Toilet Repair FAQs-3

Air sucked into toilet when flushed
Toilet flush tank water level too high
Sewage appears in other fixtures when toilet is flushed

Water rises too high in the toilet flush tank, runs into overflow tube

Even after a flush has completed, I notice that the water level inside the tank continues to rise very slowly until it reaches the top of the overflow tube and starts trickling down into it.

When I shine a flashlight down the overflow tube, I can see a small amount of water running at the bottom.

I've tried adjusting the float arm but that doesn't fix it. How do I stop this? On 2016-08-22 by Mike R

Suggestion by (mod) re: checks for toilet tank over-fill

Mike:

First check that the toilet water supply valve is fully open;

That addresses the flush tank fill rate. (A bad fill valve can also slow the fill rate).

Next: you might see what the flow rate is when the fill valve seems to be fully open - let's rule out a clogged toilet shutoff valve clog.

Now Try moving the float arm up and down five or 10 times to see if you can free-up a sticking fill control valve; if that doesn't work you probably need to replace the fill-valve.

Finally but most important, check the adjustment of the float arm or float riser (depending on your toilet flush valve design).

It's important to set the float low enough that it will stop the fill valve from sending water into the tank when the water has just reached the fill line on the toilet tank or cistern.

Watch out: on older toilet float arm and float ball assemblies like the one in my photo above, sometimes the float ball develops a leak and becomes waterlogged or heavy. When that happens the ball may not rise high enough to turn off water entering the toilet through the fill valve.

The solution is to replace the float assembly or even the whole combination of float assembly (ball and arm) and the ball cock valvee or fill valve as well.

by Mike

Hi, thank you for the reply. Yes, the toilet water supply valve is fully open.

I also tried moving the float arm up and down a few times but now it won't shut off at all.

I'm going to try replacing the whole fill valve and float arm assembly next.

Reply by (mod) Replace the toilet fill valve

Yep it sounds like a bad fill valve. I'd replace that unit.

by MikeR - that worked!

Hi, just wanted to let you know that I replaced the fill valve and everything works perfectly.. hank You very much for your help!

Air discharge & noise at the toilet flush tank?

My toilet is making louder flushing noises than usual and it seems that the tank is emptying when flushed and possibly pulling in air.

It's all toilets in the house so thinking the line may have to much pressure? Any thoughts? On 2016-06-25 by Bk

by (mod) re: air discharge check when toilets make louder flush noise

If you also have air discharge at faucets read AIR DISCHARGE at FAUCETS, FIXTURES to see what may be the cause.

The supply pressure won't change how most toilets flush: supply pressure and flow rate affect how long it takes to re-fill the flush tank. But the flush is controlled by the water level in the tank and the operation of the flush valve.

As you note an issue with all toilets let's ask what they have in common: air venting and drain piping.

Also see POWER TOILET FLUSH TROUBLE - SIPHONING

 

Burlington toilet draws air in and makes loud suction noise

Hello. When I flush my toilet it draws air in through the overflow pipe which is making a loud suction noise.

The toilet is a Burlington high cistern and is new. If I put my thumb on the overflow the noise stops.is there a ball non return valve that can be fitted or is this normal. Thanks. On 2016-07-04 by Mark

by (mod) re: check the plumbing vent piping

Sounds as if the vent is too far away from the toilet waste line, not connected, under-sized, or is partly blocked.

Details are at PLUMBING VENT DISTANCES & ROUTING 

When flushing my toilet it sounds like it is sucking a lot of air.

When flushing my toilet it sounds like it is sucking a lot of air. The water in the bowl will rise about an inch but will not flush out of the bowl and then slowly returns to normal level.

The water tank completely empties and fills to normal level with normal sound and time.

After the tank has filled, I will flush it a second time and it works as it should, no air sucking sound, clearing the bowl quickly and filling at a normal rate.

There are no other unusual sounds. I've tried listening to various areas of the toilet to try an pinpoint where the sucking sound is originating with no success.

This does not occur every time the toilet is used, it may happen once or twice during the day ,and then there are other days will it works properly all day. Also,if I flush the toilet with a bucket of water, the bowl drains quickly. I'm stumped. :( On 2017-01-17 by Tim

Advice by InspectApedia Publisher - re: sucking air noise at toilet

This is an interesting and tricky toilet flush problem, and I'm not certain of the issue because that "sucking sound" when a toilet is flushed can also indicate a vent pipe inadequacy,  but usually the problem is the following: 

There may be  a partial blockage some distance downstream from the offending toilet.

What happens is that because the drain blockage is remote, when there's a backup of water on the fixture side of the blockage some flushes seem to work fine but the wastewater and waste (tissues, feces) hit the partial blockage and slow down there, maybe even increasing the blockage, then drain slowly by. 

A subsequent flush soon after the first one seems much worse or won't flush at all because the first flush wastewater volume is taking up space in the drain line. 

The problem can be intermittent depending on just what's being flushed down a toilet and at what interval.

Solution: have the drain line cleaned or if you prefer, first inspected with a sewer line inspection camera to be sure that the piping itself isn't damaged or collapsing. 

Flushing a toilet sends waste into the sink!

Its not a new toilet that I had a problem with its waste somehow getting into the wash basin. Thanks for any help. On 2016-02-11 by Anonymous

by (mod) re: sewage appears in sink basin

Anon: almost always, when sewage appears in a sink basin (or other nearby plumbing fixture) it has risen in the drain waste vent piping into the sink from a toilet on a higher floor, combined with a blocked building drain below.

It seems to me unlikely that the sewage comes from the toilet on the same floor as the sink.

That's because the sink is higher than the toilet: we'd expect the toilet to overflow rather than drain "uphill" to the sink.