Flushing toilet sounds like a foghorn!!

hotcookie101

This has been going on for ages but getting worse! We have no problem flushing the loo but it makes a VERY loud foghorn noise often both at the beginning and end of the cistern filling back up again, sometimes only at the end. Does anyone have any ideas?

Mutton_Geoff

Sounds like vibration of the valve resonating through the pipes. If there is a shut off valve in the supply pipe up to the cistern, try closing that a little to adjust the flow. Could also be change of flow rate due to calcified valve inside the cistern ball operated valve. The plastic ones are fairly easy to change (just turn water off and unscrew valve).

ormus

if you are going to change the valve try using a torbeck valve. much quieter than the old float type valves.

27col

Probably water hammer of some sort. Make sure that the pipes are well secured in pipe brackets and fit a Torbeck valve as well.

moneysavingplumber

The best cure for water hammer is fitting a double check-valve just downstream of the incoming stopcock and drain-off, followed by a mini-expansion vessel (about the size of a tennis ball), i.e. downstream of the check-valve. This stops the jumper vibrating in the mains stopcock when the ball valve opens.

TimBuckTeeth

Change the rubber washer in the valve, it is cheap and in many cases should fix it.
If not have a look into the other options mentioned to reduce water hammer.

Volcano

I had exactly the same problem with mine, noise was incredible! If you have a shut-off valve then as suggested, a quick tweak could be enough to alter the pressure and cure your problem.

With mine, the circular rubber 'flap' in the valve had perished meaning it wasn't closing easily. A cheap replacement from B&Q (about a quid I think) had it sorted.