Plumbing drain noise diagnosis:

This article discusses how to identify different types of plumbing drain sounds, including the cause, diagnosis, and cure of different sorts of plumbing drain noises - how to find, identify, and diagnose the source of plumbing drain, waste, and vent piping and plumbing fixture sounds.

We discuss how to add sound deadening insulation around new work or into existing plumbing pipe routes in buildings. We also cover: What causes noisy plumbing drains? How to investigate & repair plumbing drain sounds.

Add sound insulation to reduce plumbing drain noise transmission in homes. Drain noise complaints due to a V200 anti-siphon valve.

That "blub blub" or "glug glug" noise you hear from a building drain might mean that there is a problem with the drain system itself, such as a partial drain blockage, a drain venting problem, a drain odor problem, or even a failing septic system.

This article also explains how to determine the causes of plumbing drain noises, and we refer to key companion articles that assist in that diagnosis, and we include plumbing noise cures.

How to Diagnose Sounds of Gurgling or Other Noises in a Building Drain Piping System

As we explain in more detail at PLUMBING DRAIN NOISE REPAIR, we divide plumbing drain and fixture noises into two groups:

1. Plumbing defect noises 
   
   associated with plumbing system problems or defects whose identification and diagnosis is discussed here.
2. Normal (but annoying) plumbing system noises 
   
   that will be corrected by noise transmission control or sound insulation are discussed at SOUND CONTROL for PLUMBING

[Click to enlarge any image]

Article Contents

• PLUMBING DRAIN NOISE DIAGNOSIS
  • DRAIN NOISE & slow drain complaints due to plumbing vent problems: causes
  • AIR ADMITTANCE VALVE AAV NOISE DIAGNOSIS - separate article
  • BLOCKED PLUMBING VENT & GURGLING / SLOW DRAINS - glub glub noises from toilets or other fixtures
  • GURGLING DRAINS
  • SOUNDS of RUNNING / DRIPPING WATER in DRAINS
  • NORMAL PLUMBING SOUNDS
  • HOW TO FIND THE SOURCE OF PLUMBING NOISES
  • REPAIR PLUMBING SYSTEM NOISES
• REFRIGERANT PIPING NOISE - running water or gurgling sounds, sounds in refrigerant piping - floodback or condensate

Inadequate or missing plumbing vents & noisy, gurgling, or slow plumbing drains

If a gurgling sound is heard at a sink or shower drain only when a nearby toilet is flushed, or at a sink or shower when a nearby tub is draining, we'd suspect that the building drain-vent system is inadequate.

This photograph shows a multiple-trap drain on a building sink - forming a double "S-trap" which lacks venting and also is very prone to clogging.

In addition to watching for eccentric home-made plumbing traps like this pair that are likely to cause bad sink, shower, or tub drainage, check for the following:

• Plumbing fixtures installed with no vent connection at all,
  
  such as a bathroom or kitchen sink that use an "S" shaped plumbing trap.
• Vacuum breakers at drains:
  
  Plumbing fixtures originally installed with no vent connection to which a (sometimes permitted) local plumbing vent/vacuum breaker (such as a "V-200 plumbing vent) usually installed right under the sink to permit air to enter the plumbing drain line as needed but intended to keep sewer gases from exiting that same drain - a one-way valve.
  
  If the valve is defective or "stuck", inadequate, or improperly installed this problem may occur.
• Plumbing fixtures that are installed too distant 
  
  (perhaps more than 5') from the vertical plumbing stack vent that is supposed to serve them.
• Island sink vents: 
  
  special case of this plumbing venting problem can occur at island sinks installed in kitchens. Special drain vent piping details are required to assure that such isolated fixtures will drain properly.
  
  See ISLAND SINK PLUMBING VENTS
• Plumbing fixtures whose vent diameter is too small 
  
  in the building or above the roof line - resulting in frost clogging in freezing climates
• Plumbing fixtures whose vent line in an attic was not extended to outside 
  
  the building (lead to indoor odors and potentially dangerous, explosive methane gas accumulation.
• Plumbing vents clogged 
  
  by insect nests, animals, or vent material deterioration such
  
  as TRANSITE PLUMBING VENTS

Blocked plumbing venting & gurgling or slow plumbing drains

A plumbing drain line could itself blocked, as opposed to a blocked or inadequate plumbing vent line. In the case of a partially blocked plumbing drain, case all of the fixtures served by that drain line will always be slow to drain.

