What Does It Mean When Your Toilet Gurgles?

Sometimes, toilets make peculiar sounds that leave us scratching our heads. Sudden gurgling and bubbling noises often catch homeowners off guard and cause them to wonder if the unit is about to break down. So, what does it mean when your toilet gurgles?

To teach you more about toilet gurgling, Gladiator Services is here to explain what causes this strange noise and how to resolve it swiftly and efficiently.

Gladiator Services is Hillsdale, NJ’s go-to choice for professional plumbing and HVAC services. If you need reliable plumbing services in Hillsdale, NJ, contact the experts at Gladiator Services.

Why Do Toilets Gurgle?

Most toilets don’t make sounds until they refill their tank after you flush them. Strange and unusual sounds are often a cause for concern and typically signify a malfunction. Gurgling noises are no different.

So, what does it mean when your toilet gurgles?

Toilet gurgling indicates a line clog somewhere within your plumbing system. Pipe blockages prevent air and waste from flowing through the lines properly and often generate negative air pressure that pushes back on the clog. This creates a gurgling noise and can cause your toilet water to bubble.

Four Causes of Toilet Gurgling

Unfortunately, finding a gurgling-causing clog isn’t always easy since it can form in multiple places. That said, most develop in one of the following locations:

• Within the toilet
• Within or outside the vent stack
• Within drain lines or the mainline
• Within the municipal sewer line

1. Toilet Clogs

Clogged toilets are the most common cause of gurgling and the easiest issue to fix. They don't require special tools or equipment, allowing you to clear the clog with traditional household supplies. However, it’s important to note that this problem will only affect one toilet, so if other commodes gurgle, the blockage is likely somewhere else. 

To fix a toilet clog, place a plunger inside your toilet and carefully work it up and down. This will loosen the clog if it isn’t deep within the pipe. If you can’t dislodge the blockage after 15 to 20 plunges, it’s likely further down the pipe and will require additional equipment. 

Deep toilet clogs typically require a plumbing snake or auger to clear. Guide the snake or auger through the pipe until you reach the blockage. Gently work the clog with the device until it eradicates the problem. 

Keep in mind that most quality plumbing snakes and augers cost a few hundred dollars, so it might be better to contact a professional plumber if you can’t clear the clog with a plunger.

2. A Blocked Vent Stack

Most Hillsdale, New Jersey, homes have a vent stack that helps control air pressure within your plumbing lines while discharging exhaust gas. Vent stacks are long vertical pipes that slightly protrude out of a property’s roof. They don’t contain water and must remain clear to operate properly and manage internal pipe airflow.

Blocked or clogged vent stacks create negative air pressure that causes toilet gurgling. It can also cause your plumbing fixtures to drain slowly and foul-smelling sewer odors to enter your home. 

Vent stack blockages can develop for various reasons, ranging from bird nests on top of the vent to leaves and debris falling inside the pipe. Small rodents can also climb into the line and die before exiting the vent. 

Although some handy homeowners can clear their vent stack by removing nests, dead pests, or running a plumbing snake through the pipe, severe clogs often require a professional to remove them. It’s best to contact a professional if you believe your property has a blocked vent stack.

3. Drain Line and Mainline Clogs

Many people confuse drain lines with their property’s mainline. 

Drain lines transport water to your plumbing fixtures while the mainline, also called the sewer line, carries blackwater and waste into the city’s municipal sewer line. Mainline clogs will affect multiple fixtures and cause numerous toilets to gurgle. Drain line blockages only affect fixtures within a specific area. 

Resolving both mainline and drain line clogs requires a professional plumber since they are difficult to access and require special tools. Professionals often conduct a video inspection to find the clog and determine the best clearing method. Severe clogs within your mainline may require plumbers to dig up your yard to access the line. However, some plumbing companies offer trenchless sewer line services if the blockage isn’t exceedingly severe. 

4. Municipal Sewer Line Blockages

Sometimes, municipal sewer line blockages cause toilet gurgling and adversely affect several other plumbing fixtures. Your property’s mainline connects to the municipal sewer line and transfers unsanitary water to it, allowing it to flow into the sewers. To put it simply, the municipal sewer line acts as the middleman between your mainline and the city’s sewer system.

Unfortunately, you can’t clear municipal sewer line clogs yourself since the city controls it and handles repairs. If you believe your toilet gurgling stems from a municipal sewer line clog, ask your neighbors if they’re experiencing similar plumbing issues. If so, contact the city or your water company to check the municipal sewer line’s condition and when the city plans to fix it.

If your Hillsdale, New Jersey home experiences a clog that causes your toilet to gurgle, contact Gladiator Services. Our experienced plumbers will eliminate the clog and restore your toilet’s operations at a price that fits your budget. We’ve helped countless Hillsdale residents resolve their plumbing issues, and we can do the same for you.

Contact Gladiator Services for High-Quality Professional Plumbing in Hillsdale, New Jersey

Next time your toilet starts gurgling and leaves you wondering, “What does it mean when your toilet gurgles?” contact Gladiator Services. Our plumbers will have your pipes clean and clear in no time while enhancing your plumbing system’s efficiency, lifespan, and overall quality. From drain line cleaning to professional toilet repair, Gladiator Services is your one-stop shop for all your residential plumbing needs.

Give Gladiator Services a call at (201) 512-8972 or fill out our online form and receive unmatched plumbing services in Hillsdale, New Jersey, today!