Pay Attention to the Sounds in your Bathroom!

3/28/2022 (Permalink)

Here's a visual to help put this into perspective!

Your drain is demanding help

If you hear gurgling noises in sinks, showers, toilets, and floor drains, it is actually a yell for help! These noises signal that there is a possible blockage somewhere. Do not ignore these warning signs.

Vent, drain, and, mainline…How is it all tied together?

Located on the roof and running through your home to the mainline, connected to the city sewer, the vent or stack pipe plays two roles. It removes sewer gases and odors, which keeps your house from smelling. And second, it brings fresh air into your plumbing system to maintain pressure and helps water drain properly. It is the hub of the entire plumbing system.

In this image, the toilet, sink, and bathtub all drain to 1 mainline and all vent through 1 main vent.

If there is a clog somewhere in this line (drain pipe or vent pipe), the air is either pushed out or sucked into one fixture (like the toilet), when another is used (like the shower).
The main sewer drain line, most likely buried and running through your lawn, carries all the wastes to the city sewer line. It can also plug with tree roots and household debris and remains.

While the gurgling noises may seem like a nuisance, they can lead to larger issues, like damaged pipes and possibly sewer backup into your home.

Understanding the draining concept

Try this: Turn a plastic soda bottle filled with water upside down and open the cap. The water will pour out in waves as air is pushing its way past the flowing water. The gurgling sound occurs when this repetitive act of flowing water and air move in and out of the bottle.

Call a professional plumber to assess the situation and possibly clear the blockage.

Don’t wait too long, otherwise, our green SERVPRO trucks will be needed to clean up the yuck backup!  

HERE TO HELP.