When weather and safe access permit going onto a roof (or using the services of a professional for that purpose), check for blocked building plumbing vents such as plumbing vents that may have become blocked by an insect nest, birds nest, or as shown in this photo, a frog.

In freezing climates, check in winter to be sure that the plumbing vents are not being blocked by frost or by snow-cover.

See COLD WEATHER SEPTIC / SEWAGE ODOR DIAGNOSIS

Gurgling drains may indicate a partially blocked or sluggish sewer piping or or blockages in the private septic system

If the outside sewer line is partially blocked, or if waste piping to a septic tank or from a septic tank to a drainfield is partially blocked, the building drains may appear to work normally until there is a surge of usage such as an increase in occupants or when using a washing machine.

In lighter usage the waste and wastewater flow down into the main drain line or sewer line where they are in effect, "stored" while the waste slowly seeps past the partial blockage. As wastewater seeps past the partial main drain blockage a gurgling sound may be produced at fixtures in the building as air is drawn intermittently into the drains - an effect more pronounced if the building drain vent system is inadequate.

In heavier usage of building fixtures, such as when there are many occupants or when doing laundry, the additional volume of water may first cause this "gurgling drain" symptom to be more pronounced, and as the blockage worsens, the building drains may actually back up during heavy use. This condition can also produce sewage smells or sewer gas backups into a building.

Gurgling drains heard indoors may also be caused by a clogged septic filter, as reader Will pointed out

(at SEPTIC FILTER CLOGGING SIGNS 2017/01/14), or by clogging anywhere that blocks sewage into or out of a septic tank.

At the end of this article we list further diagnostic advice for plumbing noise diagnosis & repair, curing blocked drains, diagnosing blocked septic systems, or detecting inadequate plumbing vent systems.

Also see SEPTIC BACKUP PREVENTION (private septic systems)

SEWER BACKUP PREVENTION (buildings connected to municipal sewers)

and also see the health and safety concerns discussed

at SEWER GAS ODORS.

Sounds of running or dripping water in a building drain

Continuous Plumbing Drain Sounds like Trickling Water or Water Dripping Noises

Trickling water sounds coming from a building drain or fixture might indicate a fixture leak problem.

A sound of dripping heard inside a drain line, or the sound of continuous running water may be heard.

Both of these can indicate that a plumbing fixture in the building has a water supply leak which is leaking into the fixture.

If the drip and sound are occurring outside of the fixture or its drain, such leaks are usually discovered pretty quickly when water or leak stains appear in the building.

But a plumbing leak that causes a toilet to run, the only clues might be noticing that the toilet fill valve is sometimes re-filling the tank even though no one has used the toilet, or one might hear water running in the building drains, or if the property is served by a private septic system, the system may experience flooding and backups.

Also see SINK LEAK DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR where we discuss repairing a leaky (and dripping) sink drain basket / strainer assembly.

Normal plumbing drain sounds

Hearing the sound of running water in a building drain is not likely to indicate a problem with the drain system itself. In older buildings where cast iron and steel drain pipes were used, not much sound normally is heard: even the sound of running water, say when a shower is running or when a toilet was flushed.

But in a more modern structure that uses plastic or copper drain piping these materials can transmit the sound of running water to the building interior. Builders can reduce sound transmission from plumbing lines by enclosing them in insulated chaseways.

We have also found cases in pipes in a building transmit sounds from one area of the building to another. We've also found that electromagnetic fields generated in a building, say by a bank of electric meters located in one area, can be transmitted to other building areas through metal piping.

Normal (but annoying) plumbing system noises that will be corrected by noise transmission control or sound insulation are discussed

at SOUND CONTROL for PLUMBING,

a section of SOUND CONTROL in buildings where we describe controlling the transmission of plumbing noises in buildings.

How to find the source of plumbing drain sounds

An experienced plumber can often diagnose these problems quite quickly since s/he is more familiar with plumbing problems than most homeowners. But if you want to do some drain sound detective work yourself here are some steps that might help.

• Identify the fixture:
  
  Identify which fixtures are producing the sound: is it all fixtures in the building?
  
  If so we suspect a system drain problem or that the building has only a single inadequate vent system or no venting at all. If the sound occurs only at a specific fixture, we suspect a blockage or vent problem local to that bath, kitchen, or laundry area and its vent or drain piping.
• Flush the toilets:
  
  Blocked or inadequate vents can produce slow drains as well as noise. But if none of the drains are slow, but you hear gurgling at a nearby sink when the toilet is flushed, take a look underneath the sink.
  
