Vibrating pipes when toilet flushes

Hi there,

I'm a complete novice in DIY and all the mechanics of house renovation. I have been having problems for some time now when I flush either of the two toilets in my appartment. The pipes vibrate very loudly, for up to five minutes which is not only unpleasant for us, but probably also for the connected flats. If I turn on the tap, hot or cold, it seems to postpone the vibrating temporarily, but does not stop it. All our water pipes are hidden behind the walls and as I live in block of flats, I'm not sure who is responsible for fixing the problem. The main water valves are situated outside of my apartment.

Please can you advise how I could resolve this problem. Should I ask the building managers to look into it, or is it my responsibility? Do I need a plumber or is there anything I could do myself?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Many thanks!

Often, this is the shutoff valve in the wall - the washer gets old and stiff then vibrates like a tuba when water flows by. It is usually simple to replace. If not that, then the toilet fill valve. It would be the manager's responsibility to replace. Parts are cheap - probably less than $20 to replace the fill valve, shutoff, and a new supply hose. Actual installation usually is easy, but nothing is guaranteed.

You have to ask the building manager, it could mean major trouble if a novice causes a problem in an apartment.