Plumbing problems?

For about a month, for some reason, it sounds as if we have air in pipes when a toilet flushes. Now, it takes forever for a toilet to fill back up. We built the house in 1982. Besides calling an expensive plumber, is there anything I can try myself? Thanks for any suggestions.

Public Comments

1. Replace the fill valve in the tank, and while you are at it, go ahead and replace the flapper and handle.
2. replace fill valve and while your at it the flapper
3. Go to a hardware or Home Center and purchase a Fluidmaster 400A fill-valve. Under $10. They come with really simple instructions.
4. before you change the fill valve (which is probably the problem) you can shut the water off under the toilet at the shut off valve and then disconnect the supply line up at the toilet if the supply line is flexible enough (if not put on one of those braided style ones) aim it into a five gallon bucket and turn the water on slowly to see if you have good water pressure at the shut off. if you don't a fill valve will not solve the problem.
5. There is a chance what you hear as air could be water hammer. If so you need to install a stack that cushios the shock that causes the hammer using a column of air. You can make one or buy one.