  If the trap is shaped like an "S" over on its side, the sink is probably not vented and the flushing toilet is trying to draw air into the drain line from the nearby sink when the toilet is flushed.
  
  If the trap is shaped like a "P" over on its side, with its horizontal outlet running into the wall, we can't see if the sink is really vented or not, but the style of plumbing is more modern and it might be vented.
  
  If the trap is some crazy combination of multiple bends and parts, call a professional plumber to unsnarl the installation since such jury-rigged plumbing traps are likely to be problematic.
• Look for other appliances or systems that are sending water or waste into the building drains:
  
  dishwasher or clothes washer cycling, even a heat pump or air conditioner condensate pump cycling to send water into the drain system may make periodic drain noises.
• Look in the attic 
  
  for a plumbing drain line that passes vertically up from the floors below and out through the roof. If you can't find one, the building may not have proper plumbing vents.
• Look outside 
  
  for plumbing vent pipes poking up through the roof in one or more areas. If you see a plumbing vent at one far end of the building where baths are located, but no plumbing vent stack pipe over the end of the building where a kitchen or laundry are located, those rooms may have been built without proper plumbing venting.
• Check the plumbing venting system -
  
  A blocked plumbing vent can cause poor drainage and gurgling sounds at drains;
  
  See PLUMBING VENT NOISE
• Check for slow or blocked drains
  
  See CLOGGED DRAIN DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR
• Check for poor sound isolation or sound insulation around plumbing drains
  
  See SOUND CONTROL for PLUMBING
• Check out the septic system (or main sewer line connection):
  
  for signs of backup, blockage, or odors outside.
  
  Effluent breaking out to the surface, muddy or soggy areas, smelly areas, may indicate that the septic system, or part of it, are failing and are periodically not accepting waste.
  
  Check the private septic system (if your building uses one) - for blockages in the line from building to septic tank, for solids blocking the septic tank inlet or outlet, or for a clogged septic tank filter
  
  (SEPTIC FILTER CLOGGING SIGNS) or for a clogged or blocked drainfield piping.
• Call a plumber 
  
  to investigate further by visual inspection, drain pressure tests, or using a drain camera or scope
• Try our plumbing noise diagnostic checklist 
  
  found at PLUMBING NOISE CHECKLIST

How to repair problems causing plumbing drain sounds

Suggestions for repairing or reducing plumbing drain noises and sounds are at   

PLUMBING DRAIN NOISE REPAIR.

Excerpts are below.

Reader Question: What can we do about the loud noises coming from the plumbing drains in our home?

We moved into our home 6 years ago and whenever the ensuite toilet is flushed we can hear the water very loudly go down through the pipes. Recently, whenever ANY toilet is flushed or a sink drained on the 2nd floor we can hear the water travel down the pipes.

What is the cause and how can we fix it? Thank you. Kathy in Calgary

[Our photo, left, shows ABS drain/waste/vent piping (DWV Piping) in a ceiling pipe chase in a New York home during a recent building addition project, courtesy of Galow Homes.

The sound insulation steps for this plumbing drain and pipe chase are illustrated in detail

at SOUND CONTROL for PLUMBING

Reply: explanation of plumbing drain noise transmission and suggestions for adding sound insulation

Kathy, I am guessing that your home is fairly new and that the drain piping is ABS plastic (or PVC plastic) run in walls or pipe chases that at least in part pass through building interior walls or ceilings.

Those pipes are indeed noisy and the noise is easily transmitted to the room interiors. By contrast, older buildings that used cast iron drain piping find there is less noise transmitted by wastewater running through the drains.

The level of noise transmitted is a combination of the acoustic transmission properties of the thinner walled plastic piping, the proximity of the piping to occupied space, the absence of noise insulation around the pipes, and details of exactly how the pipe was routed and supported.

Specifically, pipes that are in solid contact with building framing or drywall transmit more noise. Pipes that were suspended using acoustic-isolating hangers transmit less noise to the building interior.
As we cite

at PLUMBING NOISE CHECKLIST,

According to the Canadian CNRC, "Noise reductions up to about 15 dBA can be obtained relative to systems where no resilient mounts are used for pipes."

What to do now to reduce drain pipe noise?

Because it would be costly to tear out ceilings and walls to mess with pipe supports and routing, I'd seriously consider blown-in insulation into the areas where these pipes are routed.

Typically you'd fill the ceiling joist or wall stud bay where the pipe is contained - fill it completely, a step that significantly reduces noise transmission.

