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gaile513
Sep 15, 2012, 06:08 PM
Flush toilet upstairs and within 20-30 seconds of doing so, there is an extremely loud vibrating noise that can be heard all throughout the house. My townhouse is only 5 years old, and I am a single Mom, and I am not sure if this is something that requires immediate attention and that of a plumber. It doesn't happen with every flush, but definitely happened enough times today to cause me concern. Any insight from any of you plumbers would be greatly appeciated. Thanks in advance for your help.

ma0641
Sep 15, 2012, 06:13 PM
Probably the ballcock valve in the toilet or possibly the PRV for the house. Flush another toilet. Same sound or not? If no, does your toilet have an arm and float ball?

gaile513
Sep 15, 2012, 06:24 PM
Probably the ballcock valve in the toilet or possibly the PRV for the house. Flush another toilet. Same sound or not? If no, does your toilet have an arm and float ball?

No, does not happen when any other toilet is flushed. Just the upstairs one in the hallway. I just pulled the lid off the tank, and flushed to see what happens. The water fills almost all the way back up, and just as the float ball lifts, you can feel the toliet/floor start to vibrate and then you hear the loud vibrating noise. So, do you think that a loose pipe or is it the ballcock? (have no idea what that is)

Last but not least, thank you so much for taking the time to respond back to me. Gail

afaroo
Sep 16, 2012, 04:21 AM
Hello Gail,

You tell us that you have the Ball cock type of fill valve if that is correct, it sounds like you have problem with the washer in the fill valve or the angle valve, before you get to the washer let's try to adjust the float arm a little at direction of the arrows see the image below, if that would not help do the following.

Shut the water off under the tank and pop the lid. Unscrew the three screws and lift the float ball and stem assembly up and out. Pry out the washer and turn it over. Reseat it back firmly. Now hold your hand over the top of the open ballcock and have someone turn the water on to flush out the supply and ballcock body. Reassemble, making sure the small tube #5 is connected to the overflow tube see the image, give it a flush. How's it sound now? If you still have a noise then we'll take a hard look at the angle valve, good luck.

John

speedball1
Sep 16, 2012, 06:28 AM
John and Brain nailed it. It's your ballcock. Follow johns instructions and get back to us with the results. Good luck, Tom

gaile513
Sep 16, 2012, 06:32 AM
Wish me luck - getting ready to do this in a little bit! I will keep you posted on the outcome!:) Thanks again to all three of you for responding back to me!

OK, slight adjustment to the float arm, and just like that, the noise is gone! I can't thank you enough for taking the time to get back to me. I truly appreciate your help! Special thanks to John for the diagrams, and detailed instructions if the adjustment didn't work! :) Have a wonderful day gentlemen! Gail

speedball1
Sep 16, 2012, 07:01 AM
And we thank you for the update. It's always nice to hear how things went, good luck, Tom

afaroo
Sep 16, 2012, 07:36 AM
Like Tom says Thanks for the update and am glad that if we can help.

Best Regards,
John