Have you noticed that your sink is making more noise than it used to when it drains? While a gurgling, bubbling, or “glug-glug-glug,” noise might not sound like a problem, this indicates that there is some time of blockage down below.
WHY DOES THE PLUMBING UNDER MY SINK GURGLE?
If your plumbing below your sink is making a gurgling sound, this means that there’s either a clog forming in the drain or that something is blocking one of your vent pipes.
Clogged Drain
Any number of substances and materials can clog a drain:
- Cooking grease, oil, and fat
- Food remnants
- Hair and pet fur
- Facial tissue, napkins, and paper towels
- Wet wipes (yes, even “flushable” ones)
- Feminine hygiene products
- Dental floss
- DIY and craft supplies (paint, adhesives, mortar, etc.)
While a clog may seem like a minor annoyance at first, it can develop into larger problems. It can cause dirty water to back up into your sinks, shower, or bathtub when you use water (ex. flush a toilet or run your dishwasher). It can also build up pressure in your drain pipes that can lead to leaks.
Sometimes, a clog can be cleared just by using a plunger. Cup plungers will work best for most sinks, showers, and tubs, while a flange plunger will work best for a toilet’s irregular shape.
You can also try to clear the clogged drain with a drain snake. However, if the clog is deep down in your home’s plumbing, we recommend involving a plumber, as plumbers have ample experience with long, electric drain snakes that can be harder to control but may be needed to clear the blockage.
Blocked Vent Pipe
Your home’s drain system contains pipes specifically designed for regulating pressure and ventilation—otherwise, your drain pipes would fill up with sewer gases. This network of vent pipes releases sewer gases outdoors, usually through a pipe on your roof.
Occasionally, something can block the vent pipe that lets all the sewer gases out. This can end up making a strange gurgling sound all the way down in your drain pipe. The blockage might be leaves, windblown debris, a bird’s nest, or even a dead animal. Because this pipe can be tricky and dangerous to locate and clean, it’s best to involve a plumber to solve this issue.
At Meyers Companies, Inc., our skilled Griffith plumbers are available 24/7 to help you with plumbing emergencies in your home: (219) 240-0610.