Our photo (left) shows what the ceiling pipe chase (and surrounding areas) looked like after a professional blown-in foam insulation job in the same New York home.

Subsequently of course drywall was installed over these surfaces (we do not leave foam insulation exposed because of fire hazards).

After this foam was installed there was no plumbing noise detected in this area when the toilet was flushed in the floor above.

Use foam insulation because it will flow around the piping into odd-shaped spaces and will fill the pipe space completely.

Don't worry, your foam won't have to fill an entire wall or ceiling space, just the space where the pipes actually run, typically 16" or 24" wide by the length of ceiling section or height of wall section by the typical joist or stud width, say 10" or less for 2x10 ceiling joists, and 5 1/2" for 2x6 wall studs or 3.5" for 2x4 wall studs.

Nevertheless the volume of these spaces is more than you can fill consistently, adequately, and economically in a do-it-yourself project using little spray cans of foam purchased at a building supplier. So I recommend hiring a foam insulation installer.

Of course your foam installer should not have to tear off drywall nor foam as extensively as I show in our plumbing chase foam insulation photos above.

Rather it will probably be quite possible to fill the appropriate pipe routing cavities with foam by injecting foam through very small openings spaced along the route of the piping. The result will be no more than occasional 1/2" diameter or less holes to patch and paint along the pipe route.

Install Missing plumbing vents to eliminate odors, sewer gas explosion risks & unsanitary conditions

• Adding missing plumbing vents:
  
  The photo shows a large house with only one plumbing vent visible (click the image for a larger view).
  
  We didn't see vents over or anywhere near the portion of the home which houses a kitchen and bath. While it might be possible for the building to have a working vent system, the combination of its age and other details raised a question worth investigating further.
  
  If we find that there are other "short" plumbing vents which were covered by the deep snow in this photo, they need to be extended.

  When plumbing vents are simply not provided, the proper repair is to install missing vent piping, up through the building and through its roof.
  
  In old buildings you may see vertical plumbing lines that were added, in plain view, inside the living space.
  
  But modern construction "hides" these pipes in the building walls. If you want to install modern, hidden plumbing vents, and providing your plumber has shown you that in fact they're missing, you may want to wait until other more extensive interior remodeling are in the works.

• Vacuum breaker plumbing vents - V-200™:
  
  Meanwhile the plumber may install an illegal vacuum breaker to improve drainage - these products can be added wherever a drain is having trouble getting enough air to flow properly, but in most jurisdictions their use is subject to approval by the local plumbing inspector.

Repair frost-blocked plumbing vents

• Fixing a freezing plumbing vent line: 
  
  in which the plumbing vent becomes partially or fully blocked by frost or ice where it extends above the roof in a freezing climate, probably requires the installation of a larger diameter vent from the attic out through the roof.
• First check for leaks:
  
  before installing a larger diameter plumbing vent line, make sure that there is not a hot water leak into the plumbing drains or continuous shower use. A water leak into the drain system can result in continuous movement of water vapor or "steam" upwards in the vent system too.
  
  In freezing weather that water vapor may condense and then freeze in the outdoor portion of the plumbing vent system simply because it's passing that way continuously.
• Too-short plumbing vent stacks:
  
  A plumbing vent stack which is too short above the building roof can be blocked by snow and then stop venting. But that does not mean that we should be installing very tall (3' to 6') plumbing vents. Except in areas of unusual snow depth such heights are probably much higher than needed.
  
  The plumbing vent stack above a roof needs to be high enough to never be covered by snow, not more.
  
  I speculate (really am guessing) that perhaps if a vent is TOO tall in a cold climate, moist air never will escape at its top because the added cold length of pipe actually encourages freezing.

Other Plumbing System Noises

Noisy water heaters are discussed

at WATER HEATER NOISE DIAGNOSIS, CURE

Stop Sewer Gas or "Sulphur Smell" Odors Caused by clogged plumbing vents, drains, or septic systems

Clogged, partly clogged, slow drains or a partly-blocked, failing drainfield can also cause odors when the surge of water from the washer causes a gas backup in the system: see Diagnosing Clogged Drains for more detailed advice along that problem path.

Watch out:  sewer gases contain methane and can cause destructive, even fatal explosions in buildings.

Septic additives like Rid-x won't fix a problem with building vents nor sewer odors, and are generally not recommended anyway - see Additives & Chemicals for septic system maintenance. Are septic products needed? Are septic treatments legal?

