Gurgling Drains May Be An Indication Of Bigger Problems
- By: Amer ZaghloulehUncategorizedComment: 0
Those gurgling sounds that you’ve noticed coming from your bathroom or kitchen drains are never a welcome discovery. It doesn’t matter where the sounds are coming from, they’re anything but normal. While you may think that these noises are normal, nothing could be further from the truth. Anytime Plumbing is very familiar with this problem and can answer the question “what are the gurgling sounds that my drains make?” As a top-rated plumbing company, we can quickly determine what’s causing the problem and recommend the right solution.
What do we know about gurgling drains?
Experience has taught us that drains create gurgling noises because the water in your pipes is unable to flow freely through them. For example, when you flush your toilet, the air in front of the wastewater creates a vacuum creates a vacuum as it moves forward. In a normal functioning drain free of blockages, the water flows quick enough to allow any air that’s in the pipe to move behind the water. If there’s even a partial blockage, the air struggles to flow properly and cannot get past the water, so the drain is unable to work properly and makes the gurgling sounds that you’re hearing.
What causes the gurgling sounds that your drains are making?
The experts at Anytime Plumbing typically find one of two specific causes when answering the question “what are the gurgling sounds that my drains make?” In most cases, the problem is either a blocked drain line or a clogged vent pipe. Here is a breakdown of the two issues:
Gurgling caused by a blocked drain line – in many instances, loud gurgling noises indicate that there is a blockage in your drain line. There are a number of reasons for this. Typically, the number of drains that are emitting these sounds will give our experts an idea of the location of the blockage.
Furthermore, if you only hear the gurgling noises coming from one specific drain that is most likely the location of the blockage. On the other hand, if you hear a gurgling sound in the bathroom when you turn on the kitchen faucet, then the problem is probably in the main sewer line. These gurgling sounds are the result trapped air or gases that are unable to reach the plumbing vent.
Gurgling caused by a clogged vent pipe – because vent pipes are open-ended and protrude through your roof near one of your bathrooms or in the kitchen, it’s easy for all types of debris to get in there and cause a blockage. When this happens, the air or gas can only escape from one other place – your drains. Keep that in mind the next time you’re trying to figure out what’s causing that foul odor in your bathroom or kitchen.
What are the other reasons that drains make gurgling sounds?
In addition to the two reasons given above, the Anytime Plumbing experts are aware of three other reasons when answering the question “what are the gurgling sounds that my drains make?” Whether you’ve noticed those gurgling sounds in the bathroom or kitchen, it’s important to determine the cause. We know that it might not be easy for you to find the cause and that is why we are just a call away. Besides a blocked drain line or a clogged vent pipe, it could be one of the following causes:
Clogged sewer line – in addition to causing the gurgling sounds in your drains and other sections of your plumbing system, a clogged sewer line can cause:
- odd smells or odors
- one fixture to affect the operation of another
- slow drainage in several different locations
- water backing up into sinks and tubs
Inadequate venting system – if you’ve recently moved into your current home and you’ve been hearing these gurgling sounds since day one, it could mean that you have an insufficient number of plumbing vents. It’s probably a good idea to contact us and find out if you need vent work done by the Anytime Plumbing experts.
P-Trap problems – the curved section of pipe beneath your bathroom or kitchen sinks is what plumbers refer to as the “P-Trap.” This section of pipe holds water which serves as a barrier against sewer gases and prevents them from rising up through your drains or toilets. If you don’t use your sink that often, the water in the P-Trap will evaporate and will no longer prevent those gases from entering your home.
For additional information about “what are the gurgling sounds that my drains make?”, call Anytime Plumbing today. Our experts are available 24/7 to assist you with all plumbing needs and if you have any specific requirement, please let us know. Call us now.
