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Toilet Whistling: What’s Wrong With It?

BY WHITE'S PLUMBING, LLC

Are you annoyed with the whistling sound that comes out of your toilet while or after flushing? If yes, then there is some serious issue with your toilet that needs to be fixed immediately! The whistling sound is irritating enough, but if the valve is not fixed, you will be using more water than actually required! In short, you will suffer from high utility bills.

So, if you want to know more about this toilet whistling issue, then this article has got you covered! In this guide, you will learn the reasons and possible solutions to fix the whistling toilet issue.

Let’s start then!

Why Does the Toilet Whistle? 

There are times when your toilet gives off a light and soft whistle sound that can barely be heard by you but sometimes the whistle is much louder that is pretty impossible to miss. This loud whistle is often a violently sound whistling. Both these sounds will begin directly when flushing or after flushing, and it usually persists throughout the entire flushing process.

In most cases, the cause of toilet whistling can be a metal ballcock valve. These ballcock valves come with an armature and ball that begin to vibrate when the toilet tank refills after flushing. This vibration of valves causes the whistling sound that you hear. The valves vibrate due to a damaged fill valve gasket, or it could also be due to simple wear and tear that has worn down the valve.

Toilet Whistling When Flushing 

Have you ever experienced your toilet producing a whistling sound? Or does your toilet talk to you every time you flush it? If yes, then your toilet is not in a good mood. The whistling sound of the toilet while flushing indicates that there’s an issue that needs to be fixed immediately. When you give your toilet a flush, it may either produce a harmless, soft whistle, or it might have a loud, violent whistle.

In case your toilet has a metal ballcock valve, the ball and armature of it begin to vibrate during the refill process of the toilet tank. The vibrating metal will then cause the high-pitched whistling sound. A simple adjustment can easily eliminate the whistling, but once it reaches screech level, it is just a matter of time before the fill valve fails entirely. You can quickly fix this issue if you have some basic plumbing knowledge; otherwise, you can hire a professional for this!

Toilet Whistling After Flush 

Whenever there’s a whistling sound coming from the toilet as it refills, that sound can definitely cause alarm. Indeed, this whistling sound means that there’s some issue with the toilet that needs to be fixed as soon as possible. Here’s a common reason why your toilet whistles after flushing.

The whistling of the toilet after flushing is associated with the toilet fill valve. The fill valve is a float that rises and falls with the level of water, thus regulating the water entering into the tank after flushing. When the fill valve gets old, the pieces and bits holding it together start deteriorating, and as a result, your toilet produces a whistling sound after flushing.

In case if the toilet has a metal ballcock valve, then the vibrations caused by wear and tear or a damaged gasket can also be to blame. So, if your toilet is making a whistling sound after flushing, then make sure to get the fill valve replaced by a professional plumber.

Toilet Whistling When Not In Use 

Is your toilet whistling behind your back or when not in use? If yes, then there are possibilities that your toilet is not in good condition. A good-quality toilet is always well behaved, and it does not make any sound once the tank fills up completely after flushing. But if it vibrates when not in use and produces a whistling sound when no one is around, then malfunctioning or leaking can be the cause. Apart from this, the other possible reasons that could make your toilet whistle when not in use involve:

  • It can be a leaking valve
  • The fill valves might have broken down
  • Buildup from calcium deposits inside the pipes

To overcome this issue, you need to properly look inside the pipes to check the issue and fix it once before your water bills rise.

Is it a Problem if Your Toilet is Whistling? 

Is your toilet whistling, and you are confused regarding whether it is really a big problem? If yes, then we’ve got an answer!

Most homeowners might be tempted to ignore the whistling toilet issue, and as a result, they simply deal with the ear-piercing and irritating noises generated by their toilets. However, it’s crucial to note that the broken valve causing this issue will worsen over time in most cases.

If your toilet is whistling when flushing, after flushing, or when not in use, then you should not ignore this problem as it could lead to an increased usage of water, raising utility bills, and even an overflowing toilet. So, make sure to avoid further damage by getting your valve replaced, and you will for sure be grateful you took a right proactive approach towards this issue.

How to Stop a Toilet from Whistling?

If you are hunting for the correct methods or ways to stop your toilet from whistling, then this section of the article has got you covered!

Check the Water Supply Valve

Sometimes the toilet starts whistling when something stops the water flow to the toilet. Therefore, you must always check the toilet’s water supply valve. This valve is located behind the toilet near the wall. Turn the valve counterclockwise to ensure it’s open. If you still hear the whistling sound, you will need to remove the toilet tank’s cover and conduct a deep investigation.

Check the Fill Valve

If the whistling sound is not coming from the water supply valve, the fill valve can be the culprit. This case is usually with the old toilets that have a metal ballcock valve. Try flushing the toilet to locate where the whistling sound is coming from. If the sound is coming from the fill valve located in the rear left corner of the toilet, then do a visual inspection to check if there is any debris hampering the water flow. You can use a damp rag to easily wipe off all deposits that have collected on the fill valve.

Replace the Fill Valve

After removing all the debris from the fill valve, flush the toilet once again and check if the toilet is still whistling. If so, then it’s time to replace the fill valve. If you’ve got an old metal ballcock valve toilet, you can replace the gasket and stop the toilet from producing a whistling sound. One thing to remember is that a plastic valve is less likely to create a whistling sound in the future as compared to metal ones. So, consider replacing the fill valve with a plastic fill valve.

Let White’s Plumbing Help

Toilets generally make an orchestra of sounds while flushing, refilling, or draining, but whistling is something out of the ordinary. So, if you ever hear a high-pitched and ear-piercing whistling sound coming from your toilet, then it’s the right time to do some investigation. If you are not able to troubleshoot the problem yourself, you should call the professionals to make sure that your toilet returns to working condition. Contact White’s Plumbing of Youngsville today to have all of your questions answered about how to fix a whistling toilet.

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