Question: noise in shower pipes when air conditioner drains into sump pump

(June 24, 2015) Kim said:

I had a new air conditioner and sump pump installed last year before I could use my air conditioner. Now this year the condensation pipe runs to the sump pump but when it comes on to drain the water the pipes in the shower makes a noise sometime. Is that normal

Reply:

Kim

I might say "normal" if we mean "common" but that's not necessarily OK. I'm not sure what you're hearing. If you hear water dripping into a trap that may be fine. If you hear gurgling drains then there's a problem with a drain blockage or with inadequate drain venting.

Question: noise in pipes when we flush the toilet

(Nov 3, 2015) david said:
when we flush our toilets there is a drain noises coming form the ceiling

Reply:

David, in the ARTICLE INDEX these articles ought to help out:

Continue reading at PLUMBING DRAIN NOISE REPAIR or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see PLUMBING NOISE CHECKLIST our complete list of various plumbing system noises

Question: Humming sound while water is running

(Nov 9, 2015) Vic said:
I have a two story house. When I flush the toilette or run the kitchen water, I hear a humming sound that last the whole time the water is running, but when I use the water up stairs I don't hear any sound. What could it be?

Reply:

I don't know; if you have a private well I suspect well or pump noise transmission, say of a vibrating pump motor or loosely-mounted water pipes.

If you're on municipal water I'd be looking for a valve that's obstructing the water and affecting the velocity just to create a noise to annoy you. Try slightly closing a supply valve.

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Reader Q&A - also see RECOMMENDED ARTICLES & FAQs

On 2023-02-02 by InspectApedia Publisher

@Linda,

Thank you for taking the time to give us that follow up, the result will help other readers.

On 2023-02-02 by Linda - gurgling ended after plumber came to snake out the drain

@InspectApedia Publisher,
I wanted to let you know that a plumber came to snake out the drain, and the gurgling seems to have gone away. Hopefully this will be a long term fix.

On 2023-01-24 by InspectApedia Publisher

@Linda,

With all due respect, we've discussed this in every possible permutation over quite a long time now.

It's simply inappropriate and not useful to continue to discuss it.

It's time to hire a plumber and getcher drain cleared.

Let the plumber do their job.

On 2023-01-24 by Linda

@InspectApedia Publisher, Thank you very much for your patience. I want to be sure that the correct size snake is used.

I have a feeling that if the drain pipe is clogged, it is clogged with a soft material. Firstly because the gallons of water we send down may be pushing it aside temporarily (that’s the only explanation for the temporarily relief we get that I can think of) and more so because in April 2018, the kitchen sink clogged.

I couldn’t initially get a plumber to come (it was a Sunday) so I tried unsuccessfully fixing it myself by plunging the powder room sink (because I knew the two sinks were connected somewhere) with the overflow plugged up. Lots of dollar bill size black plastic like material (not watery at all, rather slick, solid material) came up.

After a while I stopped but there was likely more of that where it came from. Even though it’s been a few years, maybe my current issue resulted from dislodging a lot of this stuff.

I don’t know if this is residue of when we used to wash paint brushes in that sink or just decades of soap scum etc, because prior to 2019, the stopper in that sink wasn’t removable to clean the pop up assembly.

Anyway, I am concerned that a small snake (like ¼”) may just push the clog aside without getting rid of it. I won’t be doing this work myself and want to be sure that the plumber is using the right size (that is if he allows my opinion!)

I do apologize, but I hope you can explain something to me. If there is a partial clog in the powder-room sink drain line, how would that cause gurgling in the powder-room sink when the kitchen sink drains?

On 2023-01-24 by InspectApedia Publisher - unclog your drain

@Linda,

Please try unclogging your drain and let us know if that solves the problem.

On 2023-01-24 by Linda

@InspectApedia Publisher, Thanks so much for all your time. I apologize for all of my replies.

I don't want foolish fears of mine to prevent me from taking the best course of action. If snaking the powder room drain pipe is the best thing to do in your opinion, then I will go ahead and do it.

Part of my thought process is: I had no AAV on that sink for over 20 years and didn't have an issue, so what has changed?

Now that I have your answer that the main cast iron drain can be acting as a wet vent for the kitchen sink drain, it is unlikely there is a clog in a vent pipe for the kitchen sink because there isn't any such vent pipe at all! Meanwhile anyone can get a clog in a drain pipe at any time.

Please do let me know. Thanks!

