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A Gurgling Toilet Is A Sign Your Sewer Drain Needs Attention Now

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If you occasionally hear a gurgling sound from your toilet, especially when water is draining out from another plumbing fixture, you need to call a plumber. Don't assume that this is normal because you may have heard it in other places, and don't assume the plumbing is just getting old. That gurgling is a sign that there is a blockage somewhere in the sewer line or main line, or the vent stack that allows sewer gases to escape. Not only do you need to get rid of the blockage, but you need to consider cleaning out the sewer line, too, to prevent another blockage.

Air or Water Forced Through the Lines

Bathroom fixtures are often connected by a common drain pipe. Normally, in a clear, functioning system, once the water starts moving down one pipe, it drains fully without backing up into another pipe. If there is a blockage in the main line (also called the mainline, sewer line, etc.; this is the main line leading to the municipal sewer system), then the water trying to drain out can back up into other pipes. You have this rush of water from your shower drain, for example, that encounters a partially clogged main line, so that water starts to drain very slowly from the shower and possibly back up into the sink or toilet line. When that water is forced up into the toilet, you hear bubbling or gurgling. It can be random or constant as the water tries to move around.

The problem can also be air; all of these pipes are connected to a vent stack that allows sewer gases to escape through a roof vent. If that vent is blocked, the air gets forced into other pipes, including the drain from the toilet. That air then causes gurgling, too.

Once the Clog Is Gone, Cleaning Is in Order

The first priority is to find the blockage and open it up. Sometimes the blockage is due to a broken or breached sewer pipe, and that requires repair. But if you're lucky enough to be dealing only with a clog, once the plumber clears that, you need to consider what caused it. Many times these clogs occur with age as gunk builds up on the sides of the pipe. Clearing the clog and opening up the drain pipe is great, but if any gunk is left on the sides, another clog could eventually form much more quickly than you'd expect. This is also a sign that you may want to start arranging for sewer drain cleaning on a regular basis. This is something you'd have done every couple of years or so (maybe a little more frequently, if you've had repeated drain problems throughout your home) to keep the lines clear of even partial clogs.

This Is Not a Quirk of Your Home's Plumbing

It can't be stressed enough that if you hear your toilet gurgle, you need to investigate it. Never consider it a quirk of your home's plumbing; it's not normal. Get a plumber out to clear the main blockage, and then arrange to have the drain pipe cleaned out fully. If you do that and have the drains in your other sinks and tubs (if you have more than one bathroom) in your home cleaned on a regular basis, you'll reduce the chances of having another clog substantially. 

For more information, contact a local sewer cleaning company. 


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