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View Full Version : After flushing toilet and tank refills, there is a loud noise in wall


DruTheFu
Mar 11, 2011, 10:20 AM
I live in a home that was built 7 years ago. When I flush the toilet in my master bath, the tank refills as expected, then after the refill has completed, I can hear a loud humming/vibration/fog-horn sound coming from in the wall directly behind the toilet. When the noise occurs, I place my hand on the wall and can actually feel the noise, if that makes any sense. It doesn't occur after every flush, but about half the time, and only from this one toilet, not any other.


I have made it into the attic and located the cold water supply pipe that feeds the toilet, and noticed that the exposed pipe I can physically see does not shake when this noise occurs. I don't know what happens though within the wall, as the pipe goes down into a small hole in a 2x4 and into the wall.
When the noise occurs, I've turned on the sink faucet in the bathroom, and the noise stops when the water is on, but briefly returns when I shut the water off.
I've looked in the toilet's water tank during the refill period and observed that water looks to be squirting/leaking out around the cap area. I don't know if this is of any importance. I read that it may be a screw that's too tight that may need to be loosened a bit.https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/attachments/a/11134d1218833962-loud-noise-vibration-after-flushing-fluidmaster-2520ballcock.gif?stc=1


I've been told that it could be that the water pipe in the wall needs to be strapped down better, or it could be air in the line, or a pressure issue. Like I said, it only occurs to this one toilet/water fixture and nowhere else in the house, and I'd hate to open up the wall only to learn that it didn't solve the problem, then have to worry about patching up the drywall and then re-texturing.

Is there any advice to give as to what a possible fix may be?

hkstroud
Mar 11, 2011, 10:35 AM
Most likely a loose washer in the toilet stop valve. Simplest thing is to turn off water and replace stop valve. Everything should be compression fit. New stop valve should cost about $6.

DruTheFu
Mar 15, 2011, 10:44 AM
After removing drywall to inspect whether it was loose strapping of the pipe within the wall, I could not see any loose pipe, and could not observe any rattling or movement of the pipe. Then upon the suggestion of hkstroud, I have replaced the valve leading from the wall pipe to the tank. So far, so good... I haven't heard the loud noise since.

Thanks for the help. If the noise returns, I'll post back.