Why Does My Toilet Gurgle & Bubble?

Has your toilet started bubbling or gurgling? These sounds may occur right after you flush, or they may happen at irregular intervals. Sometimes, they even happen when you haven’t used your toilet in a while. If you’ve noticed your toilet making unusual sounds, here’s what you need to know.

Is Toilet Bubbling Normal?

Most of the time, a bubbling toilet is NOT normal. It usually indicates a problem in your drain or sewer lines, or in your vent stack (the way that sewer gases escape your home).

Why Do Toilets Bubble?

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Toilets bubble when negative pressure builds up in the lines. When water and waste cannot flow properly, the air pressure in your pipes is negatively affected. Eventually, this pressure releases.

When this happens, it pushes air back up your line. You may just hear a sudden gurgling noise from your toilet or you may see the water bubble. If enough pressure is released, your toilet may flush spontaneously.

What Should I Do If My Toilet Bubbles?

Depending on how bad the clog is, you may be able to address the problem yourself, or you may need to call a professional plumber for drain or sewer cleaning. Start by reaching out to your neighbors. If they are having similar problems, the issue likely exists in the city sewer line, not in the drain or sewer specific to your home.

If they aren’t experiencing it, you can try plunging your toilet or snaking it. If that doesn’t work, give us a call at Larry & Sons. We’ll send out a professional Hagerstown plumber to find your clog and eliminate it fast.