Does your Toto toilet make a hissing or gurgling when not in use? Then that’s not a sign of a correctly functioning toilet. So, you’ve to ask, ‘why is my Toto toilet making noise?
Your Toto toilet is making noise probably because the fill valve, which regulates water flow into the toilet tank, is faulty or worn out. It could also be because of calcium deposits in the pipes, a worn-out flapper, or a defective toilet handle.
So, for you to fix a noisy Toto toilet, you must look at all these four possibilities, and I’ll show you how to go about it.
Let’s face it; a gurgling or hissing toilet can be annoying, especially at night when you want to catch a good sleep. That, however, is not the only issue.
A noisy Toto toilet often indicates a plumbing problem, leading to a more serious and costly issue. It could also indicate an underlying leakage and why you pay more for the water than before.
So the first response to a noisy toilet is to fix it. Luckily, fixing a noisy toilet is easy, and you can do it yourself. But again, if you do not have the knowledge and feel uncomfortable doing it, you can call your local professional plumber to fix it.
Why Is My Toto Toilet Making Noise? The Explanation!
4 Reasons Why Your Toto Toilet Squeals When Flushed
While different toilets make noises for various reasons, here are the commonest, especially after flushing and when the toilet is not in use:
Below are four possible reasons why your Toto toilet is making noise:
Reason No. 1 – Defective Fill Valve
With the fill valve responsible for regulating water flow into the toilet tank, a defective one indicates an improper toilet.
Usually, if the fill valve is defective or just worn out, it won’t open or shut smoothly, and that forces the water that flows through it to make some disturbing sound.
You can figure out if the issue is with your fill valve by checking if your toilet tank fills up to the mark or not. If it doesn’t, your fill valve is defective.
Fix
If the fill valve is defective or old, you need to replace it. And since it’s a Toto toilet, your replacement should be a Toto fill valve. Once you have the replacement fill valve, you can follow the procedure below to install it:
- Turn off your water supply and flush the toilet to get rid of the water in the tank
- Using a piece of cloth or a sponge, drain all the excess moisture in the tank
- Using a pair of pliers, disconnect the fill valve from the water supply valve
- After disconnecting the two-valve, locate the lock nut that holds the fill valve in place on the toilet underside
- Unscrew the locknut to remove the defective fill valve
- Replace the old valve with a new one, and ensure you screw the nuts properly.
- Lastly, turn on the water supply and wait to see if the tank fills to the mark.
If so, congratulations! The installation was a success!
Reason No. 2 – Calcification (Calcium Buildup in The Pipes)
If the fill valve is not the issue, the problem could be calcium deposits within your toilet pipes. Typically, hard water, which is the water that runs in your toilet pipes, contains high levels of calcium and other minerals.
As the water runs down the pipes, there is always the chance of calcium staying behind.
The problem with calcium deposition or calcification is that it makes flushing harder and often leaves stains.
Additionally, it reduces water flow through the pipes, and that’s where the weird noise comes in. Your toilet produces a hissing sound because water doesn’t flow smoothly through the pipes.
Fix
To check calcium deposits in the pipes, you need to switch off your toilet water supply, flush and completely drain your toilet.
Then, unscrew the pipe connection and look for whitish stains. Overall, you can use any methods below to get rid of the calcium clog:
· High-Power Water
High-power water can break down calcium deposits. However, you should be careful about the amount of pressure you use because high pressure can crack or break the pipes.
· High-Power Steam
Just like high-power water, high-power steam can also break or loosen the calcium deposits in your toilet pipes. This approach effectively softens the deposits, but you should not put too much pressure to avoid breaking up your pipes.
One source of High-power steam that you can buy to unclog your pipes is the BISSELL Steam Shot Steam Cleaner. This high-steam cleaner comes with an easy-to-press trigger to help you flush out calcium in minutes.
· Toilet Cleaners
You can use chemical cleaners like phosphoric acid and barium nitrate to break down calcium clogs within your toilet pipes.
But if you are allergic to strong chemicals, you can use natural cleaners like white vinegar or glycerin. You, however, have to be patient as they act slowly.
