Have you ever been sitting on the toilet and all of a sudden you hear this weird noise coming from the bowl? Or maybe your toilet has been bubbling for a while now and you have no idea why. What causes this and is it something to be worried about? It’s a common problem that many homeowners experience.
What Causes a Toilet to Gurgle or Bubble?
Toilet noises can be anything from a low gurgle to a loud bubble. If your toilet bubbles or gurgles when you flush it, there’s a good chance that you have a drain line blockage. When there’s a clog, negative air pressure builds up and that’s when you’ll hear the gurgling noise. Other possible reasons for this problem is that there is a clog somewhere farther down close to the main sewer line or in your home’s vent stack.
Sometimes, you can fix it with home remedies but other times you may need to get a plumber involved. Either way, you have a problem. Here’s a full list of reasons why your toilet may be gurgling:
- The toilet is blocked. You can see there’s shredded toilet paper among other things floating in the water, and the water level is higher than normal.
- The toilet is not draining due to a clog further down the line. This could be caused by flushing things down the toilet that shouldn’t be – like feminine products or cloth wipes.
- There’s a block in the main sewer drain (where all the drains in your house lead). This can be caused by many things such as roots growing through the pipes, pipe segments separation, pipe bulging because of shifting or settling ground.
- The shut-off valve is closed. It could be the toilet shut-off valve was accidentally closed or partly closed.
- The vent stack is clogged. A less obvious problem, the vent stack is actually located on the roof of your home. It’s used to ventilate sewer odors from your home and equalize air pressure in your pipes. This can sometimes get clogged by leaves or other debris which prevents water and waste from moving freely.
How To Fix It
A toilet is only designed to carry away human waste and dissolvable toilet tissue. Everything else is not designed to disintegrate, such as “flushable wipes”, cigarette butts, food waste and more. It is important to keep your toilet in good condition so that you can avoid costly repairs down the road.
Sometimes you will see stuff floating on the water, shredded papers, and other things stuck in the toilet. Kids might think it’s a good idea to put toys and household items into the toilet when you have your back turned for a second, and now you have a clogged toilet. Use these methods to try to unclog it:
- Try plunging your toilet. If the clog is light enough, a plunger should clear the clog.
- Use a drain snake. See our recommendations for the Best Drain Snakes For 2022.
- Still clogged? If these two methods don’t work, it’s time to call a plumber.
Call Tap 2 Drain
From clogged drains to gurgling toilets and so much more, Tap 2 Drain Plumbing ensures your household plumbing and heating systems are running smoothly. Serving the Lower Mainland since 2007, our customers appreciate our responsive, expert care and reasonable rates. Get a quote and book your appointment!