If you are reading this, it is quite likely that you have noticed strange and unusual noises coming from your toilet when it is not in use. Perhaps you hear a whistling noise. Maybe it is a whooshing sound. You may hear a gurgling sound. It could be that the toilet constantly runs or seems to be flushing on its own.

There are several different issues that may be occurring. While this may seem like a severe complication, it does not have to be.

Here are a few things that could be resulting in your toilet making random noises when it is not in use. By determining the underlying problem, you will find that it is simple to resolve the issue.

Phantom Flushing

If you have noticed that your toilet seems to be flushing on its own, this is referred to as a “phantom flush”. It may also be referred to as a “ghost flush”. In most instances, this indicates that the tank has developed a leak. It could also indicate that the tubing used for refills is not positioned appropriately over the overflow pipe. There are several steps that you may have to take to resolve this issue. The following outlines these steps:

1. First, check to ensure that the refill tube is over the overflow pipe, but do not stick the tube directly inside of the pipe.
2. Next, inspect the flapper. If it appears worn or damaged, replace the component immediately.
3. Look at the chain inside of the tank. Is it broken, rusty, or experiencing some other type of visible complication? If you answered “yes” to any of these, replace the chain immediately.
4. Inspect the flush valve drain. Does there appear to be an issue? If yes, go through the process of replacing and/or repairing the unit.
5. If you perform the above steps and the phantom flushing issue is still occurring, you will need to contact a professional plumber to handle the issue. It is advised that you do this quickly as the constant flushing and water usage may detrimentally impact your finances and other components of your plumbing system.

Static-Type Sound

If your toilet is making a static-type sound or a “ccchhh” sound, it could be the flapper on the inside of the tank. Inspect this part to see if it is worn. If so, it should be replaced. This is not only a cheap component, but it is very easy to replace. Follow the steps outlined below to inspect and change the flapper in your toilet tank:

1. When you take off the lid to the toilet tank, look towards the bottom. The flapper is the round rubber piece that is situated above the hole of the tank. It is connected to a chain that is connected to the flush bar on the toilet.
2. Slowly push down on the flush bar. Watch the chain and the flapper. Flush and let go. Do the components work well together to accomplish the task? Does the flapper fall back on top of the hole and seat correctly? If it does not go into the hole correctly, you may have to use wire cutters and adjust the chain. This could resolve the issue immediately.
3. If you find that the flapper does situate itself properly back into the hole, take a screwdriver and adjust the screw on the floater to make it sit lower.
4. If you do find that you have to replace the flapper, turn the water off to the toilet. Then, flush the toilet to get all of the water out of the tank.
5. Go to a local home improvement store and purchase a new flapper. Before installing according to the instructions on the packaging, you should clean the inside of the toilet tank – paying special attention to the hole where the new flapper will be placed.

Banging and/or Gurgling Sounds

If your toilet is making banging or gurgling sounds, this is often referred to as a “water hammer”. In most instances, this means that the water in the supply lines has a high level of pressure. In other cases, it indicates that the water flow within the tank of the toilet is experiencing some type of restriction.

When there is a high amount of pressure, it is released during flushes – which can result in the loud sound that you are hearing. You must simply adjust the pressure on your reduction valve.

If you are not comfortable performing this task, contact a professional plumber.

If this technique does not work properly, it could be that the float valve that is situated within the tank needs to be adjusted. There is a screw on this that will allow you to adjust it higher or lower. You may have to play with it a little to see which works best for your situation.

If the banging or gurgling sound continues, you may need to integrate an air chamber into the toilet. It is best to have air chambers installed by professional plumbers. If a chamber is already in place, it may need to be inspected to ensure that it is working properly.

Loud Refills

When you flush your toilet, does it sound as if there is a lot of water pouring into your toilet tank? If so, this means that there may be a bit of an uneven flow of water coming from the pipe to the toilet. This is one of the easiest of all problems to solve.

You must only adjust the valve that directs water into your toilet. Just turn it so that it receives less water at a time.

Let Us Help

If you have unusual noises coming from your toilet, we here at Reynolds Plumbing can assist you! We are highly knowledgeable in this area and will be able to quickly identify the issue and resolve it. If you would like to set up an appointment, give us a call today at: 765-966-0994