Reason No. 3 – Faulty/Worn-Out Flapper
Now, if your fill valve is correct and the problem is not calcification, it’s time to check your flapper. It could be old or just defective.
Remember, the flapper’s job is to hold water in the holding tank until you flush. So, if it’s faulty, then you’ll be dealing with running water, which is likely to make some noise.
Fix
The fix to a defective Toto flapper is replacing it. And since you are dealing with a Toto toilet, you should get a Toto flapper.
One recommendation is the Essential 3-inch Toto Toilet Flapper. This flapper is usually compatible with most Toto toilet models and has high-quality rubber to last longer.
Now, here are the steps for changing the flapper:
- Turn off your toilet water supply and flush the toilet to get rid of the water in the tank
- Remove the toilet rid and Drain the excess water using a piece of cloth
- Locate the old flapper and loosen it
- Remove the old flapper and replace it with the new one
- Put the toilet lid and turn off your toilet water supply
- Wait for the water to fill the tank
After that, you can listen to check for the hissing sound. If the sound is no longer there, good job! You fixed it!
Reason No. 4 – Faulty Toilet Handle
If you have checked and everything else seems to be working just fine, and you still wonder what could be the cause for the noise in your toilet, then it’s time to inspect your toilet handle.
If the handle is broken or stuck, it can cause your toilet to run constantly, and in doing so, the water makes a squeaking noise.
Fix
If you are dealing with a stuck handle, you should lubricate it. But if that doesn’t work, you should spray with WD-40 spray. The spray will loosen the handle seamlessly.
Note that if it’s a broken handle, the fix is to get a new Toto replacement. Overall, you should follow these steps to replace your toilet handle:
- Turn off the toilet water supply and drain the toilet tank
- Using a pair of pliers, locate the handle nut and unscrew it
- Unclip the flapper from the handle and pull the broken handle out of the tank
- Take the new hold and screw it in place
- Lastly, turn on your water supply and test if there is any noise coming from the tank
Important Note:
If you’ve tried out all the above fixes and your toilet still makes noise, it’s time to call a professional. But if the problem persists even after a professional intervention, then it’s time you replace your Toto toilet.
Mostly, Toto toilets last 4-5 years. So, if your Toto toilet is older than five years, then consider investing in a new system.
You can get an option like the TOTO CST744SL#01 Drake 2-Piece Toto Toilet (View on Amazon). It comes complete with a large water tank to ensure that one flush gives you a clean toilet.
People Also Ask
1. Why Does My Toilet Whine When Flushed?
The likely reason your Toto toilet whines when flushed is that of a defective fill valve, which fails to regulate the water flow.
But still, it could be due to a faulty handle that’s causing the water to run constantly and making noise or a worn-out flapper which allows water to leak into the toilet bowl.
2. How Do You Fix a Noisy Toto Toilet?
Before attempting to fix your toilet, you need to diagnose the cause of the problem. If a faulty fill valve, replace it. If it’s calcium deposition, you can clean the toilet pipes. But if it’s due to an old or worn-out Toto toilet, it’s time you replace it.
3. Why Is My Toto Toilet Making Noise?
If your toilet makes noise even when not in use, it could be due to a faulty or worn-out flapper, a defective fill valve, a broken handle, or the pipe blockage by calcium deposits.
4. Is It Normal for Toilet to Make Noise?
No! It’s not normal for a toilet to make noise when not used. The only time a toilet should make some noise is when flushing. If it makes noise when not used, it could indicate a flapper or fill valve problem. In some cases, it could be calcium clogging.
5. After How Long Should I Replace My Toto Toilet?
Toto toilets should last you at least 4-5 years as they are likely to suffer typical wear and tear after such a period. However, you should replace the toilet parts once faulty or broken.
Why Is My Toto Toilet Making Noise? Closing Thought
Now, you are aware of the problems that make your Toto toilet noisy.
Generally, if the problem is a faulty fill valve, a defective flapper, or a broken toilet handle, you should replace them. But if calcium accumulates in your pipes, you need to clean the pipes thoroughly.
While these issues are DIY, don’t hesitate to call a plumber when the problem appears too technical!
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