Experiencing those unsettling toilet gurgles when washer drains? A common culprit is often your home’s plumbing vent, designed to regulate air pressure. Blockages in this system, sometimes caused by debris or even nesting animals like squirrels, can disrupt the airflow. When your washing machine, a significant water-using appliance, discharges its wastewater, the vacuum created pulls air from the nearest available source – your toilet. Correctly diagnosing the root cause, which might also involve understanding sewer line backflow, is crucial before attempting any fixes. Let’s explore five effective solutions to address these pesky toilet gurgles when washer drains quickly and efficiently.
Image taken from the YouTube channel The Savvy Professor , from the video titled How To Fix Toilets Gurgling When Washer Drains (Pipes Blockage – What Are The Solutions To Fix It?) .
Toilet Gurgling? 5 Fixes When Washer Drains! (A 60-Second Read)
Toilet gurgles when washer drains? It’s a common plumbing problem, and luckily, often fixable yourself. This article provides five potential fixes you can try, focusing on easy troubleshooting steps. The reason for the gurgling sound is typically related to a pressure imbalance caused by the water from your washing machine rushing through your drain pipes. This creates a vacuum that tries to pull air, and the easiest place to get it is from your toilet trap, which causes the gurgling. Let’s explore some solutions.
1. Check for Simple Clogs
The first and easiest step is to look for any obvious obstructions in the immediate vicinity.
Identifying Nearby Clogs
- Toilet Bowl: Is the water level unusually low after flushing? This could indicate a partial clog in the toilet itself. Try plunging the toilet.
- Bathroom Sink Drain: Sometimes the bathroom sink drain and the toilet share a vent. A blockage here can contribute to pressure issues. Remove the stopper and clear any visible debris.
- Washing Machine Drain Hose: Inspect the hose connecting your washing machine to the drainpipe. Make sure it’s not kinked or collapsed, restricting water flow.
2. Clean the Washing Machine Drain Standpipe
The standpipe is the vertical pipe into which your washing machine drain hose empties. It’s a frequent culprit in gurgling issues.
How to Clean the Standpipe
- Carefully detach the washing machine drain hose from the standpipe.
- Shine a flashlight into the standpipe to inspect for visible clogs (lint, hair, soap scum).
- Use a plumbing snake (auger) or a long, flexible brush to dislodge any debris. Insert the tool into the standpipe and rotate it to break up the clog.
- Flush the standpipe with water from a garden hose to clear any remaining residue.
- Reattach the washing machine drain hose securely.
3. Vent Issues
Proper venting is crucial for equalizing pressure in your plumbing system. Clogged vents can cause toilets to gurgle.
Understanding Plumbing Vents
Vents are pipes that extend from your drain lines up through your roof, allowing air to enter the plumbing system.
Checking for Vent Blockages
- Visually inspect the roof vents for any obstructions, such as bird nests, leaves, or snow. Important Safety Note: Exercise extreme caution when working on your roof. If you’re not comfortable, call a professional.
- You can try flushing the vents with a garden hose from the roof. Be careful not to force debris further down.
4. Consider a Plumbing Snake (Auger)
A plumbing snake can reach further into drain lines than you might be able to otherwise.
Using a Plumbing Snake Effectively
- Insert the snake into the drainpipe (either the toilet or the standpipe).
- Rotate the handle to feed the snake further down the drain.
- If you encounter resistance, continue rotating to break up or grab the clog.
- Slowly retract the snake, bringing the debris with it.
- Repeat as necessary until the drain flows freely.
5. Check for Partially Clogged Main Drain Line
A partially clogged main drain line can cause widespread plumbing problems, including toilet gurgling. This is a more serious issue, but there are some signs you can watch out for.
Signs of a Main Drain Line Clog
- Multiple drains in your house are draining slowly.
- Water backs up into other fixtures when you run the washing machine (e.g., water in the shower drain).
- Unpleasant odors emanating from drains.
Addressing a Main Drain Line Clog
This is often best left to professionals. A plumber has specialized tools and experience to clear main drain line clogs safely and effectively. They may use a sewer camera to diagnose the problem and a powerful drain snake or hydro-jetter to clear the blockage.
Toilet Gurgling? Washer Draining FAQs
This FAQ addresses common questions about why your toilet gurgles when the washing machine drains and provides further clarification based on the "Toilet Gurgling? 5 Fixes When Washer Drains! 60s Read" article.
Why does my toilet bubble or gurgle only when the washing machine drains?
This usually means you have a partial clog or blockage in your main drain line. The washing machine dumps a large volume of water quickly, and the restricted drain line forces air back up through the toilet, causing the gurgling sound. The toilet gurgles when the washer drains because it’s the path of least resistance for the escaping air.
What’s the main cause behind a toilet gurgling when the washer drains?
The most common culprit is a buildup of hair, lint, grease, or other debris in the drain pipes. Over time, this accumulation restricts the flow of wastewater. This forces air pressure changes when a large volume of water enters from the washer.
I tried plunging my toilet, but it still gurgles. What else can I do?
Plunging is a good first step, but it might not clear a clog further down the main drain line. The article suggests checking your vent stack for obstructions and using a drain snake to break up any deeper blockages. If the toilet gurgles when the washer drains after plunging, the clog is likely further down the line.
If I can’t fix it myself, who should I call?
If the suggested fixes don’t solve the problem, it’s best to call a licensed plumber. They have specialized tools and expertise to diagnose and clear stubborn clogs without damaging your plumbing system. Ignoring the issue can lead to more significant and costly problems later, and the toilet gurgling when the washer drains is a warning sign.
So, next time you hear those toilet gurgles when washer drains, don’t panic! Give these fixes a try, and hopefully, you’ll silence that gurgle for good. Good luck!