When you flush your toilet are you are noticing a buzzing sound? It sounds very similar to a foghorn. This can be alarming and it is a clear indicator that something is wrong with your toilet.

The problem is coming from a loose washer in the ballcock assembly. This issue is common among older toilets with a metal ballcock-style fill valve.

Items to Prepare Before DIY Repair

  • Pliers
  • New Fill Valve Washer
  • Pliers
  • New Fill Valve (Optional: if solution 1 fails, but replacing might be beneficial as a longer term solution)

Diagnosing The Problem

  1. Start by opening the toilet tank and flushing the toilet
  2. When you start hearing the flushing noise, proceed to lift the float ball all the way to the top of the tank
  3. If the noise stops, then you can conclude that the washer is the issue here

Solution 1: Replacing the Washer

  1. Look for three screws at the top of the fill valve, if you see the screws then your toilet is not sealed. Turn off the water and flush the tank to empty the water.
  2. Unscrew the three screws from the top of the fill valve. Take the ball, armature and the top of the flush valve out of the tank.
  3. Remove the washer out from the bottom of the valve, once this is done you can replace it with a new washer.
  4. Put the toilet back together and give your toilet a flush, check to see if the sound is still there.

Solution 2: Replacing the Ballcock Fill-Valve

ballcock valve

So, you replaced the washer but that buzzing sound from your toilet is still there. The next course of action to take then would be to replace the fill valve with a new fill valve.

  1. Turn off the water, flush the toilet, then move all the water from the tank into the toilet bowl.
  2. Disconnect the water supply hose from the valve connector under the tank and loosen the valve locknut with adjustable pliers. Unscrew the nut and lift the old valve out of the tank.
  3. Install the new fill valve after adjusting the fill level.
  4. Screw the locknut backup tight, screw the water hose to the connector with the new valve.
  5. Turn on the water and let the tank refill
  6. You might need to adjust the float to bring the water level within an inch of the overflow tube.

If that does not solve your humming and moaning toilet, then it may be an issue with your pipes. If replacing the washer and your ballcock valve does not fix your toilet then we suggest calling the help of a professional plumber.

The plumbers of Benjamin Franklin Plumbing Cedar Rapids offer residential plumbing services in Cedar Rapids and the surrounding areas.

Call Us Today at (319) 332-5859 !