When you hear your toilet whistling, calling a plumber should come to mind. It is undoubtedly a cause for alarm.
Whether the whistling is soft or an ear-piercing shriek that comes as you flash your toilet, it needs fixing as soon as possible.
Why Does My Toilet Whistle? Your toilet whistles because the fill valve has a defective gasket. The gasket can harden over time. It will then vibrate with the fill valve assembly which will cause a high-pitched whistling sound. You will need to change the gasket to eliminate the whistle.
According to a licensed Memphis plumber, a toilet whistles due to assorted reasons. The gasket or the parts of your toilet’s fill valve could be worn out or broken.
They vibrate, and the vibration transfers to the balls and armature. That causes the high-pitched sound known as the whistling toilet. The sound stops when the aperture closes completely.
If you hear the whistling sound, your toilet is screaming for attention. You need to give it what it wants.
How Do You Stop a Toilet from Whistling
The immediate solution to stop a toilet from whistling is swapping the old valve with a new one. Call a certified plumber to do the work if you can’t do it yourself.
If you want to repair the toilet tank yourself, you need to get a few items. Find an appropriate replacement valve. Get an adjustable wrench to add to your toolbox.
According to Paige Cerulli, the Insider, shut off any water supply to the toilet before anything else. That is to prevent water from flooding all over.
Cautiously disconnect the original supply line. Remove the fill valve connected to it. Replace that valve with a new one ensuring it is an inch above the overflow tube. I recommend the Fluidmaster 400crp14 fill valve. Click here to view it on Amazon.
Place the valve shank on the fill and fill valve in the tank opening. Push the shank down and use the wrench to tighten the nut.
Reconnect the disconnected supply line, then attach the refill tube. Attach the angle adapter to the overflow. Put the water back on.
Check if the water fills in entirely in the tank. Flush the toilet to check whether it functions properly.
If the toilet still produces the sound or you notice any leaks, call a professional to do the work.
Table Data showing what toilet owners are saying is the cause of the whistling sound:
| Reason toilet might be whistling | Percentage of total responses |
|---|---|
| Pipe in the wall is causing a whistling sound around the toilet – I do feel that this is likely because the sound would be more of thudding noise. | 29 |
| Fill valve is defective causing a whistling noise within the toilet. Is it true that it might have to be replaced, but best to find out which portion is whistling? | 14 |
| You are the need of a new angle value and ballcock to stop the whistling sound in the toilet tank. Not likely, the vibration could be starting in the fill value and moving along over to the ballcock and its assembly. Replacing it will not stop the problem | 14 |
| The shut off valve where the hose to the toilet connects to the wall is causing a whistling sound. This can happen but it does not give off a high-pitched whistle, more of a hissing sound around the toilet. | 14 |
| The gasket in the fill value is old and hard. It will vibrate causing metal parts of the mechanism to vibrate which causes a high-pitched whistle. Most likely scenario in my opinion | 29 |
| data from forums on home repairs |
Is A Whistling Toilet Dangerous?
Are you wondering if a whistling toilet could be dangerous? The answer is yes!
Among the households that require plumbing, this is a widespread problem experienced. There is a lot of ignorance surrounding these things.
When there is a high-pressure cavity, many of these kinds of noises can arrive. A high-pressure cavity is undoubtedly one of the major causes of strange noises.
Suppose the toilet starts making whistling sounds you have to be very keen. That is because some of the fundamental causes could be more hazardous than others.
Reasons Why The Whistling Noise Could Be Dangerous
1. Septic Tank Buildup
Some appliances require you to be very cautious. That is when they start showing signs of high pressure. Pressure is a common issue in plumbing.
When liquids and other items try to pass through the aqueducts and pipes, the sewage and other things may create a whistling sound when moved.
Whistling is a bad sign since it indicates a severe change in pressure. The pressure level could be too high and cause the pipes to burst.
Ensure that the septic tank is thoroughly inspected. That is to ensure that there are no critical levels of buildup.
2. Waste Overflow
If you don’t know, once you flush waste of all kinds, some of those products evaporate. For instance, methane gas is formed from the evaporation of most waste products when they decompose.
Methane gas is dangerous at elevated levels since it can create flammable pressure. In lesser amounts, it is usually harmless.
It is good to understand the different sounds you hear from your toilet. That will help to reduce the chances of future damage.
3. Broken Fill Up Valve
A broken fill-up valve produces a whistling sound in the toilet. The valve wears out over time, and it must be replaced.
To replace a broken fill-up valve, you require a new toilet fill valve. It would be best if you also had two channel-type pliers, a sponge and bucket, and scissors when need be.
You first need to remove the damaged valve and install a new one. Install the new valve by connecting a rubber fill tubing to the valve. Simultaneously, make some adjustments.
The scissors might be needed to cut the rubber fill tubing when adjusting.
Why Does My Toilet Whistle at Night
When you randomly flush the toilet at night, you might hear your toilet whistling. The whistling is associated with a faulty valve.
If you want to have a toilet that self-deodorizes and that has a warm air dryer integrated, I recommend the Toto C200 model that is available now at Amazon.
These sounds are more precise during the night. Therefore, a faulty valve can cause the entire device to vibrate. That leads to all sorts of strange noises.
