. Drain pipes are durable, but not meant to last forever. If you live in an older home in Ottawa, most likely the pipes are made from copper and can collapse in this day and age.

When it comes to a collapsed drain, call Summit Drain. We use trenchless technology to replace sewer pipes made from original materials without ruining your property.

Rock salt
Rock salt helps by removing moisture from the roots, which in turn kills them. Two lbs should do the trick, pour 1 down the toilet. Flush until gone. And repeat with the next. Then leave for 12 hours and don’t run any water.


Foaming root killers
Another effective way to treat roots in pipes is with foaming root killers. Pour powder into toilet and flush. It will foam upon contact with water. Not only does it help dissolve current roots, but also helps to protect against future ones.


Copper sulfate
Copper sulfate is another good option. Available at most hardware stores, pour roughly half a cup into toilet and flush until gone. Leave the home and take all pets and family members along. This is a toxic substance and banned in some places.


Should I replace old pipes?
There does come a time where it makes sense to replace your pipes. Over time they crack and corrode. It is recommended to begin routine inspections once your home reaches 50 years in age. For plumbing Services in and around the Ottawa area, nobody does it like Summit Drain.

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