I've got a 20 year old bi-level - and have an interesting phenomenon. Just
lately I've noticed that when I flush the downstairs toilet, just after the
tank refills I get a low-frequency droning/vibration that seems to be coming
from the main water lead from the water meter in the basement.

It drones/vibrates (almost seems like "bass" from a kids car outside) for
between 5 and 10 seconds and then goes away. I've noticed that when its
vibrating, if I run the basement sink, it stops instantly. No other
faucets/toilets cause the pipe to do this.

Any thoughts? I've read this is water hammer, but its not a banging or
clanking, but rather a fast vibration. Whats the cause and any cure? I
don't care about the noise as much as I am worried that the vibration is
going to cause a broken solder joint somewhere which leads to flooding....

??

bmoney

Sounds more like you have a problem with that toilet valve closing too
slowly (valve flutter is often caused by torn or worn rubber in the valve
seat). Especially if this is a recent development. I used to get this when
I closed a certain shower faucet just the right amount, replacing the rubber
washer was the fix there.

Possible that you hear the vibration far away from the toilet because that
is the only part of the piping system not secured to something solid.
Pressure waves from a faulty tailet valve may propagate through the pipe
until it hits a valve (or meter) and reflects. Opening another faucet
changes the pressure in the pipe and either shuts down the vibration
directly by lowering the pressure or more likly allows the valve in the
toilet to slam shut. Only cost you $10 to buy and replace the toilet valve
yourself to find out.




"Hamilton Audio" wrote in message
news:vPT7e.1027559$6l.220301@pd7tw2no...
I've got a 20 year old bi-level - and have an interesting phenomenon.
Just
lately I've noticed that when I flush the downstairs toilet, just after
the
tank refills I get a low-frequency droning/vibration that seems to be
coming
from the main water lead from the water meter in the basement.

It drones/vibrates (almost seems like "bass" from a kids car outside) for
between 5 and 10 seconds and then goes away. I've noticed that when its
vibrating, if I run the basement sink, it stops instantly. No other
faucets/toilets cause the pipe to do this.

Any thoughts? I've read this is water hammer, but its not a banging or
clanking, but rather a fast vibration. Whats the cause and any cure? I
don't care about the noise as much as I am worried that the vibration is
going to cause a broken solder joint somewhere which leads to flooding....

??

bmoney

Hamilton Audio wrote:

I've got a 20 year old bi-level - and have an interesting phenomenon. Just
lately I've noticed that when I flush the downstairs toilet, just after the
tank refills I get a low-frequency droning/vibration that seems to be coming
from the main water lead from the water meter in the basement.

It drones/vibrates (almost seems like "bass" from a kids car outside) for
between 5 and 10 seconds and then goes away. I've noticed that when its
vibrating, if I run the basement sink, it stops instantly. No other
faucets/toilets cause the pipe to do this.

Any thoughts? I've read this is water hammer, but its not a banging or
clanking, but rather a fast vibration. Whats the cause and any cure? I
don't care about the noise as much as I am worried that the vibration is
going to cause a broken solder joint somewhere which leads to flooding....

??

bmoney


Not water hammer. Caused by a particular brand of ballcock
when it is worn out. Replace the ballcock in that toilet.

Jim

Hamilton Audio wrote:
I've got a 20 year old bi-level - and have an interesting phenomenon.
Just lately I've noticed that when I flush the downstairs toilet,
just after the tank refills I get a low-frequency droning/vibration
that seems to be coming from the main water lead from the water meter
in the basement.
It drones/vibrates (almost seems like "bass" from a kids car outside)
for between 5 and 10 seconds and then goes away. I've noticed that
when its vibrating, if I run the basement sink, it stops instantly. No
other faucets/toilets cause the pipe to do this.

Any thoughts? I've read this is water hammer, but its not a banging
or clanking, but rather a fast vibration. Whats the cause and any
cure? I don't care about the noise as much as I am worried that the
vibration is going to cause a broken solder joint somewhere which
leads to flooding....
??

bmoney

It could be water hammer, but I would tend towards a worn ball cock
valve.

