Toilet Repair FAQs

Questions & Answers on How to Repair a Toilet

Toilet Leak FAQs

Clogged / Slow upstairs toilet drain, leaked at toilet base when plunged

Hello. I have a strange toilet issue that I can't seem to figure out. I have a 2-story home on a septic.

All the drains and toilets in the house (with the exception of a small sink downstairs) are draining properly.

The toilet I am having trouble with is on the second story (which is built over my garage).

My adult son reported a clogged toilet, and said when he tried to use the plunger, water suddenly came running out from under the base of the toilet.

That water then leaked down in the ceiling of my garage, so I cut that piece of drywall out (directly below drain) to repair it.

I borrowed a 6' toilet auger from a friend and went to work. When I opened the lid to the toilet I noticed the water was mostly gone, with the exception of a very small normal amount in shallow bottom. I used the auger several times to full length, but met no resistance, and nothing was pulled back up. I flushed the toilet, and once again the bowl filled.

I tried using the plunger, but as my son had reported, some water began to seep from around the base of the toilet. I went down to my garage and was looking at the plumbing beneath toilet in the ceiling I had opened up. I saw some dripping coming through the cutout in the plywood subfloor where the drain pipe is at.

After about 4-5 minutes, I heard a whoosh of water as if the drain had cleared....

I went back upstairs, and sure enough the bowl is empty again....

I flushed it again, and this time it stayed full again. Seems like water sits, and then after several minutes, it flushes through?

Not sure if this is maybe a plugged air vent or something for that bathroom? The two sinks in bathroom, and shower/tub are draining okay.

Any ideas? I'm dumbfounded at this point! Thank you again for all your assistance on this website! - On 2018-06-01 by Steve Kaufer

by (mod) - remove the toilet, clear the drain, replace the wax ring seal; also check for clogs downstream

Usually what you describe is found to be a remote or more-distant blockage in the sewer line. Your auger or drain router may not have reached it.

Thinking about this a little more, if there's a remote drain blockage that's pretty far out in the septic or sewer line then I would expect all of your dreams to be slow.

It doesn't happen at a regular interval because if nothing has been drained for a while the line is sitting there just about empty and fills up with the first Wastewater that sent in.

Since your toilet is leaking at the base when plunged we already know that it is not well sealed to the waste pipe. You'll need to pull the toilet to replace the wax ring seal.

At that time the drain will be exposed: a great time to try again running a drain auger or snake through the drain.

Watch out: in addition to leaks at the toilet base due simply to a damaged wax ring seal or loose toilet mounting bolts, leaks around the toilet base when flushed can be a symptom of a clog developing in the wasteline downstream from the toilet.

A blockage in the waste line can cause wastewater to back up around the toilet base and thus leak out there.

by Steve

Okay, so maybe I rent a longer more powerful auger to go more distance? I appreciate the advice and reasoning.

Thank you again for the advice.

Clog was in fact below the toilet, although not that far, so not sure why snake didn't reach it initially (maybe just didnt knock it through enough).

Replaced with new ring and all is well in the world for now :-) Keeping same toilet, seems to have been mostly worry free for many years. Thanks again!

Nice going. I agree thst it's possible thst the snake penetrated but didn't clear the blockage.

What you reported will help others.

Toilet leaks at its base when flushed, gurgles, and drains very slowly

Renting a house. Bathroom wall is also furnace, heater, washer hooked up.

Toilet would gurgle when tub drained. Owners put a stop cap on the floor drain under washer where it would over flow. Now the toilet leaks at base and doesn't flush. Drains in about 10mins though.

Took toilet off, main pipe under Meath water sits in it. Drains 10mins or so. Plunge and toilet water goes in bathtub. Roof vent seems fine but if a hose runs water down the vent the toilet and bath full with the water. Other bathroom is fine. Kitchen is fine. Just this bathroom and washer on other side.

Also heater and ac don't work. They are on the same wall as well. Owners have not come back, have no idea how to unclog this thing!

Even tried the bladder bag in on roof vent, and toilet. Bathtub s a Jacuzzi with extra small drain and overflow pipe. Clean out has no water running out. Do it must be stuck somewhere On 2017-04-28 by Laura

Answer by (mod) - The sewer line is blocked, wastewater leaks at bad wax ring seal to waste pipe

The "stop cap" (or backflow check valve) helps fight sewage backup but doesn't fix the problem of a clogged or improper plumbing drain.

Ask a plumber to use a camera to scope the sewer line to find out where it's sagged, blocked, or has broken or collapsed.

When the blockage is cleared you'll also need to have the toilet pulled up and its base wax ring seal replaced.

Watch out: at that time be sure to check the floor for rot or water damage and to check out the ceiling below as well. If there were leaks into the ceiling cavity below the toilet there may be a hidden mold and bacterial hazard to be cleaned-up.

