When you hear a gurgling noise coming from your kitchen or bathroom sink, or any other drain for that matter, then time is of the essence. Most often, gurgling noises are a sign of a clogged drain, which, if left in disrepair, can cause flooding or other significant damage to your home.
Fortunately, if you act quickly, you may be able to unclog the drain before it’s too late. So, in this brief blog post, we will explain what’s making the gurgling sound, how to diagnose a clogged drain, how to unclog the drain yourself, if possible, and when to call in a professional plumber to help you.
What’s making the gurgling sound?
The gurgling sound is caused by air bubbles that form when something is clogging up your drain or the sewage system. There are several different types of clogs, namely, full clogs and partial clogs. In most cases, gurgling sounds are a good indication that you have a partial clog, but even a partial clog can, in many situations, be an emergency. Gurgling sounds don’t also mean that you have a clog, though, so how can you diagnose a clogged drain with certainty?
How to diagnose a clogged drain
When you hear gurgling sounds coming from your sink or drain, then in most cases, it will mean that you do have a clogged drain, but to be sure, look for these other symptoms of a clogged drain:
- Water is backing up to your sink, shower, or bathtub
- Water is leaking from the base of your sink or toilet
- Water isn’t draining quickly or at all
- There is a foul odor
If you hear gurgling sounds and notice that you also have one or more of the other problems listed above, then you can be relatively certain that you have a clogged drain. So, the next question is, what should you do about it?
How to unclog a drain yourself
Depending on what’s causing the blockage and where it’s located, you may be able to unclog the drain yourself. If you can see the blockage and reach it, then carefully try to dislodge whatever is blocking the drain; if you’re lucky, that will solve the problem.
If you can’t see or reach the blockage, then you may still be able to unclog your drain with a plunger or drain snake. Plungers use a pressurized seal to remove clogging materials, while drain snakes will be able to get in very tight pipes and corners to try and use friction to remove the clogging material. If none of these products work, then you might need a pro.
When to contact a professional plumber
If you aren’t able to unclog the drain yourself or you don’t want to risk making the problem any worse, then your best bet will be to contact a professional plumber and have them come out and unclog the drain for you.
If you need any help with plumbing in Doylestown, PA, then contact Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling for comprehensive plumbing services.