You may whistle while you work, but your toilet shouldn’t. If you hear a whistling or whining noise coming from a toilet in your home after it’s flushed, rest assured that it’s actually a fairly common problem. Here’s how you can get this crucial bathroom fixture back to normal as quickly and easily as possible.
The Likely Culprit Behind a Whistling Toilet
In most cases, the whistling noise is the result of a malfunctioning fill valve. Located in the back of your toilet in the large reservoir known as the tank, the fill valve regulates the flow of water into the tank. The valve works in conjunction with the float that rises and falls with the level of water in the tank. Here’s how it works:
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The float falls to the bottom of the tank when it’s empty, opening the valve for water to flow in.
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As the tank fills up, the float rises to the top of the water.
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Once the tank is full, the float closes the valve to stop the flow of water.
Over time, the fill valve can become worn out or aligned improperly as parts wear, causing the valve to vibrate after you flush. These vibrations cause the strange noises you hear.
Reasons to Replace Your Fill Valve
You may decide you’re willing to live with the whistling sound, but that’s not a good idea. If you don’t address the problem, the fill valve will continue to degrade over time and fail to properly regulate water flow. The result? Gallons of wasted water, leading to higher utility bills. In addition, the noise can worsen, progressing from humming to whistling to a piercing scream.
If you hear these sounds coming from your toilet it may be a clear sign that it’s time to replace the fill value. Not only will your toilet sound better, but it will work more efficiently. Newer fill valves are subject to plumbing codes due to their anti-siphon features. Your best bet is to hire a professional plumber who can not only repair the toilet but also replace the faulty current valve with a model that’s designed to save more water.
Quiet Your Whistling Toilet
While a whistling sound in your toilet may cause you to worry that you’ll need major repairs, replacing the fill valve is a routine task for an experienced professional. Your plumber should be able to restore your toilet to its quiet self quickly and without much inconvenience to you and your family.
However, if you hear other noises besides whistling, such as thumping or “phantom flushing,” you may need to replace additional parts. The professionals at The Pink Plumber are happy to help you with all your plumbing needs.