Toilet Flush Noise FAQs

Banging clanking noise when toilet is flushed

With each toilet flush, there follows a very noisy and metallic sound which seems to come - not from the toilet but from below the floor of the toilet.

Noise sounds like something is in the pipes but every time water flushes, it bangs the item around which makes that noise. What could it be and what is the prognosis? On 2020-05-31 5 by ahsap@optonline.net

by (mod) - probably a water hammer problem

Ahs

Most likely you're hearing water hammer noises caused by the velocity of water moving through water pipes, or less likely, noise from a loose water supply pipe.

See the WATER HAMMER NOISE DIAGNOSE & CURE article found by searching our site for that phrase

Toilet makes a Rattling Jackhammer Noise when Flushed

When I flush toilet , something starts rattling like a jackhammer hitting concrete. Is this serious? It just started three weeks ago. - On 2018-06-01 by David

Answer by (mod) - water hammer noise can become serious as it can cause leaks or even a safety concern

David

At WATER HAMMER NOISE DIAGNOSE & CURE you'll see the probable causes and cures for the noise you describe.

And yes, while it's not usually an emergency, water hammer and banging pipes can cause at least these two problems:

1. Water leak:
   
   The pipe vibration from water hammer can cause pipes to leak at connections or valves
2. Relief valve leak & safety warning:
   
   Watch out: The pipe vibration from water hammer can cause spilling at the temperature/pressure relief valve found on boilers and water heaters. In turn, if that valve drips or leaks repeatedly, corrosion can build up in the valve that in turn can prevent it from opening when it should to prevent a dangerous BLEVE EXPLOSION
   
   An example of this concern is given at RELIEF VALVE, WATER HEATER .

When Toilet is Flushed Water makes loud sound and at downstairs toilet water splashes up

Toilet upstairs flushes and make a really loud sound, causing the toilet downstairs to splash water up. It seems like we can keep this under control by using rid x every month in both toilets but wonder if there is a real solution to this problem? (Oct 15, 2014) Shelley A

Reply:

Look for a blocked main drain exiting the building.

Loud Noises During Toilet Fill

After toilet is flushed it makes a terrible noise that then lessens and finally goes away (Nov 16, 2014) Kathy

Reply by (mod):

Toilet cistern, if the bowl is not overfilling what you describe should not be a problem. I suspect it's an artifact of how the toilet bowl fill flapper valve closes.

Kathy, try slightly closing the toilet stop valve part way to slow the water fill rate

Loud Clunk Noises Long After Toilet Fill

My toilet works as it should however, usually within an hour after flushing, there a clunk in the bathroom pipes and then I can hear the water running down them. Should I be worried?

I've been in the house 10 years but have just been noticing this over the last month or so, so I'm guessing it hasn't always been like this. (Nov 30, 2014) Anonymous

Reply by (mod):

Elle, worried, I can't say, but it sounds as if there is a failing flush valve or a problem with the fill valve.

Another possibiity is that there is a partial blockage in the toilet drain such that water pressure finally pushes through with a surge.

You might be able to figure out what's going on by removing the lid from the toilet cistern (tank) and watching what's happening as the tank re-fills and then the fill stops.e clunking toilet. :),

About that clunking sound in the water pipes, see WATER HAMMER NOISE DIAGNOSE & CURE

Saniflo toilet makes a high pitched sound

My Saniflo toilet makes a high pitched sound when it is flushed. On 2017-07-11 by Sharon

Explanatioin by (mod) -

I'm guessing you're hearing a water supply pipe whistle due to a combination of water velocity and pipe properties, dimensions, bends, etc.

Try opening or closing the toile tank fill control valve below the toilet - just a 1/4 turn - and let me know how that works for you.

A detailed explanation of whistling whining water pipes is at WATER SUPPLY PIPE WHISTLE NOISE

What causes draining pipe noise after new toilet installation

My husband just installed a new toilet. When we go to the bathroom it sounds like the pipes are draining.

I just poured water into the toilet so I could figure out where the noise was coming from. It's not coming from the tank area. I can hear it clearly when my ear is at the bottom of the toilet, by the floor.

I don't feel or see any leaking. Any ideas what this noise is and if it's a problem? - Mary 10/17/2012

Reply:

Mary,

I presume "when we go to the bathroom" refers to entering the room, not actually using the toilet. If you hear drainage noises continuously most likely somewhere a fixture is sending water into the drain line. Look for a running toilet, either this one or one that also shares the same drain.

Toilet makes a loud noise in the Drain after it is flushed

Why does my second floor toilet make a loud noise after it is flushed (not a water hammer noise) - Sandy 10/22/11

Reply:

Sandy, we'd need more information - like the toilet brand and model or type.

