One household problem you may run into as a homeowner is a gurgling drain. You may hear the sound when you have water draining from your sink, when you flush your toilet, or even when your washing machine empties itself. While this may seem like a harmless noise at first, it can be a key warning sign of bigger underlying issues with your plumbing system. Identifying the root cause of the issue is the first step in properly remedying it before it turns into a more massive issue to deal with.
Plumbing System Basics
Your plumbing system has a series of wastewater lines that are specifically designed to move wastewater smoothly out of your home. Each drain in your home is connected to a drain line. Each drain line connects to your home’s main sewer line, which is the line responsible for carrying all your wastewater out of your home.
Part of removing that water is also allowing an adequate amount of air to flow through the pipe to maintain proper pressure. Without proper venting, the wastewater traveling through your lines would create a suction effect. This will slow down drainage and disrupt the normal flow of wastewater out of your home.
Whenever something disrupts the balance between wastewater and air, it can create unusual noises like gurgling from your piping. The sound can indicate a venting issue, a blockage in your line, or another developing plumbing problem that requires professional assistance.
Partial Drain Clog
One of the most common reasons that you can experience gurgling noises coming from your drains is that there’s a partial clog in the line. Any time that there’s a blockage that allows some water to pass through, airflow is restricted. As water pushes past the obstruction, it can trap pockets of air within the pipe itself. It’s those trapped air pockets that will eventually escape through the drain opening, which creates that distinctive gurgling noise.
Partial clogs can develop due to a number of different materials being put down your drain. Some of the most common include hair, soap residue, grease, food debris, and even small foreign objects. As they accumulate over time, they can create partial clogs that cause your gurgling noises. Kitchen sinks are especially prone to having these types of clogs just due to the amount of grease and food particles that can build up on the interior walls of your drain pipes.
It’s vitally important to have a professional come in and clear out your drain line. You should never let a partial clog go uninterrupted, as it will eventually cause a full clog in your line. That can lead to a backup of wastewater into your home, which can be very damaging and costly to deal with.
Blocked Vent Pipe
Another typical cause of gurgling noises coming from your drain is due to a blocked vent pipe. As we just discussed, any time that air is interrupted when it comes to wastewater moving through your drain line, it can disrupt the balance in that line itself. Without adequate airflow from your vent, your line won’t get the air it needs to effectively push wastewater to the municipal line.
Because your drain line is unable to pull air from its designated vent pipe, it will try to pull air through nearby drains. This will cause a distinctive gurgling noise in your bathtubs, sinks, or even showers. It’s important to note that the blockage typically occurs at a different fixture from where you hear the gurgling noise coming from.
Vent blockages can occur for several different reasons. The most obvious is that debris, like leaves, has blocked the pipe outlet. Sometimes, small animals or even birds can nest in the pipe and obstruct airflow through it. Most plumbing vents do come out on your roof. This can make them a little difficult to access, and most people rely on a professional to come in and clear out the vent blockage.
Main Sewer Line Problems
Sometimes the issue may not be in one of the drain lines for your fixtures but rather your main sewer line. The main sewer line is where all your individual drain lines from all your fixtures and appliances connect to flow all your wastewater to your municipal sewer line or your septic tank. Whenever your main sewer line gets partially blocked, it can affect all the drains throughout your home.
Your main sewer line can be blocked for several different reasons. Tree roots are a very common one, as they develop over time. Anywhere that there’s a small crack in your main sewer line, roots will crawl through to get to the natural fertilizer known as your wastewater. As the roots grow larger, they will expand inside the pipe and obstruct the free flow of wastewater out of your home.
Some additional causes include grease buildup, flushable wipes, and other non-flushable materials accumulating inside your line. Whenever there is a partial obstruction in your main sewer line, air and water are competing for space inside. This can cause the water to turn back around and come up through your drain lines, creating gurgling noises as they release into your home. It’s best to get professional drain cleaning service to remove the clog before it gets any worse.
Faulty P-Traps
Another potential reason you may experience gurgling noises coming from your drains is that you have a failing P-trap. All plumbing fixtures in your home have a component known as a P-trap. This is a curved section of pipe located underneath your sinks, tubs, and other fixtures. Its job is to hold a small amount of water to create a seal. This is great for preventing sewer gases from entering your home from your sewer line.
Unfortunately, if your P-trap is damaged, dried out, or simply installed improperly, it may not function correctly. This can allow air from the drain pipe to move upward through your plumbing fixture and produce those distinctive gurgling noises. If you’re noticing the gurgling noise from a location like a guest bathroom that doesn’t get used that often, you may simply need to refill the P-trap with water. You can do that by turning on the spigot for a couple of seconds to let it refill.
Tips on Preventing Gurgling Drains
While you can’t completely eliminate your risk of ever dealing with a gurgling drain, there are many different things you can do to greatly minimize those risks. One of the most important is to invest in drain strainers. These get placed over the drains in your tubs, sinks, and even your showers. Their job is to prevent unwanted debris from entering your plumbing system. These are very inexpensive and great at preventing unwanted buildup inside your sewer line.
Try to make it a habit to avoid putting unhealthy items down your drains. Things like fat, oil, and even grease are the biggest causes of drain clogs. Have a can or other method to dispose of these materials safely instead of conveniently just pouring them down your drain. We do recommend investing in professional drain cleaning service at least once a year. This is where we can jet out your entire sewer line to remove any debris buildup that could otherwise lead to an unwanted clog.
Expert Plumbing Repair Service
Summit Heating, A/C, Plumbing & Electrical provides expert plumbing repair service for Denver, CO and the surrounding areas. We can also help with all your plumbing installation, replacement, and inspection needs.
Contact Summit Heating, A/C, Plumbing & Electrical today to schedule your next service consultation in Denver.
