Steps to Take If Your Toilet Is Ghost Flushing

It’s the middle of the night and you’reready for bed when you hear the toilet flush – on its own. Before you grab your pistol or think about calling the ghostbusters, know that this phenomenon is nothing supernatural. In fact, it’s a lot more common than you might think

Ghost flushing is actually a plumbing issue with a perfectly logical explanation. In this brief article brought to you by Mr. Rooter Plumbing, we demystify this haunting experience and share steps on how to address it.

If you’d rather have a trained plumber investigate, then call Mr. Rooter Plumbing to schedule an appointment or request urgent assistance for as soon as possible.

What Is Ghost Flushing?

Ghost flushing happens when your toilet flushes or partially flushes on its own. It’s not a poltergeist, though. It’s usually a sign that something’s amiss with your toilet’s internal mechanisms. Specifically, it’s often related to the flapper valve. When this piece isn’t working properly, water can slowly leak from the tank into the bowl. Eventually, it can trigger a flush.

What Causes Ghost Flushing?

As we mentioned earlier, the flapper is the usual suspect when it comes to ghost flushing. This rubber seal at the bottom of the tank controls the flow of water into the bowl. Over time, it can become worn, cracked, or covered in mineral buildup. This will allow water into the bowl before triggering a flush – but the flapper is not the only causes of ghost flushing.

A misaligned flapper chain, faulty fill valve, and damaged overflow tube can also cause the same ghost-flushing effect. Catching the culprit will require a thorough troubleshooting.

How to Troubleshoot Ghost Flushing

Now that we’ve got the suspects lined up, let’s walk step by step to identify the true cause of this headache:

1.   Flapper: Lift the lid off the toilet installation tank and inspect the flapper for warping, cracks, gunk, and/or misalignment. Flappers are inexpensive and easy to replace; just detach the old one and snap a new one into place – but turn off the water supply before doing this.

2.   Flapper Chain: Sometimes, a misaligned flapper is not the flapper’s fault but the flapper chain’s. If the chain is too tight, it won’t let the flapper close fully. If the chain is too long, trim the excess or adjust the connection to prevent it from getting caught under the flapper.

3.     Fill Valve: Check the water level in the tank. It should be about an inch below the tip of the overflow tube. If it’s too high, then adjust the fill valve to lower the water level. Replace old or malfunctioning fill valves.

4.     Overflow Tube: Inspect the overflow tube for cracks or damage, and replace it if you find any.

When to Call a Plumber

A toilet repair for ghost flushing is typically resolved with a flapper replacement, but it might be time to call a plumber if:

• You’ve replaced the flapper, adjusted the chain, and checked the fill valve, but the problem persists.
• The toilet is leaking water onto the floor.
• Multiple toilets in your home or business are ghost flushing.
• You’re not comfortable tinkering with your toilet installation.

The plumbers at Mr. Rooter Plumbing have the experience, expertise, and equipment to help. We have to covered with everything from a quick clogged toilet fix or toilet repair to a complete toilet replacement(s).