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia's Muire duit

When you say ballcock valve I have to assume its the small shutoff valve
right before the tank? I closed it about 3/4 of a
turn today and behold! No vibration. When it starts happening again I'll
change it out. Thanks to those who chimed in - I
never would have guessed a worn out ball valve could make the pipes sing
like this!

bmoney

"Joseph Meehan" wrote in message
...
Hamilton Audio wrote:
I've got a 20 year old bi-level - and have an interesting phenomenon.
Just lately I've noticed that when I flush the downstairs toilet,
just after the tank refills I get a low-frequency droning/vibration
that seems to be coming from the main water lead from the water meter
in the basement.
It drones/vibrates (almost seems like "bass" from a kids car outside)
for between 5 and 10 seconds and then goes away. I've noticed that
when its vibrating, if I run the basement sink, it stops instantly. No
other faucets/toilets cause the pipe to do this.

Any thoughts? I've read this is water hammer, but its not a banging
or clanking, but rather a fast vibration. Whats the cause and any
cure? I don't care about the noise as much as I am worried that the
vibration is going to cause a broken solder joint somewhere which
leads to flooding....
??

bmoney

It could be water hammer, but I would tend towards a worn ball cock
valve.

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia's Muire duit

Hamilton Audio wrote:

When you say ballcock valve I have to assume its the small shutoff valve
right before the tank? I closed it about 3/4 of a
turn today and behold! No vibration. When it starts happening again I'll
change it out. Thanks to those who chimed in - I
never would have guessed a worn out ball valve could make the pipes sing
like this!

bmoney

No! Ballcock is the "float" valve *inside* the tank.

Closing the shutoff partway may seem to solve the problem
for now, but can cause other problems. Many of those shutoffs
are designed to be either fully closed or fully open.
Partway can make the washer inside vibrate and REALLY
produce hammering.

Jim



"Joseph Meehan" wrote in message
...

Hamilton Audio wrote:

I've got a 20 year old bi-level - and have an interesting phenomenon.
Just lately I've noticed that when I flush the downstairs toilet,
just after the tank refills I get a low-frequency droning/vibration
that seems to be coming from the main water lead from the water meter
in the basement.
It drones/vibrates (almost seems like "bass" from a kids car outside)
for between 5 and 10 seconds and then goes away. I've noticed that
when its vibrating, if I run the basement sink, it stops instantly. No
other faucets/toilets cause the pipe to do this.

Any thoughts? I've read this is water hammer, but its not a banging
or clanking, but rather a fast vibration. Whats the cause and any
cure? I don't care about the noise as much as I am worried that the
vibration is going to cause a broken solder joint somewhere which
leads to flooding....
??

bmoney

It could be water hammer, but I would tend towards a worn ball cock
valve.

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia's Muire duit

Hamilton Audio wrote:
When you say ballcock valve I have to assume its the small shutoff
valve right before the tank? I closed it about 3/4 of a
turn today and behold! No vibration. When it starts happening again
I'll change it out. Thanks to those who chimed in - I
never would have guessed a worn out ball valve could make the pipes
sing like this!

bmoney

No sorry. I just copied an error totally without any thought process.
It is the float valve you need to check.


"Joseph Meehan" wrote in message
...
Hamilton Audio wrote:
I've got a 20 year old bi-level - and have an interesting
phenomenon. Just lately I've noticed that when I flush the
downstairs toilet, just after the tank refills I get a
low-frequency droning/vibration that seems to be coming from the
main water lead from the water meter in the basement.
It drones/vibrates (almost seems like "bass" from a kids car
outside) for between 5 and 10 seconds and then goes away. I've
noticed that when its vibrating, if I run the basement sink, it
stops instantly. No other faucets/toilets cause the pipe to do this.

Any thoughts? I've read this is water hammer, but its not a banging
or clanking, but rather a fast vibration. Whats the cause and any
cure? I don't care about the noise as much as I am worried that the
vibration is going to cause a broken solder joint somewhere which
leads to flooding....
??

bmoney

It could be water hammer, but I would tend towards a worn ball
cock valve.

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia's Muire duit

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia's Muire duit

So we're talking about the rubber "flapper" deal that has the chain/handle
attached to it? Or is it the white mechanism to the left of that which
allows the water to enter the tank? Sorry - I'm a newbie toilet guy

bmoney

"Speedy Jim" wrote in message
...
Hamilton Audio wrote:

When you say ballcock valve I have to assume its the small shutoff valve
right before the tank? I closed it about 3/4 of a
turn today and behold! No vibration. When it starts happening again
I'll change it out. Thanks to those who chimed in - I
never would have guessed a worn out ball valve could make the pipes sing
like this!

bmoney

No! Ballcock is the "float" valve *inside* the tank.

