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Solving The Problem Of Hissing Toilets

By Scott Rodgers

Republish: EasyPublish™
Published: 21Jun2009
Word count: 586
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A hissing toilet is not only a problem because it makes a really annoying noise at night when you're trying to go to sleep, annoying as this is, but it is also a problem because it is leaking up to 50 gallons of water a day. The good news is that the reasons for it hissing are normally quite simple to understand and for you to fix. It is a good idea, therefore, to understand the basics of how a toilet works so that you know how the different pieces successfully work together.

Toilets are a wonderful invention, making our homes safe and healthy, and with modern plumbing and the latest technology, they don't tend to break down. However, it is always best to have a maintenance routine in place so that you can spot a problem while it is still small rather than waiting until you have to replace the unit or pay for expensive repairs. This will be of particular benefit, as I have found that when toilets break, it is normally at the most inopportune moments such as when the in-laws or the boss is coming round for dinner. Racing around with a plunger and smelling a little unpleasant doesn't create such a good impression.

So let's have a look at the toilet. You'll find that it is a relatively simple mechanism. There are, of course, all sorts of different designs, so when I say take the lid off the tank, you may have a tank that is separate from the bowl, or a tank that is appears to be a single unit with the bowl, or you may have a tank located within some sort of cabinet. Again, it is best to be prepared, and know how to take the lid off the toilet before there is an emergency, as it will be bound to be a harder task if you are in the middle of a panic.

Have a look inside the tank, and if you have an old-fashioned toilet, you'll notice that there may be over 13 liters of water in your tank. It may surprise you to learn that modern units flush with only six liters, and dual flush toilets use between three and six liters. You may be using a lot more water than you need and it could be worth your while to investigate alternative options.

Inside the tank, depending on the type of mchanism you own, there will be a fill valve which controls the flow of water into the toilet. This is attached to your water supply connector through the base of the tank. The discharge of tank water is controlled by the flush valve and the flapper, which is also called the stopper or tank ball, and is attached to the overflow pipe and sits over the top of the drain. When you press the button on the top of your toilet, the tank lever lifts the flapper and allows water to flow into the bowl.

If this is all working well, that's great news. However, if you a hissing sound, it may be that your water level is too high in which case you can fix it using the adjustment clip on the ballcock link or the cup mechanism. If there's water running down the refill tube into the overflow pipe then check the fill valve, or straighten the ballcock.

If no success, then check that the ballcock itself doesn't have a leak. If not, then clean the build up under the fill valve seal.

Scott Rodgers is a plumber who has recently begun writing articles for both a plumbing and non-plumbing audience. To view more of plumbing articles, visit http://eLocalPlumbers.com

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