How to reduce the noise of toilet flushing? This is most likely a question that everyone has asked themselves at some point. I mean, it’s baffling that architects don’t consider this issue more frequently.
Toilets make a lot of noise. When they’re in use, some Toilet flush noise, whether it comes from the flush or the sound of the cistern refilling, can be annoying, especially when flushing. This is especially important if your bathroom is next to a child’s room or somewhere else where you’d like to be discreet.
Toilets that are too noisy can cause you and your guests embarrassment. Imagine going in for a private conversation and having the entire room hear it. Respect has vanished. This is not a good thing.
For a variety of reasons, when a toilet is flushed, it can make loud, irregular noises. We occasionally hear a sound similar to boiling water, a slap and splash noise, or a humming sound. These sounds, like those made by a car, usually indicate that there is a problem. Your toilet may be making strange noises due to a clogged valve, water hammer, or a broken float switch. As a result, you should investigate these issues as soon as possible to ensure that they do not worsen in the future.
What should you do to reduce this unpleasant sound? This is something that is an issue for a lot of other individuals as well, which is why I wrote this guide. I conducted a ton of research, and here’s what I found. One or more of the following 15 recommendations for how to reduce the noise of toilet flushing will help:
Table of Contents
Check the toilet.
The first step is to figure out how to reduce the noise of toilet flushing; determining the source of the noise is crucial. You don’t want to waste your time and energy on things that aren’t necessary. You also don’t want to call a plumber if there isn’t a serious problem, because you might end up wasting money, right?
To begin with, make sure the toilet lid is in good working order. If you have a separate tank, the lid of the toilet seat, and pretty much anything protruding from the toilet bowl’s bottom level. The sound can be amplified more than it needs to be if the lid is placed incorrectly. Check to see if the noise is coming from the tank or bowl; if it isn’t, it could be a clog in the pipe or something broken in the wall. You don’t want to waste a lot of time and effort because you forgot to check the lid.
To make sure the lid is in the right place, visually inspect it to see if it is sealing properly and move it around a little to see if it fits properly. To keep the lid from moving around, the attachment clips should be sturdy.
Typical problems associated to reduce the noise of toilet flushing
1. Keep it clean.
The noise is frequently caused by the operating system in the tank and bowl. If you have hard water, rusty water, or both, you’ll want to keep your tank as clean as possible. Undissolved solids will clog everything, including the valve, pipes, flapper, chain, and holes under the bowl rim. Because the pressure forces water through holes that are too small, constricted water lines and openings almost always make more noise.
Every month, add 1/2 cup of CLR to the tank and follow the directions. This should ensure that everything continues to run smoothly. It will also extend the life of the toilet and its components. If the rim’s holes become clogged, it’s nearly impossible to clean the bowl because the entire water channel in the rim is likely clogged with residue. Some of your rim holes are probably plugged if you notice one (or more) parts of the bowl not getting rinsed. If that’s the case, I’d double up on the CLR. Not twice as much, but two treatments per week, one after the other, until everything is back to normal.
2. Adjust the Fill Valve.
One of the most common causes of a noisy toilet is the valve being dirty or remaining stuck on. If the toilet makes a screaming, foghorn-like noise, you’ll know it’s the problem. But don’t worry; this is a simple fix. Simply open the toilet’s back door, which is usually located near the tank. Turn off the toilet’s water supply, remove the tank lid, locate the fill valve, and clean out any dirt and debris carefully. It’s also a good idea to let water flow out of the valve. This will also clean the fill valve line of any debris. If you turn on the water again, the noise should go away. If the sound of water flushing persists, the water flow may need to be adjusted.
To put it another way, tinker with the water valve because some of them make noise when the opening isn’t properly set. If this doesn’t work, replacing the ballcock and filling the flush valve may be necessary.
This valve is usually found outside the tank, behind the toilet, and is often at the bottom.
3. Install a Quiet Fill Flush Valve.
A quiet fill flush valve will solve your problems if your toilet makes a lot of trickling noise when the cistern fills up.
Quiet fill valves work by returning water to the cistern below the waterline via an outlet pipe.
Make sure you get a “quiet fill flush valve” when replacing the fill valve. To muffle the sound of incoming water, the incoming water outlet is below the level of water in the tank. They get rid of the trickling water sound of a valve that won’t shut off and the high-pressure spray noise of a valve that has too much pressure but not enough opening.
Note: Begin your cleaning routine as soon as the new valve is installed, and stick to it. The valve will last longer, the noise should go away, and life will be better as a result.
4. Tighten Pipes and Seal
Mechanical fasteners are used to secure toilet tanks, lids, seats, and the bowl itself. It’s not a bad idea to check for tightness with a screwdriver and/or wrench once a year. Rumbling or leaking can happen to almost anything that is loose. (Note: Don’t make it too tight.) A tank that is broken is useless.
