Has your toilet been making an incessant whistling sound lately? Besides keeping you up at night, a whistling toilet is the sign of an underlying plumbing problem that can waste water, increase your water bill, and cause water damage. Thankfully, this toilet noise is typically cheap and easy to address. Keep reading to see why your toilet is whistling and how to fix it.
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Reasons Why Your Toilet Makes a Whistling Noise
Toilet whistles can be high-pitched, loud, or soft, depending on the underlying cause. Below are a few of the most common causes of toilet whistling.
Valves
- Metal ballcock valves: The armature and ball vibrate as the tank refills with water after the toilet flushes. This vibration is caused by either a damaged fill valve gasket or natural component deterioration and creates a high-pitch whistling sound.
- Fill valve: The fill valve is a small floating device in the back left corner of the tank that controls the water level—rising when water fills the tank and falling when water empties from it. The valve closes when the tank has reached its capacity to prevent more water from entering. Natural corrosion causes the fill valve’s parts to malfunction, which creates a whistling sound.
Gasket
The rubber gasket secures the tank to the toilet base to prevent the toilet from leaking water every time you flush it. When this gasket becomes faulty or undergoes damage, it can create a whistling sound.
Pipes
Over time, calcium and other minerals accumulate inside the pipes connected to your toilet. Water is then forced through a smaller opening in the pipes, which causes them to whistle.
Why Does the Toilet Whistle When Flushed?
Toilet whistling can occur either during or after the flush. The main reasons why a toilet whistles when it’s flushed include the following:
- Vibrating ballcock valve
- Worn-down toilet fill valve
- Faulty or damaged gasket
Why Does a Toilet Make High-Pitched Noises When Not in Use?
A toilet can produce a whistling sound when you’re not even using it. This occurs when components malfunction or break down, valves leak, or calcium builds up in the pipes.
How Do Plumbers Diagnose and Fix Whistling Toilet Issues?
Our licensed plumbers use one of two solutions to diagnose and correct toilet whistling sounds.
- Check the water supply valve to ensure water is flowing into and out of the tank. The water supply valve is attached to the wall directly behind the toilet. The valve should be turned fully to the left for optimal water flow. If the water supply valve is open, but the whistling continues, we will remove the tank’s lid for further inspection.
- Check the fill valve to ensure no debris or mineral buildup is blocking the flow of water. Debris and mineral buildup is common in older toilets that also contain a metal ballcock valve. Our team will start by removing any mineral buildup with a moist cleaning rag. If the whistling persists after cleaning the fill valve, we’ll install a new device. Keep in mind that plastic fill valves are cheaper and less prone to whistling than metal fill valves.
Voted Jacksonville’s #1 Plumbing Contractor
Whether you’re concerned a whistling toilet might be dangerous, or you’re simply tired of the high-pitched sound, Fenwick Home Services is here to put your mind at ease. Our team offers safe and efficient plumbing services and repairs to homeowners in Jacksonville, Florida, and surrounding areas. Just schedule the service you need, and a licensed plumber will restore optimal toilet function in no time.