Fast Plumbing Answers: Gurgling Sound From Sink?

There’s a strange gurgling sound coming from your sink. Maybe it happens every time you wash your hands, or perhaps you hear it at random times during the day. Is it a sign of a drain clog, an air pressure issue, or a deeper problem in your sewer system?

Don’t worry- we’ll answer all your questions in 2 minutes or less.

We’re Mother, a Dallas-Fort Worth plumbing company that provides dependable, hassle-free modern plumbing for homeowners who value quality. Call us 7 days a week for drain cleaning solutions that keep your pipes clear and functional for the long-term.

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The Big Question: Is It One Sink, or Multiple Plumbing Fixtures?

Our Journeyman Plumber, Dillon Ashton, explains the first step in diagnosing that gurgling sound in your sink is to figure out the scope of the problem.

“Is the noise coming from one sink, or multiple fixtures in your house?” Dillon asks. “It definitely sounds like some sort of stoppage.”

The most likely cause for that stoppage (and the gurgling noise) changes significantly based on how many sinks, tub drains and toilets are affected.

Gurgling Noise in One Sink Means a Simple Drain Issue

If you only hear that gurgling noise coming from one sink drain in your home, Dillon says you’re dealing with a localized drain issue.

“There is a stoppage,” he explains. “There’s some water allowed to go by, but the air pressure in your drain pipe is pushing back.”

A partial clog in your sink drain creates airflow problems. Think about pouring soda out of a 2-liter bottle too fast. Air forces its way back into the bottle, disrupting the proper flow of the liquid.

When your drain is partially clogged by hair, food scraps from your garbage disposal, or grease clogs, it creates a similar reduced airflow situation. 

2 ways to solve gurgling noises from one sink

These are the 2 most effective remedies to stop gurgling noises in one sink:

1. Drain cleaning service.

“A simple drain clearing may fix the issue,” Dillon explains. Start with the basics: ask your plumber to use an enzymatic drain cleaner to clear any clogs, blockages or backups within the drain pipe.

Our plumbers don’t recommend chemical drain cleaners in any form (liquid or crystal). These products contain chemicals that corrode metal pipes and eat away at plastic materials- your clog might disappear, but you’ll increase the risk of pinhole leaks in your drain pipe.

Enzyme-based drain cleaners offer non-toxic solutions with longer lasting results than chemical drain cleaners. The active bacteria and enzymes in these products continue eating away at organic clogs for up to a month after application. They’re safe to use every 30 days.

We recently reviewed 14 brands of drain cleaners for effectiveness against grease and common household clogs: we think Endure is the best for most homes.

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2. Plumbing vent inspection.

Airflow issues in your drains aren’t always caused by pipe clogs. Ask your plumber to check your plumbing vents to ensure they aren’t blocked, clogged or partially obstructed.

All homes have a vent stack (series of plumbing vents) that extend through the roof. These vents allow air to flow in and out of your system. This not only creates proper airflow, it helps sewer gases naturally escape your home.

If your air vents are obstructed or blocked, this creates a vacuum effect in your drain pipes. You’ll end up with dried-out traps, slow drains, and gurgling noises in your sink.

Gurgling Sounds from Multiple Fixtures: A Sewer Line Issue

If you hear gurgling sounds from multiple sinks and drains, you’re dealing with a deeper issue within your sewer pipes.

“If you hear those sounds in multiple fixtures throughout your house, there’s a blockage or air pressure issue in the sewer system,” Dillon says. 

This is usually caused by a sewer belly: a section of the sewer pipe that has lost its slope away from the home, often called a “sag” or “bellying” by plumbers.

Dillon explains that when a section of your sewer pipe no longer slopes properly away from the house, it begins to hold water all the time. “It acts as a water dam as water passes through it.”

This bellying issue creates similar airflow issues to a blocked vent or clogged pipe, just on a broader scale that affects multiple fixtures and drains in your home.

How to fix a sewer belly causing multiple drain issues

Call a plumber quickly if you suspect bellying- over time, it can lead to sewage backup in your home, structural damage, or even a complete sewer line collapse.

The best course of action is to schedule partial sewer line replacement. This involves trenching down to the affected section, and replacing the sag with new Schedule 40 PVC.

The net results of replacing the bellied section far outweigh the upfront cost. You’ll completely resolve the issue (and its accompanying symptoms), stop structural problems before they start, and walk away with a new Schedule 40 PVC pipe section that lasts 75-100 years.

Live in Dallas and suspect a sewer belly? Call Mother for expert local inspection and repair solutions driven by a century of combined experience.

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We advise against pipe lining for sewer belly repair

Some companies suggest pipe lining for sewer bellies- we don’t. Here’s why:

1. Short-term fix only. Lining the inside of your pipe section doesn’t provide lasting results. It may last 10 years, vs. the 75-100 year lifespan of Schedule 40 PVC.
2. Restricted wastewater flow. The new lining shrinks the diameter of your internal pipe walls. This leaves less room for wastewater to flow away from your house.
3. No structural improvements: None of the structural issues of your existing sewer belly are repaired. The belly still exists; now it just has a sleeve inside of it.

Gurgling Sound in Your Sink: Your 3-Step Action Plan

Here’s what to do right now if you hear gurgling noises in your sink:

1. Determine the scope of the problem. Is the noise coming from one sink, or multiple fixtures in your home?
2. If it’s one sink: Call your plumber to inspect your sink drain. If the drain is clogged, schedule drain cleaning service. If there’s no clog, check your plumbing vents.
3. If it’s multiple fixtures: Schedule a sewer line camera inspection. It’s a non-invasive way for your plumber to uncover any sags, dips or leaks in your sewer line.

Call Mother for Expert Dallas Drain Cleaning Service

That gurgling sound coming from your sink is a clear warning sign to check your drains before bigger problems arise. 

Whether it’s a drain clog, blocked air vent or a sagging sewer line, work with a plumber that has the local expertise to resolve the issue for good with thoughtful solutions tailored to your home.

If you live in Dallas, we’re here to serve you. Mother Modern Plumbing offers advanced drain cleaning with a complimentary camera inspection and 120-day warranty on all clog removal services.

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