This isn't uncommon. Your washing machine might have been placed in between your toilet and sewer stack. * If your toilet and washing machine drains are connected, they have the same venting system. This can cause your toilet to gurgle when your washer drains.
It means that there is a blockage somewhere in your plumbing system. When the washing machine drains, it creates a vacuum effect that causes the toilet to bubble and indicates a blockage in the system. It could be in the main sewer line or one of the secondary sewer lines.
Excess Water: Washing machines use a significant amount of water, and if multiple loads are done in quick succession, it can overwhelm the plumbing system, leading to backups.
Place the plunger over the drain opening at the bottom of the toilet bowl and push down firmly, then pull up quickly. Repeat this plunging motion several times to create pressure and dislodge the blockage. If the blockage is severe, you may need to repeat the process multiple times.
Often, utilities like a washing machine or dishwasher will have their own vents which connect to the main air vent in your house. One of the most common causes of a gurgling sink is a blockage in this main air vent. When there is a blockage, air can get trapped in the pipes.
A common cause of water hammer can be fast-acting valves on appliances such as washing machines or dishwashers. These valves suddenly stop the water that is moving along the pipes. A shockwave results and this causes the pipes to shudder, causing the banging. The banging gets worse as the valves are worn.
The fix is to plunge the toilet until the clog is removed. However, if you notice gurgling sounds even after removing the clog, you will want to have your plumber clean the sewer lines. For instance, there could be excess toilet paper still causing a partial clog and preventing proper airflow down the pipe.
Plunging is often the first line of defense against toilet clogs and can sometimes resolve gurgling issues. Follow these steps: Ensure there's enough water in the bowl to cover the plunger head.
Water backing up in the second load probably means the backup goes through the toilet, and there might be a clog within your lines. It's also common for washing machines to use the same drain as the sink.
If you have a clog in the washing machine drain, it could impact the plumbing in the rest of your home. When your washing machine doesn't drain, check if the other drains in your home also have clogs. If so, you may have an issue with all your plumbing.
Your drains are partially or completely clogged – One of the most simple reasons your toilet is gurgling is because the main drain on your washing machine is clogged. When your washing machine drains, and there's a clog, the water path is shrunken or restricted.
Behind or within the Wall: In most cases, the vent pipe for a toilet should run vertically from the toilet's waste pipe (known as the closet bend) and extend upward to connect with the main vent stack or a branch vent line that ultimately exits through the roof of your home.
Once the water has fully drained out of the tub, check the drain hose for any debris, clothing, or soap blockages, all of which can make the washing machine drain clogged. To check for clogs, loosen the clamp connecting the hose to the bottom of the tub, then inspect the inside.
You will likely pay around $350 to $650 to have a plumber unclog a main sewer line unless you have complications like serious damage to the line.
With a clogged basement drain, pouring Drano or similar products down your sewer drain can actually damage your pipes or the glue holding them together, causing more sewer system problems in the future.
The main drain of your washing machine is clogged, which is one of the easiest solutions for why your toilet is gurgling. The water channel is constrained or reduced when your washing machine drains, and there is a clog. As a result, air and water are forced back through your pipes in search of an exit.
Turn On Faucets Throughout Your Home
It is only necessary to open the faucets a half turn to allow the air in your pipes to escape. After you turn on all the cold and hot water faucets in your house, you should also flush your toilets to clear out the air trapped in your pipes.
It could be that negative air pressure or suction is building up in the drain line. Eventually, the negative air pressure releases, pushing air back up through the drain and into the toilet bowl, causing the gurgling sound. When this occurs, the toilet may also bubble and flush itself.
Gurgling sounds in a sink can mean a partially clogged drain, a blocked drain vent, a damaged sewer line, or other plumbing issues. Ignoring a gurgling sink can lead to worse problems like water backups, sewer gas leaks, and expensive plumbing repairs.
The easiest and most effective way to vent a washing machine is to run the drainpipe into your home's vent stack. The vent stack, or waste stack, is a vertical pipe that connects to your home's plumbing and exits through the roof.
So in summary – clogged drains, blocked vents, main sewer clogs, and incorrect pipe slopes are basically the four common culprits of a gurgling drain. Once you can pinpoint which one might be your particular issue, you can start exploring the right tactics to get that plumbing symphony silenced once and for all.