5 Possible Reasons Why My Toilet is Bubbling
When you move that little silver handle down, you want your toilet to do two things, flush and refill. That’s the normal process, but occasionally your toilet might do something else: For no apparent reason, it might start bubbling and emitting a gurgling sound.
In that case, you’re left wondering, why is my toilet bubbling?
There are several possible causes for the bubbling that we’ll try to explain, along with a few possible DIY solutions. Here are five possible reasons you’re experiencing a bubbling or gurgling toilet:
1. Clogged Toilet
Any number of things can cause your toilet to clog, from using too much toilet paper to trying to flush things that never should be flushed, to begin with.
Solution – If the clog is near the surface, you may be able to clear it with a plunger. For high pressure and a maximum effect, use duct tape to seal off other bathroom fixtures, and then plunge the toilet through 10-15 pumping motions. If that doesn’t work, you might want to buy a snake or a plumber’s auger to clear the clog. If none of that works, give us a call and we’ll help you out.
2. Problems in the Tank
When you remove the tank cover, you see a flapper whose job is to flush and refill the tank with fresh water. A damaged flapper may be the source of the bubbling issue.
Solution – If the flapper’s not working properly, you can buy replacement parts at a hardware store, and it’s really a pretty simple fix. If you don’t have the time or don’t like DIY repair work, a plumber can easily fix it for you.
3. Blocked Vent Stack
The vent stack is the vertical pipe extending out through your roof that releases exhaust gas and helps control the air pressure in your plumbing system. It may become clogged with leaves and other debris, by a bird nest, or possibly a small rodent that’s died in the pipe. In addition to a bubbling toilet, a gassy smell in your house is another symptom of a blocked vent stack.
Solution: Since the vent stack is on your roof, and climbing on a roof is potentially dangerous if you’re not trained to do it, we strongly recommend calling in professionals to clear out the blocked vent stack for you.
4. Clogged Main Line
The main line drains all the wastewater from all your home’s fixtures to the main city line. When you flush one toilet and another toilet in the house starts bubbling, or when you flush a toilet and water backs up in the shower, those are pretty good indicators your main line is clogged.
Solution – You probably don’t have the equipment or experience to handle this job. You’ll need to call a plumber that specializes in drain unblocking to clear the main line for you.
5. Clogged City Line
If you’re having bubbling and backup problems throughout the house, there’s a good chance there is a major problem with the main sewer line serving your neighborhood. One way to check is to ask your neighbors if they’re having the same problem, and if they are, chances are the city line is the source of the problem.
Solution – There’s really nothing you can do to fix the problem, and it isn’t your responsibility anyhow. It’s the problem of your utility provider – or your city government – and they should be contacted immediately about the problem.
Expert Plumbing Solutions from Wilbur’s Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing
From bubbling toilets in Birmingham to sewer lines that need a thorough drain cleaning in Hoover, the experts at Wilbur’s can do it all for you. We are family-owned, and for over 45 years we’ve served the greater Birmingham area with expert plumbing services.
All our technicians are licensed, certified, bonded, and insured, and they’re available 24/7 to handle any plumbing emergencies that might occur in either your home or business.
So, when your toilet starts bubbling or you have some other plumbing issues, call Wilbur’s Air Conditioning Heating Plumbing at (205) 655-2396, and our expert technicians will be right over!
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