- Using a screwdriver, manually inspect the cistern for any loose fittings and clamps.
- When your toilet flushes, loose fittings can make an unpleasant noise.
- Tighten these as much as possible, but be careful not to close the water inlet valve, or your toilet will not refill.
- Don’t just look at the fixtures; actively try to move them with the screwdriver to ensure they’re properly tightened.
- Tank lids don’t always fit perfectly, allowing noise to escape every time the tank fills. Use a good weather strip to seal the lid. Then, remove the lid, clean and dry the area where you will apply the foam insulation tape (1/2 inch wide by 3/8 inch thick by 6 feet long), peel off the backing, and stick the tape to the lid. Moisture in the tank will not affect this product, since it is waterproof. Using thin tape, 1/8 inch thick, might help prevent the lid from fitting improperly.
5. Water flow adjustments.
The rate at which the water refills is another factor that contributes to a noisy flush. This can be very noisy if you’re getting a lot of water back into the cistern at once. In other words, loud noises from the water valve could be caused by high water pressure. You can test whether the cause of the loud flushing is the wrong type of cistern or high water pressure by attempting various methods to stop the noises from occurring. Adjust the water valve to the desired water pressure to relieve the pressure. Keep in mind that doing so will help to reduce noise. It will take longer to fill the cistern.
This valve is usually found outside the tank, behind the toilet, and is often at the bottom.
6. Reduce The Amount Of Water In The Flush Tank
It’s possible that the water tank is to blame if the situation hasn’t improved. Large tanks that store a lot of water can also cause noisy flushes. This problem also has a simple solution.
If your toilet has plenty of water to flush solids away, try adjusting the tank float or changing the position of the valves in the toilet tank, or inserting a brick (it may be heavy) or a water-filled or sand-filled bottle into the cistern. This will cause water to be displaced, resulting in the cistern filling up with a smaller volume of water.
Some of the sounds could be related to a large amount of water in the tank and could come from the end of the water-flowing process. As a result, preventing the tank from filling up completely may reduce the noise of toilet flushing.
Less water flowing into the toilet bowl means less noise from toilet flushing while also conserving water. If such a strategy is not used, the associated noises may be tolerated provided they do not emanate from cracks or any other visible defects.
7. Block the sound.
While you could soundproof your entire bathroom, soundproofing the toilet cistern is a simpler solution. If you’re sensitive to noise, one option that will help you is to block it out.
This next tip involves repurposing something that would normally be used for doors or windows. That is, using adhesive foam tape to seal in a frame or crack. The goal is to drown out the noise. Sound insulators, such as foam tape, can be used to seal the tank’s wall gaps. The tapes would prevent the flush tank’s sound from escaping.
The simplest method is to use adhesive foam tape. Once you’ve gotten some, proceed as follows:
- Remove the lid from the cistern.
- Clean the cistern’s top and inside edges.
- Tape the top edges of your toilet tank with adhesive foam tape.
- Return the tank lid to its original position. It should create a much tighter, airtight fit, preventing airborne sound from escaping and allowing your cistern to better muffle toilet noise.
You could also use a toilet cistern cover to help with soundproofing. These are similar to boxes that go over your toilet. You could use acoustic foam to pad the insides of these to help dampen sound even more.
8. The Water Hammer:
Do you have banging or hammering pipes inside your walls? Another common issue is a humming noise when flushing the toilet. It could be a situation called a “water hammer.” And that is when a sudden change in the direction of a moving fluid or trapped air that has been compressed within the pipeline can cause this. When a downstream valve in your water line is suddenly closed, it causes a water hammer. Is that mean the air chambers and your plumbing system fail? I have an easy fix that could do the trick and solve your water hammer issue.
First, shut off the water. Once the water to the home is shut off, you have to drain all the water that’s in your plumbing system. So turn all the faucets on, flush the toilets. You want to make sure you drain the dishwasher and your washing machine. Once the water is drained, turn the faucets back into the off position and then turn the main water valve to the home back on. This process will return air back into the system and should solve your water hammer problem. The banging pipes that the water hammer causes can be annoying and can also cause a lot of damage to your home.
Change Washer
A water hammer can seriously damage the washer, and in this case, replacing the washer is a rather simple repair. Remember to switch off the water before beginning any project. Inside the ball valve is a black rubber washer. Replace the washer. Replacing the ball valve is the next step. That should solve the issue.
Every 16′′–18′′, fasten the water pipe to the framing using J-Hooks for Pex or Copper Tube Strapping. Acoustic caulk the gap where it enters your bathroom through the wall or floor. If the pipe touches a heat vent, duct straps it.
