If your toilet is making a noise, it’s time to check it out. We expect our toilets to be quiet most of the time, so noises and sounds can signify an issue that should be addressed.
Here, we’ve outlined 5 unexpected toilet noises to keep an eye (and ear) out for — keep reading to find out what they are.
1. Gurgling
A toilet making noise after flush can be a worrying sign — if you hear a gurgling noise it’s likely down to something blocking the water, stopping it from moving through the drain.
If it’s just your toilet that you’re having problems with, you can try using a plunger to get rid of whatever’s blocking the water. Keep pushing it up and down over the drain hole, or look for a plumber near you — find out more about local plumbers here.
2. Hissing
While a little hissing as your tank refills is nothing to be worried about, a toilet making a hissing noise frequently could indicate a couple of problems.
The flap might be malfunctioning, in which case it’s simple to replace, or the float might be faulty. In this case, you’ll need to adjust the fill height, moving the float down the rod.
3. Ghost Flush
If your toilet makes noisees randomly, could it be a ghost flush? This sound lets you know that your toilet is losing water, either internally or externally.
For internal water loss, check the refill tube and clean the bottom of the tank — if these don’t work, replace the flush valve drain.
For external water loss, if the water’s coming from or around the bottom of the tank around the water supply connection and fill valve, you’ll probably need to replace the valve and supply line.
Alternatively, leaks coming from under the tank and onto the toilet bowl indicate fault bolt seals, which should be replaced.
4. Banging
A banging noise after the water stops running, or a water hammer happens because the water flowing through the pipes stops, hitting the valve. Over time, this can damage the pipes a lot, so it’s important to get it sorted.
While calling a plumber is an option, you might decide to fix the problem yourself first. Turn off the water at the mains, before opening up the faucets upstairs. Then do the same downstairs, before flushing all toilets and turning on all faucets.
When the water stops flowing, turn off the faucets before turning the water main back on. Finally, open up the faucets again until the water gets flowing, and then flush the toilets.
5. Running
This happens when water leaks out of the toilet’s tank into the bowl, gradually filling the bowl back up with water.
There are a few reasons as to why this could be happening. The flapper chain might be too tight, the float in the tank could be set to a high mark, or the valve could be allowing water to leak into the bowl.
It’s worth having a look inside the tank to check that everything’s in order. If you can’t see an issue, something might need to be replaced — consider speaking to a plumber.
Dealing With Toilet Noises
When it comes to toilet noises, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Check out the problem yourself first, if you like, but don’t forget to call a plumber if in doubt!
For more home advice, don’t forget to check out the rest of our posts.