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Originally Posted On: https://www.beehiveplumbing.com/an-overview-of-ghost-flushing-and-other-toilet-repairs/

Do you ever hear loud sounds coming from your toilets even though there’s no one in your bathroom? Although this may seem a bit deranged, you’re not going crazy. This is actually a common plumbing phenomenon referred to as ghost flushing, and this just so happens to confuse a lot of Northern Utah households!

First of all, we’re not referring to actual ghosts flushing your toilets with this plumbing term. What ghost flushing actually refers to is a slow leak occurring within your toilet bowl or tank, and this slow leak then causes water levels to drop to the point where the toilet is triggered for a flush.

Although these toilet repairs can seem pretty confusing, they aren’t always all that difficult to fix. Below we’ll be going over a few steps that you can take to properly resolve any ghost flushing that’s occurring at your home, and if these steps don’t do the trick then you can always reach out to our Master Plumbers who’ll be more than happy to bring peace back to your bathroom!

The following are some important tips for Northern Utah homeowners to keep in mind if they just so happen to be experiencing ghost flushing on a regular basis:

Determining the source of your leak is always the first thing you must do when one of your toilets is ghost flushing, and if you don’t see any recognizable pools of water around your toilet then it’s likely that your toilet’s flapper could be the source of your issues.

Performing a simple dye test will help you to more closely examine the functionality of your toilet flapper, and this simply requires a few food coloring drops in your toilet tank that you’ll then let rest in the bowl for about half an hour. If the exact same color is still in your toilet bowl after the waiting period, you can be more rest assured that the flapper is what’s causing your internal leak.

It’s important to make sure that your toilet flapper is thoroughly cleaned and that it’s working in accordance with your toilet chain. It’s possible that you may need to fully replace your toilet flapper to resolve your ghost flushing, but you should also be sure to check up on your refill tube.

We understand how all of these industry terms and toilet parts may seem confusing to you, which is why our plumbing specialists are always here for you to ensure that your toilet is being properly examined!

If you do have water pools near the base of your toilet, then it’s likely that your ghost flushing issues can be sourced back to an external leak. The first thing you’ll want to do in this situation is mop up the puddles, and then closely look for any cracks in your toilet bowl.

It’s also possible that you have a broken shutoff valve or loose supply valve, so you should double-check that these connections are tight. Checking up on the actual security of your toilet bowl against your bathroom floor is also advisable in this situation, and this includes examining the floor bolts and stability of the wax gaskets.

It’s important to note that you’ll likely need a toilet replacement if your bowl has become cracked, and that you’ll also need to look at the integrity of your toilet’s tank as well.

Another good tip to keep in mind when you’re experiencing ghost flushing but can’t seem to figure out the source of the issue is to check up on your water bill. If you are seeing a sudden increase in your bills, then there’s a good chance that you’re in fact going through a toilet leak.

This is always a very serious repair job that will require professional assistance, and our plumbing team will be your most cost-effective option throughout the region via our many financing options.

Beehive Plumbing has become an industry leader throughout Northern Utah over the past 20 years, and we’ve always prided ourselves on our customer support and overall experience. You can count on our team to quickly diagnose, quote and fully resolve your toilet repair needs, and that all of our work will coincide with your unique budget!

Contact us online or call us at 801-661-8155 to speak with our specialists today about how we can help you get rid of any ghost flushing issues!