The Language Of Toilets

Using the restroom is supposed to be a discretionary function. It’s private, and not meant to be overheard - so what does it mean when your formerly silent toilet starts making a racket every time you flush it? A noisy toilet signifies an underlying issues. Here are a few things to look at and help you weed out the root of the cause before you have to call in an expert!

• Water hammer is an issue that affects your toilet, but it also affects all other piping in your home. If you notice a loud banging or humming when you flush or abruptly turn off your kitchen faucet, you could be dealing with a water hammer! This is caused by water in your pipes being forced to change directions mid flow, or when gas or air gets trapped inside your piping. It can be very damaging to your home, and might require a few washers and things to be replaced. Give us a call if you suspect you are dealing with water hammer, and we’ll come up with a game plan to mitigate any damage! 
• Broken or stiff seals could be a culprit of the chatty flush. If the seals inside your toilet have debris stuck around them, or have become stiff from longtime use, the toilet will grow louder with each flush. Seals need to be protected so that they remain relaxed and minimize sound, sometimes things shift and the seals dry out or break. This will require an expert to repair for you, give us a call if you have any questions about the types of seals in your toilet!
• Gurgling or misaligned draining could be another reason your toilet has started to yell at you. Sometimes the pipe leading to the backflow tank can become misaligned, or was implemented incorrectly when the toilet was installed. Please let us know as soon as possible if you believe this is the case. On the other hand, a gurgling noise in the toilet would suggest you may need to plunge it, as air is struggling to pass back into the toilet bowl out of your pipes. It is often hard to identify what noises from a toilet may suggest with an untrained ear. 
• Toilets are supposed to be near silent, the initial rush of water from tank to bowl should be the biggest noise they make. If you’re hearing anything beyond that, it’s a good idea to call your favorite plumber, and get to the bottom of the issue. Water damage to any home is not an easy fix, and can run up a hefty bill, so don’t wait around for the issue to improve. Typically plumbing issues don’t fix themselves, and require a plumber onsite as soon as possible.

We are here to help with any and all of your plumbing needs! Let us know today if we can help!

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