Here is a video for you to watch that shows how to fix a whistling toilet:
What Happens If the Problem Is Ignored?
If you ignore the whistling of the toilet, the first problem will be the annoying noise during the night. That noise will haunt you all through until the problem is solved.
The second issue would be an increase in water usage. That means there will be higher utility bills if a faulty valve runs continuously. That leads to the wastage of gallons of water.
It is easier to fix a problem as soon as you notice it than waiting for things to get out of hand. Replacing a whistling valve is not hard.
It is the kind of a job you can look up online on how to do it or use basic knowledge and do it. However, if you are not sure of what you should do, call a trustworthy plumber for assistance.
What Does a Toilet Fill Valve Look Like
A toilet fill valve is the most crucial part of the toilet. It is not just the regular toilet but the standard gravity flush ones. It controls water in the toilet tank regarding how it fills and empties.
It opens the water flow as the flush cycle empties the tank. Later it cuts off the water supply once the tank is full to the desired level.
Issues concerning the fill valve are the second common from leaking in toilets. There are several types of fill valves. To repair yours, you must identify the matching type first.
Some use older technologies while others use modern technologies. The ones that use older technologies are better replaced with the new ones.
Also, it is advisable to replace the valve using the original made by the manufacturer. That way, you will avoid recurrent issues which will cost you a fortune to repair.
Here Is a List of The 5 Most Common Fill Valves You Will Find In Homes
1. Diaphragm Type Fill Valve (brass body)
The older models of the diaphragm-type ballcocks have a cast brass construction. An example is the Mansfield 07 and the Wolverine Model 58577. Both are anti-siphon.
Brass models have been replaced with modern plastic models from brass, just like the entire fill valve body.
2. Plunger/ Piston Type Fill Valve
That is one of the earliest styles of fill valve designs. Its body contains heavy-duty cast brass that does a quiet operation.
3. Diaphragm Type Fill Valve (Plastic body)
This type of fill valve resembles the brass plunger-type ballcocks. The difference is that the ballcocks are anti-siphon. They come either in plastic or brass body construction.
4. Float-less Type Fill Valve
It is made of plastic. It is also a newer innovation in ant siphon fill valves. The fill valves use the diaphragm pressure-sensing mechanism. That is, instead of any floating device in controlling the inlet valve.
5. Float Cup Type Fill Valve
According to Bob Formisano, a licensed architect and builder, the float-cup fill valve is made up of plastic. It is a more modern anti-siphon valve introduced in 1950 by Fluidmaster.
It is an 0 shaped cup made of plastic that moves down and up around the fill valve shaft.
How Much Does a Toilet Fill Valve Cost
The toilet fill valve has replaceable parts. Fixing or replacing it requires you or the plumber to open the toilet tank. Then, please take out the damaged parts and replace them with new ones.
A fill valve costs between $8 to $30, depending on the local rates and minimums.
The toilet valve repair cost is between $75 to $200 on average. Replacing a flush valve cost up to $400 in a constantly running toilet.
That includes the time consumed by the plumber and the total cost of the toilet parts. Most plumbers charge a flat fee instead of hourly rates for this kind of job.
You can save a lot by doing it yourself instead of calling a home repair expert or a plumber. They charge for the time consumed and labor.
Comparison Between DIY And Hiring A Plumber
You may be able to handle some toilet repair jobs without help. A job like repairing a toilet fill valve requires basic knowledge and equipment.
According to Jeff Mezzatesta, owner of Mr. Handyman of Franklin and Brentwood, the job is simple.
That is if you purchase the correct parts. Take a good look into the tank before making a purchase.
You only need to call a plumber when handling complex issues. Such include severe leaks, tough clogs, and the whole toilet replacement.
You can avoid poor craft and costly future problems. That is by asking the right questions and hiring a trusted plumber.
They should have enough experience, a license, and insurance.
Why Is My Plumbing Whistling?
Is your plumbing or water pipes whistling? That could result from water forcing its way through a smaller opening than the designated size.
Water moving at high pressure is another reason the water pipes could be whistling. It causes wear and tear of the plumbing components.
The higher the pressure or velocity of the water flow, the more the whistling of the water pipes.
The third reason could be water mineral buildup in the water pipes. The buildups could cause whistling noise as water moves through the pipes at high pressure.
These noises can easily be reduced. That is by decreasing the velocity or pressure of water flowing in the pipes. The average water pressure that flows into our homes is 45 to 55 pounds per square inch (psi).
Water pressure should not exceed 60 psi. The water pipes work best at 50 psi water pressure at the water mainline.
The mainline has enough pressure to sustain several water sources—those flowing simultaneously with enough force for each one of them.
There is a simple test you can conduct to see if water pressure is the cause of the whistling water pipes. The noise could be at a faucet or the toilet fill valve where the wall shut-off valve stays.
Close that valve partially to find out if the noise goes away. Do not force the shut-off valve if it does not turn from the pressure applied by your hand.
Final Thoughts
Remember to confirm if the fill-up valve is functioning correctly after replacement or repair. That can be done by turning the water supply inlet into the toilet tank.
With the help of an experienced plumber with a certificate and insurance, you will be able to solve the whistling toilet quickly and rid yourself of the problem of why is my toilet loud. However, if you can do it yourself, it can save you a fortune!