Toilet pipe noise

[cd1125]

My pipes are making a weird noise....approximately every 5 minutes the pipes and toilet make a noise like the toilet has been flushed without it really happening. It is a muffled noise within the pipes that sounds like it is bearly affecting the opening of the toilet (it sounds like it is trying to open the area that usually let the water out. Is it something to do with the water pressure....Any suggestions????

Carolyn

[LazyPup]

Are you sure the noise is coming from the drain line or is it perhaps coming from the toilet fill valve?

Quite often a defective flapper valve will allow water to slowly leak from the tank to the bowl, then the fill valve will open temporarily to try to maintain the water level in the tank.

To check it, flush the toilet then allow time for the tank to refill and the fill valve stop, then examine the water in the bowl carefully. If you see any motion in the water in the bowl after the fill valve is stopped the flapper valve is leaking.

If the problem is the flapper valve first check the chain from the flush handle to the flapper valve to insure their is no slack chain getting into the valve seat holding the valve open.

Next, again flush the tank, then check the seat of the flapper/flush valve to make sure their is no mineral buildup or other debris on the seat that would interfere with the valve properly seating.

If both the chain and the valve seat are ok, consider changing the flapper ball. Flapper valve balls are very inexpensive and a simple DIY installation.

Check the water level in the tank, if the water fill valve is leaking the tank will overfill and the excess water will overflow down the standpipe into the bowl.

If that is the problem you could try adjusting the fill level, but will probably have to replace the fill valve.

With some exceptions, almost all toilet fill valves can be replaced with a Fluidmaster Universal Fill valve kit. They are also relatively inexpensive ( About $10 to $12) and the fluidmaster kit has excellant instructions for a DIY project.