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    p02105's Avatar
    p02105 Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    May 3, 2008, 07:03 PM
    Vibrating water pipes
    When the toilets in my duples are flushed, the pipes filling the water closed vibrate for about 2-3 minutes. Is there a simple answer and fix?
    massplumber2008's Avatar
    massplumber2008 Posts: 12,832, Reputation: 1212
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    #2

    May 4, 2008, 06:25 AM
    Hey p02105:

    How old are these toilets.. Is this a new issue.. or vibration always been an issue.. When water shuts off to tank... does vibration stop? Do any other pipes in house (sinks) vibrate? Please answer those questions.

    Could be a pretty easy fix... could repair fill valves,. could be that you need to change the fill valves to tanks (easier than you might think)... or could be that the shutoffs to toilets have gone bad... BUT could also be something else...:(

    Biggest issue I have, and why I am unsure how to answer best is because this is happening at more than 1 tank... that is not so common.

    Answer my questions.. and then tell me if the inside of these toilet tanks look like top picture or bottom picture.

    Thanks... Mark
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    p02105 Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
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    #3

    May 6, 2008, 06:53 PM
    Mark:

    The toilets are about 16 years old. They were some of the first 1.6 gal units available. This is a new issue. When the water closet fills and the shut off activates, the vibration stops. No other water pipes in th duplex vibrate. The inside of the water closet is very clean and looks similar to your schematic, however the float valve is more traditional with the arm and float. Thanks Randy
    massplumber2008's Avatar
    massplumber2008 Posts: 12,832, Reputation: 1212
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    #4

    May 7, 2008, 04:22 AM
    So Randy... inside your tank looks like the bottom picture in my last post..

    Seems you may want to replace the washers to these units. Start with one of them and see if that helps.

    Using bottom picture as a rough guide... up at around #11 on the cap of unit... there should be come screws. Need to shut water, remove screws (cap and float arm should pop off), then reach in and remove the washer in front of you. Maybe can clean this, pulse the water for a second (put rag over top of valve) clean washer and replace. See if that helps... if not... may be able to find replacement washer.

    If no screws up at cap (older models)... principle is the same.. want to get to the washer and replace it.

    NOW...if this was me... I would pick up new fill valves... like the fluidmaster 400 I posted at last post... also want to pick up new 3/8" compression x 12" long x toilet connection (7/8" compression) RISERS..so can replace the solid water tube going to toilets as well.

    You won't believe how simple this replacement is....Once I am setup I can do it in 2 minutes or less!! DON'T you try to do that...;) I have been replacing these for years.

    Now, you would shut water off to toilet, unscrew/disconnect water tube, flush toilet fully...then remove any excess water from the tank using a sponge. Then want to loosen/remove the nut outside tank to finally remove the old fill valve (simple so far huh..?). Then want to install black gasket onto the new fill valve and install new fill valve per instructions in box.

    Basically, just go hand tight plus a little more. Then install the new flexible water tube, turn water on and set the height of the water so it is about 1/2" to 1" below the top of the overflow tube.

    Then test away.

    If successfully reduced this vibration then time to change the other one... if this did not fix it... let me know.

    Good luck.. let me know what you think... Mark
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    p02105 Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
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    #5

    May 8, 2008, 06:22 PM
    Mark:thanks for the info.I'll give it try. Randy
    massplumber2008's Avatar
    massplumber2008 Posts: 12,832, Reputation: 1212
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    #6

    May 8, 2008, 06:52 PM
    Keep us posted... ;)

    Thanks... Mark

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