Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night because of a very loud and strange sound coming from your bathroom? Toilets make a lot of noise, and for the most part, this is something we’re all used to. But if it makes anything other than the familiar whooshing sound, and when it’s supposed to be quiet, it’s calling for your attention.

This could be a sign that there is a leak in your plumbing system and that you’ve got a problem on your hands. It’s very important to resolve these symptoms before it worsens and cost you a headache. Here’s what you need to know about some of the most common toilet noises and what they mean.

Gurgling or Bubbling

Do you hear a gurgling or bubbling noise coming from your toilet when you flush it or on its own? This sound usually indicates that there is something blocking and preventing the water from passing through the drain. This could be a sign that there is a negative air pressure built up somewhere in your drain line and when that pressure releases, it will cause a gurgling sound you hear in your toilet bowl.

You can use a plunger or a drain snake first to push the obstruction out of the drain and get rid of the airlocks. But if that doesn’t work, and you likely won’t be able to DIY your way out of it, call an experienced plumber to do it for you before it leads to sewer backup.

A Persistent Hissing Sound

It is normal to hear a hissing sound from your toilet as the toilet tank refills itself with water. But, a continuous hissing can be a sign that you’ve got a problem with the toilet. When this happens, you should check your tank’s flapper.

A worn-out flapper will no longer create a seal causing the water to go into the bowl and letting the tank refill continuously. And this could lead to a major waste of water, as your toilet continues to run/leak.

To fix the problem and get rid of this annoying sound, most likely you replace the flapper yourself or call a plumber.

It may also be caused by a float problem. You should check if your float is rising higher than the overflow tube. If it does, use the clip on the side to move it down. This should position the float on the top of the overflow tube, preventing the continuous refilling of water and stopping the hissing sound.

Banging, Reverberating Sounds

A loud, banging sound that resonates after flushing your toilet is called “water hammer”. A water hammer happens when there is a relatively high water pressure in the supply lines. The force of water hitting the pipes repeatedly can be very dangerous and end up damaging your pipes.
You can try to fix this problem by lowering the water pressure in your pipes. Look for the pressure reducing valve which can be often found near your main water supply line. If the water pressure is higher than 50 psi, adjust it using a screwdriver and lower the water pressure valve between 30-50 psi.

If adjusting the water pressure won’t work, you might need to replace your float valve inside the tank. Another solution for water hammers is by installing an “air chamber”. You can contact a licensed plumber to help you install it in your system.

WHEN IN DOUBT, CALL THE PROS!

If you’ve tried everything and you still can’t get rid of the noise, give Caccia Plumbing a call or request an appointment with us today for our expert plumbing technicians to come and take a look and handle it. We have been keeping things flowing smoothly from San Mateo to every corner of California for over 38 years. Let us handle the dirty work – you’ll be glad you did!