Closing the shutoff partway may seem to solve the problem
for now, but can cause other problems. Many of those shutoffs
are designed to be either fully closed or fully open.
Partway can make the washer inside vibrate and REALLY
produce hammering.

Jim



"Joseph Meehan" wrote in message
...

Hamilton Audio wrote:

I've got a 20 year old bi-level - and have an interesting phenomenon.
Just lately I've noticed that when I flush the downstairs toilet,
just after the tank refills I get a low-frequency droning/vibration
that seems to be coming from the main water lead from the water meter
in the basement.
It drones/vibrates (almost seems like "bass" from a kids car outside)
for between 5 and 10 seconds and then goes away. I've noticed that
when its vibrating, if I run the basement sink, it stops instantly. No
other faucets/toilets cause the pipe to do this.

Any thoughts? I've read this is water hammer, but its not a banging
or clanking, but rather a fast vibration. Whats the cause and any
cure? I don't care about the noise as much as I am worried that the
vibration is going to cause a broken solder joint somewhere which
leads to flooding....
??

bmoney

It could be water hammer, but I would tend towards a worn ball cock
valve.

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia's Muire duit

Hamilton Audio wrote:
So we're talking about the rubber "flapper" deal that has the
chain/handle attached to it? Or is it the white mechanism to the
left of that which allows the water to enter the tank? Sorry - I'm a
newbie toilet guy

No we are talking about the valve that controls the water coming into
the tank. It is call the "Filler valve" in the example below:

http://home.howstuffworks.com/toilet1.htm


bmoney

"Speedy Jim" wrote in message
...
Hamilton Audio wrote:

When you say ballcock valve I have to assume its the small shutoff
valve right before the tank? I closed it about 3/4 of a
turn today and behold! No vibration. When it starts happening
again I'll change it out. Thanks to those who chimed in - I
never would have guessed a worn out ball valve could make the pipes
sing like this!

bmoney

No! Ballcock is the "float" valve *inside* the tank.

Closing the shutoff partway may seem to solve the problem
for now, but can cause other problems. Many of those shutoffs
are designed to be either fully closed or fully open.
Partway can make the washer inside vibrate and REALLY
produce hammering.

Jim



"Joseph Meehan" wrote in message
...

Hamilton Audio wrote:

I've got a 20 year old bi-level - and have an interesting
phenomenon. Just lately I've noticed that when I flush the
downstairs toilet, just after the tank refills I get a
low-frequency droning/vibration that seems to be coming from the
main water lead from the water meter in the basement.
It drones/vibrates (almost seems like "bass" from a kids car
outside) for between 5 and 10 seconds and then goes away. I've
noticed that when its vibrating, if I run the basement sink, it
stops instantly. No other faucets/toilets cause the pipe to do
this. Any thoughts? I've read this is water hammer, but its not a
banging or clanking, but rather a fast vibration. Whats the
cause and any cure? I don't care about the noise as much as I am
worried that the vibration is going to cause a broken solder
joint somewhere which leads to flooding....
??

bmoney

It could be water hammer, but I would tend towards a worn ball
cock valve.

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia's Muire duit

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia's Muire duit

Man, I'm having similar problems and hope someone can help me. Found
this thread/forum via google typing stuff in....

This is a very recent development. About 10 days ago, I changed
the...the thing that stops the water in the toilet...they don't even
name it in that howstuffworks link. It's the ball thing at the end of
the chain. My last one, something rotted away, so I bought a new one.
Now, whenever the toilet is flushed, there's this massive vibration
happening immediately after the toilet is filled with water. It's
crazy! I've tried just turning off the toilet and it still vibrates.
It's vibrating right now as I type. So it's not just 5-10
seconds....
Couple things: I don't know...the filler valve is that big thing that
floats, right? You know, as soon as I replaced the plug/chain deal,
when you flush the toilet you have to hold the handle down until it's
done flushing, it didn't just float/regulate and let you walk away.
That's definitely a symptom of my main problem, right?
Should I get out of my house? Should I replace everything inside the
toilet?