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03-31-2009, 07:09 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NY | | | Any plumbers here? Toilet making loud "banging" noises....
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I'm having a problem with the (one and only) toilet in my small, end unit townhouse. Whenever you flush it, as it is just about filled up, there is a noise that can be as soft as a small knocking, to as loud as a jackhammer type effect. I did a little research and it seems I might have a water hammer issue? Can anyone help me explain why this happened, and how I can fix it? |
03-31-2009, 07:38 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: (M)a$$hole. | | | do you notice varying water pressure in your dwelling?
If it is very high that can cause the loud hammering sound when it finishes filling...you can back off on the water valve a tad and see if it starts to alleviate it...may take a bit longer to fill, but less stress on the pipes.
Also, check all your pipe anchors along the dwelling to ensure none are loose / rattling.
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Last edited by hover : 03-31-2009 at 07:40 AM.
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03-31-2009, 07:44 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NY | | Quote:
Originally Posted by hover  do you notice varying water pressure in your dwelling?
If it is very high that can cause the loud hammering sound when it finishes filling...you can back off on the water valve a tad and see if it starts to alleviate it...may take a bit longer to fill, but less stress on the pipes.
Also, check all your pipe anchors along the dwelling to ensure none are loose / rattling. | I should mention I know very little about plumbing. I can't see any pipes in my house. I have no basement, and all the pipes run through the walls. I'll try what you recommend about backing off the water valve and see what happens.
Any more advice from everyone would be greatly appreciated. I'd like to get as many options as possible before I tackle this when I get home from work. |
03-31-2009, 07:50 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: (M)a$$hole. | | | gotcha. the clang could be many things (without the benefit of actually hearing the clang) so it's hard to tell. I wish you the best of luck.
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03-31-2009, 08:02 AM
| | Banned | | Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Lincolnshire, UK | | | Your toilet is possesed. Consult your local priest immediately. |
03-31-2009, 08:02 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Seattle | | Yeah... sounds like "water hammer" to me... Try this...
Good luck! |
03-31-2009, 08:11 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NY | | | Thanks guys, keep the suggestions coming. I think I'm going to try the priest suggestion first though. |
03-31-2009, 08:28 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Seattle | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Tony G Thanks guys, keep the suggestions coming. I think I'm going to try the priest suggestion first though. | Funny you should say that...
It seems that whenEVER I deal with plumbing issues I find myself screaming out Gawd & his son's names (along with other choice "words") at high volumes and at an alarming rate....
...and I'm an atheist!?!  |
03-31-2009, 10:09 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Campbell, KaliFornia | | | Toiletgeist , if you ask me.
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03-31-2009, 10:22 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: (M)a$$hole. | | Quote:
Originally Posted by guitar ed Toiletgeist , if you ask me. | Cross over turdlings...all are welcome...there is peace and tranquility, in the drain.... 
This tank is clean.
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03-31-2009, 10:48 AM
|  | The Lowdown Diggler | | Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Huntington Beach, CA | | | Maybe you should eat more vegetables. |
03-31-2009, 10:51 AM
|  | no really, smokemeth&hailsatan | | Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Pueblo, CO | | | Rocks? |
03-31-2009, 10:57 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NY | | | While I expected the "fun" replys, I was actually hoping for some more real advice on what to do. Nobody else here as ever experienced this? |
03-31-2009, 10:59 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NY | | Quote:
Originally Posted by RWP |
Thanks for the advice. I was hoping somebody else here had experienced a similar problem to the one I'm having. I'll give this a try as well. |
03-31-2009, 11:05 AM
| | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Tony G Thanks for the advice. I was hoping somebody else here had experienced a similar problem to the one I'm having. I'll give this a try as well. | I am not a plumber but as far as plumbing repairs go this is about as simple as they get. When the valve get old it can vibrate or just slam shut at the end of the fill cycle causing the pipes in the house to make CRAZY noises. All I used was one adjustable wrench to remove the old valve. Get a bucked and towels ready to catch the water in the fill tank. Line up the fill hose carefully when you reattach the line and don't over tighten the connections. PS if your house floods I will not take ANY responsibility.  |
03-31-2009, 11:08 AM
|  | Life is Tough. Laugh more. Moderator | | Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Warwick, Rhode Island, USA | | | The first action is to replace the toilet valve mechanism
inside the tank as suggested by RWP. Either yourself or
your friendly home handyman. Only real friends will help
work on your toilet. Thus Maki and Gard will not be there to help.
Beer is the expected friend payment. Depending an the job, I
recommend minimum 12 pack plus your beer.
If it truly is water hammer, it is caused by high pressure in
the water lines. Some lines that do this can have 50-70 P.S.I.
in them.This you cannot cure on your own if you have no plumbing
skills.
Typically a pressure reducing valve which has an internal
spring is installed near the water meter and adjusted down to
30 P.S.I. The spring acts as a force against the excess
pressure, reducing the pressure downstream.
Cranking down the supply valve will only lessen the
available flow, but it will not reduce the pressure in the line.
The other fix is to install a 'dead end' on the piping that has
air in it. When the water hammers the air leg acts as a cushion
or shock absorber, reducing the 'slam'. The leg is installed in an area
higher than most of the other piping legs.
Both of those fixes will require work by someone with basic
piping skills.
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Last edited by Thor : 03-31-2009 at 11:12 AM.
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03-31-2009, 11:14 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NY | | Quote:
Originally Posted by RWP I am not a plumber but as far as plumbing repairs go this is about as simple as they get. When the valve get old it can vibrate or just slam shut at the end of the fill cycle causing the pipes in the house to make CRAZY noises. All I used was one adjustable wrench to remove the old valve. Get a bucked and towels ready to catch the water in the fill tank. Line up the fill hose carefully when you reattach the line and don't over tighten the connections. | Great! Thanks for this.  Quote:
Originally Posted by RWP PS if your house floods I will not take ANY responsibility. | Fair enough. |
03-31-2009, 11:17 AM
| | Registered User | | Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NY | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Thor The first action is to replace the toilet valve mechanism
inside the tank as suggested by RWP. Either yourself or
your friendly home handyman. Only real friends will help
work on your toilet. Thus Maki and Gard will not be there to help.
Beer is the expected friend payment. Depending an the job, I
recommend minimum 12 pack plus your beer.
If it truly is water hammer, it is caused by high pressure in
the water lines. Some lines that do this can have 50-70 P.S.I.
in them.This you cannot cure on your own if you have no plumbing
skills.
Typically a pressure reducing valve which has an internal
spring is installed near the water meter and adjusted down to
30 P.S.I. The spring acts as a force against the excess
pressure, reducing the pressure downstream.
Cranking down the supply valve will only lessen the
available flow, but it will not reduce the pressure in the line.
The other fix is to install a 'dead end' on the piping that has
air in it. When the water hammers the air leg acts as a cushion
or shock absorber, reducing the 'slam'. The leg is installed in an area
higher than most of the other piping legs.
Both of those fixes will require work by someone with basic
piping skills. |
Thanks Thor. As mentioned, I'll try what RWP suggested first. If that doesn't do the trick, it looks like I'll be calling the plumber (or priest  ). |
03-31-2009, 11:26 AM
| | | Quote:
Originally Posted by Thor ....The other fix is to install a 'dead end' on the piping that has
air in it. When the water hammers the air leg acts as a cushion
or shock absorber, reducing the 'slam'. The leg is installed in an area
higher than most of the other piping legs.... | That is interesting Thor, I wish I had a one in my house! | | Thread Tools | Search this Thread | | | | 
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