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🚽 Toilet Bubbling or Gurgling?
Are you puzzled by the strange gurgling sounds coming from your toilet? Are you wondering why your toilet bubbles or makes rumbling noises as if it’s alive, especially after flushing or at random times Sometimes, you might even encounter a toilet that bubbles but doesn’t flush. It’s natural to be concerned, and rightly so, as ignoring this issue could lead to messier problems.
Our team of expert plumbers has delved into this common plumbing issue to bring you insights and solutions. The culprit behind these mysterious gurgling sounds is typically a blockage somewhere in your plumbing system.
This article will dive into the various causes of these sounds and provide practical solutions. Whether it’s a simple fix or a more complex issue, we’ve got you covered with expert advice on restoring peace and functionality to your bathroom.
🚽 What Causes a Toilet to Gurgle?
Those strange gurgling noises are caused by the negative air pressure somewhere in the line. So when you hear these sounds, it’s due to a blockage somewhere in your drain pipes. Instead of air flowing freely down the line, it pushes back, causing those weird sounds. Sometimes, this problem will manifest itself as bubbles in the toilet water. Either way, you have a problem.
This can happen when:
- The toilet is clogged
- The drain line or mainline is clogged
- Blockage in the vent pipe or stack
- There’s a problem with the municipal sewer main
If you are having any of these issues, it’s more than likely noticeable via a sewer type smell as these gases make their way back into your bathroom.
🚽 A Clogged Toilet is Causing the Gurgling
The most manageable problem to deal with is a clogged toilet. Sometimes, you will see stuff floating on the water, shredded papers, and other things stuck in the toilet. Kids can stuff large toys into the toilet, and since they cannot dissolve in water, they will end up stuck in the bowl.
⚒️ The Fix
For this kind of blockage, clear the things floating on the water, plus the ones stuck in the toilet. If it’s further down, you can unblock the toilet with a plunger. Ensure the plunger completely covers the drain hole and start by giving it a good ten to twenty plunges to see if you can dislodge the blockage.
Sometimes using a running garden hose down through the toilet bowl can dislodge a clog. But be careful not to flood your bathroom while doing it! If this is unsuccessful, you can try a plumbing or toilet auger.
Drain snakes (also known as a sewer snake) are too small and are usually reserved for smaller drains like your bathroom sink or the one in your kitchen. Hiring or buying a plumbing auger can be expensive, so you have to weigh that up against the cost of hiring a plumber.
In our professional opinion, it’s now time to call in the professionals.
📗 Related Reading: What To Use To Unclog a Toilet. Your Homeowners Guide!
🚽 Toilet Quick Tip
Toilets are designed to dispose of only human waste and toilet paper; anything else, including paper towels, feminine hygiene products, and so-called “flushable wipes,” can cause blockages. Despite being marketed as flushable, wipes often fail to break down properly, leading to significant plumbing issues and contributing to the formation of “fatbergs” in sewer systems.
A study in Ontario found that none of the tested wipes were truly flushable. However, there’s a positive development: a veteran-owned company in the US has introduced an eco-friendly toilet paper gel, Refresh Wipes, which offers a safer alternative for personal hygiene and the environment, potentially reducing the reliance on problematic flushable wipes.
A clogged toilet can also be a symptom of a toilet not flushing correctly. If this is the case, this article is worth reading: Toilet Not Flushing All The Way?
🚽 A Clogged Drain Line or Mainline
The drain lines are the lines in your home that connect your drain system to the mainline. The mainline takes all that wastewater to your municipal main sewer drain pipe connection. It’s easy to tell the difference between a blocked drain line vs. a mainline problem.
Problems from a clogged drain line will be limited to one area in your home, such as the bathroom fixtures in one room. For example, if you have an upstairs blockage issue, the downstairs area will be fine, and vice versa.
However, mainline blockages will affect your whole house. A drain line blockage is caused by the same things that affect a blocked toilet. These blockages cause the same negative air pressure, and you get the same gurgling and toilet bubbles.
The bigger problem can be if the blockage is further down the drain line or mainline, where consumer-style tools and equipment cannot reach it. You may notice different plumbing problems, such as flushing the toilet and water starting to back up into the shower. This is where you need a professional.
Tree roots and debris can also be the cause of a clogged mainline. The roots can be attracted by a drainage system’s moisture and warmth and creep through their holes or loose joints.
After feeding on the nutrients they will find there, the roots will grow and cause a blockage. This is a serious plumbing system issue that needs to be sorted immediately.
⚒️ The Fix
A drain line blockage may be cleared using a plumbing auger if close enough. If it goes further down, such as in the mainline, a plumber will send a camera down to find out where the blockage is.
This may require the removal of the toilet to tackle the problem. They may even need to dig up your front yard or backyard to access the offending line and rectify it. Definitely not something you want to be doing yourself.
Related Reading: How to Find the Main Sewer Line in Your House
🚽 Blockage in the Vent Stacks
The vent stack is the pipe that goes up the roof from the drainage system. Its primary purpose is to emit air and sewer gases from the toilet plus equalize the air pressure.
A blocked vent stack will also cause negative pressure, leading to the same gurgling sounds. These plumbing vents can be blocked by animals building their nest there, debris, and leaves, to name a few.
⚒️ The Fix
To fix this problem, climb the roof to establish where the blockage is. If it’s noticeable and easy to reach, you can unblock it yourself. Anything further down needs to be snaked out. If this is the issue, it’s time to call a plumber.
🚽 Municipal Sewer Line is Clogged
If unsuccessful on all the other fixes, the last thing that can cause these issues is a clogged municipal sewer line.
A municipal sewer pipe is what everyone’s mainline dumps into that takes all that wastewater away to be treated. If you think this is the issue, speak to your neighbors and see if they are experiencing the same problems as you.
If so, it’s time to call whoever the sewer authority is in your area to do a sewer cleanout. At this point, it’s their responsibility to fix it, not you as the homeowner.
🚽 Taking Care of Your Home’s Plumbing
If it’s not the municipality or water company’s problem to fix, it’s yours to get those lines unblocked.
This article provides essential insights into the common yet troubling issue of toilet gurgling, outlining its causes and offering practical solutions to fix it. It underscores the urgency of addressing plumbing problems early to prevent more significant issues, emphasizing the role of professional intervention in ensuring a properly functioning plumbing system.
Phyxter Home Services, with its wealth of experience and a team of knowledgeable professionals, stands as a beacon of reliability for all your plumbing needs. Our experts are equipped to handle any plumbing challenge, ensuring your home remains comfortable and safe.
We encourage you to delve into our repository of plumbing articles for more valuable information. If you’re facing persistent plumbing issues, don’t hesitate to visit us at Phyxter Home Services for expert assistance. Let us help you solve your plumbing problems efficiently and effectively.
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