How To Fix Toilet Gurgling

Most of us take our functioning home plumbing systems for granted. But as soon as we’re faced with concerning noises coming from our toilet after flushing, it’s easy to panic. You might start worrying that your toilet’s long-lasting gurgling could be a nightmare for your wallet. The good news is, lingering toilet noises aren’t always a serious problem. Our guide below will help you better understand your toilet and what might be causing any troubling sounds.

Follow our troubleshooting tips to figure out when you need to hire a professional. If you can’t find the source of the gurgling or don’t have the equipment or skills to DIY, you’ll want to call a plumber. After all, some bubbling noises might indicate problems that aren’t quick fixes. In those cases, it’s worth finding a local plumber who specializes in toilet plumbing and septic systems. They’ll save you a lot of time, money and stress.

On This Page:

1. What Does a Gurgling Toilet Mean?
2. How to Fix a Gurgling Toilet
3. How to Fix a Minor Clog
4. How to Clean Mineral Residue in Your Toilet Tank
5. How to Clear an Obstructed Vent Pipe

What Does a Gurgling Toilet Mean?

It’s normal for your toilet to gurgle for about five seconds during flushing. However, when these noises continue on and off persistently, you know that there’s a blockage somewhere in your drainage system or vent stack.

Essentially, gurgling sounds are gas bubbles being released from collected water. As air struggles to flow through the line, it creates negative air pressure that produces noise. Since we know abnormal toilet gurgling results from a blockage, you’ll need to find its exact location.

Since the clog could be anywhere — from near the toilet to near the main sewer system or septic tank — hire a professional to pinpoint the issue. A blocked vent stack (the roof-top pipe that releases gases from your sewer line) is one area that’s tough to clear without help from a professional.

Before you start troubleshooting, let’s go over the six common causes of toilet gurgling:

1. A leak in the plumbing line
2. Partially clogged pipes
3. Mineral buildup in your toilet tank
4. Faulty tank equipment or a full septic tank
5. A blocked plumbing vent
6. Damaged or clogged sewer main line

How To Fix a Gurgling Toilet

Identifying the reason why a toilet is gurgling is the most important first step. The only time where you can safely tackle a repair without a plumber is if there’s a clog relatively close to the toilet. Keep in mind that the cost to hire a plumber ranges drastically, depending on the cause of the blockage.

Ranging from cleaning the tank at $80 to repairing the sewer main line for nearly $4,000, the cost strongly depends on the issue. You’ll also find that the time it takes to repair a clog varies greatly. A blockage or leak that’s easy to identify could only take a day to remedy, whereas problem-solving a sewer main line repair could take over a week.

In the unlikely case that your toilet needs to be completely replaced, keep in mind you’ll need to budget for a new fixture and the toilet installation costs. For example, eco-friendly dual flush models tend to be more expensive than simpler models.

If the source of a block is simple and you’re confident in your abilities to unclog it, these are the basic tools you’ll need:

• Pipe wrench
• Basin wrench
• Adjustable wrench
• Tongue and groove plier
• Plumber’s putty
• Plumber’s tape
• Toilet auger
• Toilet plunger

How To Fix a Minor Clog

Clogged pipes and drains are sometimes fixable without professional help. When you’re certain that gurgling is due to a clog near the base of your toilet’s sewage system, you can try to follow these three steps first before calling a plumber:

1. Close off the drains in sinks, showers and tubs near the toilet using plumber’s putty or another type of sealant.
2. Once the drains are sealed off, plunge the toilet 10-15 times.
3. If plunging doesn’t dislodge the clog, buy or rent a plumber’s toilet auger or snake from a hardware store.

It’s important to avoid commercial drain cleaning products like Drano, since they tend to harm plumbing pipes. If there is a minor or partial clog in your system close to your toilet, using a plunger and/or a snake should be enough to dislodge it.

How to Clean Mineral Residue in Your Toilet Tank

Orange residue in your toilet tank is a visible buildup of calcium, iron and/or magnesium in the tank. This buildup interferes with the float valve function, which could be the reason for your gurgling toilet.

1. Dissolve a commercial toilet cleaner, like a Clorox tablet, or use a bleach solution to scrub the toilet tank. The standard bleach solution 2.5 tablespoons of regular 5.25% household bleach per gallon of water.
2. Use vinegar to clean the tank. By adding half a cup of vinegar to the toilet bowl, letting it stand a few minutes, brushing the bowl, and flushing, you’ll help remove mineral sediment. But be careful of how often you use vinegar because its acidity could erode the rubber flapper valve over time.

How to Clear an Obstructed Vent Pipe

When your toilet vent pipe ends on the roof, it can become blocked by something falling into it. If the item is close to the vent, you can sometimes get it out on your own by fishing the object out with a length of wire with a hook on the end. If that doesn’t solve the issue, call an experienced pro.

Conclusion

Since gurgling noises are difficult to trace, chances are you’ll need to hire a plumber you can trust to diagnose and repair the issue. Rather than getting discouraged with your toilet troubles, remember you can always diagnose the problem with some professional help. Plus, after solving your plumbing issue, you’ll be all the wiser the next time you’re faced with a similar household challenge.

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