Adjusting the water flow through the re-fill valve and/or the waterline shut-off valve, as mentioned above, should also help to reduce the water hammer. So, I hope all of these solutions will work for you.
9. The float switch is not working properly.
If the cistern is overflowing, the problem could be a broken float switch or a float switch that isn’t adjusted properly. Remove the drain plug to inspect the assembly for a broken float switch. It’s possible that all you have to do to regulate the float is unscrew and reassemble it. If the float switch is broken, you may need to replace it completely. Be sure to place a plugin the drain hole after you remove the float assembly. Furthermore, the float switch assembly may be stuck, preventing the water from overflowing. To solve the problem, twist the switch and push it down to allow the water to drain.
10. Gurgling Drains
If you can still hear gurgling after flushing the toilet, the venting system may be malfunctioning. To clear any obstructions in your ventilation system, plunge your toilet. The drain line should be able to take in air freely. The noise is caused by air that is unable to flow up and out of your other drains, forcing it to exit through your ventilation system. As a result, to stop the gurgling, you should also clear the venting system. Check where the vents lead and unclog them with a plunger.
11. Purchase some shoe gel.
When the sound of the toilet seat being lowered reverberates throughout the house, it’s a little embarrassing. To eliminate the gurgling sound, place a toilet seat shim underneath your seat.
By applying a small amount of rubber gel to the underside of the toilet seat and lid, the seat will return to the surface of the toilet bowl, eliminating the sound. This prevents the seat from making a sound when lowered or raised.
One of those cheap rubber gels that women put inside their heels for comfort is all you need for this DIY hack, which I discovered while researching for this post. This hack is a very simple and inexpensive way to get rid of the embarrassing toilet seat noise.
12. Fill In The Cracks Around The Pipes.
Another option is to fill the cavities around the plumbing inside the walls. This works in a similar way to wrapping pipes in soundproof material, in that it adds mass to dampen vibrations. Filling voids in the wall, like pipe insulation, can only do so much to dampen sound, but it can be a good way to ensure that there are as few air gaps between surfaces as possible.
Filling the cracks with an insulating material like Quiet Batt is an option. Like fiberglass insulation. However, that isn’t the only option available; there are a variety of others.
13. Add an extra drywall layer.
If your walls are thin, nothing you do will make a difference in soundproofing. All sounds must be insulated by a strong layer of insulation on the wall. In fact, when soundproofing a room, that should ideally be the first thing you do.
It’s just that not everyone can afford to remodel their walls. As a result, there are additional soundproofing options that you can employ with your current walls.
However, if you can add insulation to the walls, that’s great; it’ll really help you relax when soundproofing your bathroom. I propose getting the 58″ drywall and layering it on top of your current wall. For the greatest results, you should use staggered studs. This is how pros do things, so make sure you’re following in their footsteps!
14. Floor Underlayment
Unless you have a substantial mass between the ceiling and the floor below you, it’s difficult to keep the impact noises of your footsteps from escaping below. If possible, install a stronger floor underlayment between the floor joists and the drywall, but you should always do so just to be safe.
So, if you have to switch on the TV every time someone goes to the upstairs bathroom to drown out the noise, it might be time to invest in some floor underlayment. Regardless of price, if a floor feels substantial and helps to reduce the impact of sounds upstairs, it may be worth the investment.
MLV (Mass Loaded Vinyl) is a good choice for muffling impact sounds. MLV is a form of flooring that is widely used under tile, hardwood, and other types of flooring. However, because there is no taped joint at the seams, it can be attractive to utilize MLV under a floating laminate floor.
15. Hire a plumber.
Although replacing the toilet tank or the entire unit is not difficult, some scenarios may be beyond your knowledge or if you–or your wife–do not feel comfortable doing it. As a result, you should contact a professional plumber to help you with the problem. Because there are so many plumbers to select from, you should narrow your search to find the one that best suits your needs and interests. Depending on your scenario, a plumber can provide you with the best advice. He can easily complete jobs that would be too difficult for you to complete. Furthermore, the problem may be with the pipes rather than the toilet. As a result, a plumber will be better qualified to assist you.
This will very certainly be more expensive, but the benefit is that there will be no disagreement about who is to blame if something goes wrong. You did not provide any information. As a result, you may rest assured that whatever goes wrong will be corrected, regardless of who is to blame.
Final Words
Toilets can make a lot of noise, which can be both irritating and aggravating. The aforementioned suggestions can assist you in resolving the difficulties that are causing these noises and keeping them silent. You should adhere to them in order to get the most out of your plumbing and remain comfortable in your home. However, it’s important to remember that, while the methods above are helpful, professional help is essential if you’re still having trouble keeping a quiet toilet. In addition to providing you with a general overview of the issue, this information will also help you figure out how to reduce the noise of toilet flushing.
