Gurgling pipes are a sign of either a clogged drain line or a clogged vent pipe. Obstacles can block water or air from freely flowing through your pipes.
That gurgling sound is actually air bubbles forcing their way up from inside your drain. When a clog forms down in your pipes, a pocket of air can form around the clog, causing the trapped air to make its way up as water flows down from your sink.
Gurgling Plumbing Noises
If you hear a gurgling or bubbling noise in your plumbing, the air pressure in your water lines is off. You may also notice that the water in your toilet bubbles up randomly right after flushing your toilet. The latter issue could indicate that your drain line or main sewer line has a blockage.
Your Sewer Line is Blocked
But just like any of the pipes in your home, these may get clogged from time to time. A partial clog can be the reason for your bathroom sink making gurgling noise. It could also be behind noise in your tub, shower, and any other drains in your home.
A gurgling sink may seem like a minor annoyance, but if the problem is not rectified, it can grow into a larger plumbing concern. Since the gurgle is caused by air seeping through an existing blockage, there is the potential for other debris to get trapped in this blockage as well.
Some call it gurgling; others say bubbling. One thing we can all agree on is that it's a plumbing issue you want to fix right away. A gurgling sink can be caused by a clog in the interior plumbing or sewer line, or a problem with the drain venting. Either way, if ignored, the issue will only get worse.
A Clogged Toilet Causes a Gurgle
The easiest problem is simply a clogged toilet. When the air gets pushed back, you'll hear the gurgle. That makes this a good place to start. That's especially so if you don't notice a problem anywhere else in the house.
A blockage in a drain line is usually the cause for a gurgling sound when the noises come from one particular drain. The issue is resolved with proper drain cleaning. A plumber uses commercial grade drain cleaning tools to knock out any obstruction in your lines.
Remember, a gurgling sink every time a toilet is flushed can indicate problems with your sewer line. Problems may include a small or huge blockage, but a sink gurgles more due to improper ventilation. You don't need to use a sewer auger to examine your pipes immediately.
If your plumbing vent is clogged, you should always hire a licensed plumber to clean it for two main reasons. The first is that cleaning the vent involves climbing on the roof, which can obviously be dangerous and especially so if your roof has a steeper slope.
If water starts coming out of the drain in a main floor tub or shower, or if the toilets start filling up when you use a drain or run the washing machine, most likely you have a main sewer line clog.
Gurgling septic pipes are usually a sign of a backed up septic system that is clogged. The pipes that are connected to the system will make a very distinct gurgling sound. If you have ever heard this before, you know exactly what this sounds like.
Hire a plumber to auger the sewer main, conduct a video inspection of the sewer line, unclog problem obstructions in the toilet or to clear vent stacks. Most plumbers charge $45 to $200 per hour. Unclogging a toilet costs about $175 flat.
If the drain isn't properly venting, air will fill the vacuum created by the water and cause the gurgling sound, which is the sound of air rushing past the sink's P-trap.
Fill the sink with hot water up to three-quarters of the way. Then, take your plunger and put it over the sinkhole, pressing it down and releasing repeatedly. It may take a couple of minutes, but this will suck the air out of the pipes and create pressure that should dislodge a clog.
Fixing this issue should be a high priority. While the gurgling may be easy to ignore, if the cause of the negative pressure is a broken or collapsed drain line, the problem can get worse, resulting in backed up toilets, showers, sink, and tub drains.
Hot water: Running hot water creates steam and heat that rises through your vent pipe. Turn on a faucet on the uppermost floor of your home and allow it to run hot water for a while. The heat the water creates may be enough to melt any snow or ice that's clogging the vent.
Where is My Plumbing Vent Pipe? In the walls, vent pipes run straight up and down and should be located near the kitchen and bathrooms. Note where the pipe enters from the ceiling. If you have a two-story home, go upstairs to locate the pipe.
A plumbing vent or “stack” as the pros call it, runs from your plumbing through your attic to the top of your roof. It's best to have your plumbing vent atop your roof to let noxious fumes leave your home above nose level.