4 Reasons Your Drain Is Making Noises

Few things are more essential to homeowners than plumbing. So, when your drains start to make a gurgling sound you may panic. What’s that noise? Where’s it coming from? How much is a repair going to cost? 

Finding the answers to these questions is essential to figuring out what is wrong and fixing it. 

Whenever you hear a gurgling sound from the drain in your kitchen sink, shower or washing machine, it is important to identify what it is so that the problem doesn’t get worse. Here are some of the reasons behind the noise. 

What causes gurgling?

There are many different reasons for a gurgling noise in your sink drains. Sometimes drains are partially clogged which can cause the noise, while other times it may mean your pipes are not being vented correctly. Here are the common causes of gurgling in your drain and how to know the difference.

1. Clogged drain

If the noise from your drain is quite loud, that’s a sign that the drain is clogged. Drains can become clogged for several reasons. The first thing you’ll have to find out is where the clog is and you can do this by listening to the sound from different drains. If you only hear the gurgling noise from one drain, that means the clog is in that pipeline. However, if you can listen to the sound from more than one drain, you may have a clog in your main sewer line. 

The gurgling sound is caused by air or gas bubbles that cannot vent properly from your lines. Every drain line needs to have a vent to allow air or gas to separate from the sewer water. It allows the water to flow freely as it leaves your pipes and heads to the municipal sewer tank. 

2. Clogged vent pipe

You may also hear gurgling in your drains because the vent pipe is clogged. Gas needs to escape the pipe, and if the vent is clogged, it will head back up the drain. The noise will be like a bubbly gurgling and is often accompanied by a foul smell from the drain. If you notice your water is draining slowly, it could be due to a clogged vent pipe. 

It is easy to find your vents when you look at your roof. They are recognizable as openings in the roof near the bathroom or kitchen. Most often, they will simply be open pipes. This means that various types of debris can fall inside and clog them up. 

3. Blocked sewer line

Another common cause of gurgling noises in your drains is that the sewer line is blocked. A sewer line is a single large pipe that carries wastewater from all of the drain pipes in your house. It connects with the main municipal sewer line or a septic tank. If just one of the sewer lines is blocked, all of the drains in your home will be impacted. 

How do you know if this is your problem? One way is that if you flush a toilet and the drains in your basement start to overflow with wastewater. Sewer lines can become blocked for several reasons including:

• Tree roots – because trees need water to live, they can often spread their roots out towards the pipes searching for this essential nutrient. Tree roots can cause blockage and even break lines, causing very expensive damage to your plumbing system.
• Broken pipes – there are various reasons why your pipes might break but they need to be repaired quickly or this could cause foundation damage on your property. 
• Toilet waste – sometimes people flush things down the toilet that shouldn’t be flushed. When this rubbish accumulates, it causes a blockage. There are several things that you should not flush including:
  • Feminine hygiene products
  • Baby wipes
  • Cotton swabs/Q-tips
  • Dental floss
  • Paper towel
  • Diapers

4. Damaged p-trap

A p-trap is designed to seal the sewer line to get bad odours flowing through your pipes. Each drain has one connected to it. You’ll recognize it as the curve-shaped pipe under your sink. Essentially it traps some water in the pipe, blocking off gases. If your P-trap is damaged you’ll notice bad smells coming from your drain as well as the gurgling noise. 

How to Solve Your Plumbing Problem

While a gurgling noise in your drains may not be a sign of major plumbing problems, it is a sign that something needs to be fixed or you could end up with a bigger problem later on. It can also be annoying to hear gurgling each time your flush water down your drain. Not to mention the bad odour that comes with gas escaping through your drain pipe. 

The only solution to a gurgling drain is to have a professional plumber inspect your pipes. They will be able to locate the source of the problem. Once they assess what is causing the noise and where the clog is, they’ll be able to clear your pipes. Professional plumbers have the experience and equipment needed to clear your drains. This means everything will start running well again. 

Once the problem is solved, it is good to regularly clean your drains and pipes to prevent blockages from happening again. You should use a baking powder and vinegar solution rather than store-bought chemicals. Those chemicals can clean your gutters quickly and efficiently, but they can also cause corrosion inside your pipes over time. Damage like that to your pipes increases the likelihood they will start to leak. 

To speak to a qualified plumber in Etobicoke, call Brothers Plumbing at 1-800-742-8471 or contact us here.