What Causes A Sink To Gurgle?
There can be a few issues leading to a gurgling sink, and you may need to do some troubleshooting to determine which one is your culprit. To begin with, it’s important to understand why the sink is gurgling. This sound may be caused by air bubbles being forced back up against the flow of the draining water, often caused by a clogged drain, which creates a pocket of air where the water can’t flow. A clogged drain can result from hair, soap scum, oils, food particles, or other foreign material that should not be disposed of down the drain.
The clog might also be located deeper inside the ventilation pipes, which diverge from water pipes allowing gasses from the sewer line to be emitted from a vent in the roof. Sometimes, these vents become clogged because a bird or other animal, rodent, or pest has set up their home in the vent. This blockage forces gasses back down through the water lines and your drain. If this is the cause of the gurgle, there will often be an accompanying noxious odor that will help to know whether the air bubbling up is sewer gas.
The final cause for a sink gurgling is the most dire. Sometimes, the sewer line from your home to the street can become clogged. If sewer line repairs are not performed promptly, damages can become extensive and costly. Periodic sewer line inspections are simple for a plumbing company to perform and ensure there are no clogs in the sewer lines.
How To Fix A Gurgling Sink
If the sink drain only gurgles when water is draining in that specific sink and not when the toilet is flushed or the shower, or other faucets are on, then the problem is most likely a clog in the drain pipe. While using a plumbing snake or chemicals to disintegrate the blockage are options, we don’t suggest going either of these routes. A plumbing snake can damage the pipes and push the clog deeper within the pipe. As for chemicals, these can cause health concerns if they are ingested or come in contact with your skin or eyes. For safe clog removal, we recommend water jetting, which uses high-pressure water to force clogs free.
If you believe the clog is in the vent on the roof, you can climb onto your roof (if you’re comfortable with doing so) and check the vent for obstructions. You can wash these away with a hose or sweep them away with a broom. If you don’t see anything, you can try using an auger or plumbing snake to remove deeper clogs. However, you still run the risk of damaging the pipes, which will then require plumbing repairs.
If you believe the issue is the sewer line, it’s important to call a professional plumber immediately to avoid further damage.