Some toilets designed to use the smallest possible volume of water to flush the bowl may use water pressure or even a mixture of compressed air and water to scour and clean the bowl; these as well as toilets using a flushometer valve often make more noise than a gravity-operated standard tank-type flush toilet.

Reader comment

Going back to Sandy's question ? please ,,how do we avoid that noisy toilet flashes on the 2nd floor ? some plumbers are asking me remove the wall and cover the drain pipe with special sound proof material . is it a good idea? (Jan 31, 2013) Joe

Moderator Reply:

If the complaint is around the noise of wastewater passing thorugh the drain line, sound insulation around the drain piping is the common solution.

Flushometer Valve Leak FAQs

How to fix the control stop on a commercial toilet

The control stop on a commercial closet toilet is leaking. how do I replace it or repair it? v

Reply by (mod): where to find a toilet or urinal flushometer valve repair guide

Typically the water is shut off and the valve has a loose fitting that can be tightened or a damaged O-ring or gasket in the flushometer assembly simply needs to be replaced. If you've got the brand and part ID it's easier - by finding a parts explosion for the device.

See FLUSHOMETER VALVES for TOILETS URINALS

Need too much force to operate the toilet flush handle

My toilet works, but it takes a lot of force to lift the tank flapper to release the tank water. It almost seems as though the plastic arm which lifts the flapper assembly will break.

The amount of force necessary to push the flush handle down in order to lift the flapper is gradually increasing. At some point the plastic arm which lifts the flapper is going to break. (Mar 15, 2015) WL

Reply:

Hi WL

I've seen this problem and indeed ultimately the flush lever's plastic arm broke and we had to flush the toilet by removing the cistern top and manually pulling the flush valve chain up until we could replace the parts.

Look for

- something bent or out of place in the whole flush lever, arm, chain, flapper, linkage assembly. You might find this more pleasant by shutting off water to the toilet, then draining water from the tank (cistern), then examining the moving parts to see what's binding

- look in particular for a bind in the lever itself at its point of rotation

Toilet flush handle direction causes stress

I installed a new toilet handle (Danco Universal Toilet Handle) and something is wrong because in order to flush the toiletI have to pull the handle up instead of pushing it down. (It is a side mount Toto toilet)

I have tried the handle every which way I can (handle pointing forward, handle pointing backward, handle pointing upward) without solving the problem. (July 29, 2014) Scott

Reply:

The geometry of some replacement flush control handles might indeed swap the direction of movement. You may have found a flush lever intended for mounting on the right side of a flush tank but installed it on the left side.

Some of these levers can be inverted by disassembling the flush lever and flipping over the plastic or metal handle-limiting lugs.

Have to hold the handle down to flush the toilet completely

I have to hold the handle down for the toilet to flush completely. (Nov 27, 2015) Walter Beale

Reply:

Walter

If holding the handle down successfully flushes the toilet then the proper repair should be simple: slightly shorten the pull chain connecting the toilet handle flush lever to the flush valve flapper.

You might also need to check that the level of water in the flush tank is high enough - check that it's at the FILL LINE marked in the tank.

You may also need to check the water level in the toilet bowl: if the small tube carrying water into the overflow tube in the flush tank and thence into the toilet bowl is disconnected then the bowl won't have enough water for a proper flush.

The toilet flush lever hard to press down - or sticks in the "down" position

The flush lever has gotten very hard to push down. Almost like suction is holding it down. Nothing seems broken in the tank. (Dec 28, 2015) Anonymous

Reply:

The flush lever is probably damaged in a plastic or rubber component at its mount on the tank; this is an inexpensive and easy part to replace. I'd buy a new assembly; remove the old one so that you can select a close match at your hardware store.

Water comes out of floor when I flush the toilet

When I flushed my toilet, water seemed to come up out of the floor..gallons!! The water in the bowl flushed and the tank was empty...

I'm not sure if that's because I shut the valve off or not... cleaned up the mess and turned the water back on, ive flushed the toilet 7 or 8 times to try and figure out where the water came from and NOTHING happened other than a normal flush.

I have no clue what my issue is since it hasn't happened again.. HELP! (Jan 27, 2016) susie

Reply:

Chances are the toilet mounting bolts are loose AND the toilet wax ring seal is shot; the toilet needs to be removed, the old wax ring scraped away, a new wax ring pushed into place, and the toilet re-set and then bolted securely to the floor.

Toilet tank refills "for no reason"

Aug 18, 2016) AJ in NC said:
Hello,
My toilet will 'cut on' and begin filling the back tank even when no one has flushed the toilet. It only remains on a second or two as if it is topping off the water level. This only happens every couple of hours. Do I have a slow leak somewhere? What should I check first?

Reply:

That's because your flush valve has a slow leak, AJ. Try cleaning the flapper valve and the valve seat; or just buy a replacement unit.

Search InspectApedia.com for RUNNING TOILET to see how to diagnose and repair this problem.