On 2023-01-24 by InspectApedia Publisher - inadequate venting at sink

@Linda,

So we are back to inadequate venting at the powder room sink. Why don't you put an Air admittance valve or AAV on it and see if that solves the problem?

Search this website using the on page search box for

air admittance valves

to read details

On 2023-01-24 by Linda

@InspectApedia Publisher, Thank you for taking the time to respond.

1) Since the kitchen sink drains well, I had thought that there must be a vent pipe between the kitchen sink and the 2nd floor and that perhaps it was partially clogged, but if the main cast iron drain can be acting as a wet vent for the kitchen sink drain, the sink may not be vented elsewhere after all.

2) You said that, "When you hear gurgling after _a lot_ of water has been run into a drain I suspect a distant drain blockage". However, at the height of our problems, we hear gurgling for 25 seconds or more in the powder room sink after a _small_ amount of water has been run into the kitchen drain, such as quickly emptying a pint of water or washing a couple of dishes with more than a small stream of water.

Only after quickly draining 5 gallons of water down the kitchen sink do we get a break for a number of weeks before less and less water creates the gurgling. I had thought perhaps the above fact could be a clue as to the cause of our problem. It's not like I am even using hot water. It is very cold, right from the tap.

We are not connected to private septic.

3) The room with these pipes is in a cellar which I hardly ever go in so I had not noticed prior to a few weeks ago that the kitchen drain pipe is level. I actually put a level right on it. So yeah, it's pretty stupid because it probably means that it must always be filled/nearly filled with water.

I really don’t think that there is a clog in the kitchen drain line because the 5 gallons go down in 30 seconds with good sucking action near the end. In addition it was snaked 5 years ago due to a clog, and I am extremely careful with what goes down the drain, and I have a very fine strainer.

I could more believe that there could be a partial clog in the powder room drain pipe. (Just a reminder: if we run the water in the powder-room sink for “a little bit too long,” it gurgles in that sink; and if we run the water a lot in that sink, the kitchen-sink gurgles.)

I am concerned that snaking the powder-room drain pipe will push the clog to the piece of pvc that joins the two drain pipes and get stuck there, or the small copper piece that leads to the 4 inch pipe or damage that piece. (Basically I have heard about poor snake jobs so I don’t want to have it done for no reason.)

Would you suggest putting an AAV on the powder room sink or snaking out the powder room drain pipe or something else entirely? Thank you so much.

On 2023-01-24 by InspectApedia Publisher - main cast iron drain can be acting as a wet vent

@Linda,

Yes, that main cast iron drain can be acting as a wet vent for the white PVC sink drain in your photo.

When you hear gurgling after a lot of water has been run into a drain I suspect a distant drain blockage, or if you are connected to private septic, a septic system failure.

By the way, in your photo the horizontal white PVC drain looks as if it's sloped the wrong way and so might also be clog prone.

On 2023-01-23 by Linda

@InspectApedia Publisher, Thank you for your reply. I don't find that the bathroom sink doesnt drain well. Only when it and the kitchen sink were run continuously for 15 minutes did it twice fall a little behind in draining, but it caught up before we turned off the water.

For the first 20+ years of our living in this house, we weren't having gurgling issues unless a huge pot of water was emptied in the kitchen sink. And why when we dumped a ton of water did it help for a while to prevent gurgling when using even a small amount of water in the kitchen sink?

My husband thinks that the 4 foot cast iron pipe in the basement (outlined in green), which is the drain line for the second-floor fixtures, acts as venting for the first-floor fixtures. Can this be accurate?
Thank you.

On 2023-01-23 by InspectApedia Publisher - it doesn’t take much water to cause the gurgling

@Linda,

If a bathroom sink is not vented properly so doesn't drain well, start by trying a air admittance valve or AAV.

Let's start there

AIR ADMITTANCE VALVES AAVs

On 2023-01-23 by Linda

We must have a partial clog in our plumbing, but we cannot determine where. We’ve been living in our house for 24 years.

Even before we started experiencing our current problem w/ our first-floor sinks a little over a year ago, our powder-room sink would gurgle a little if a big pot of water was dumped down the kitchen sink. The two sinks are approx 12 feet apart, but the pipes join together in the basement before draining into the main stack.

A different plumber had once said that the powder-room fixtures aren’t vented properly (we’ve discovered over the years that a number of things in this house weren’t done right), and maybe the kitchen sink also isn’t vented properly.

In the last 14 months, it doesn’t take much water to cause the gurgling, and the noise can be prolonged. In addition, if we run the water in the powder-room sink for “a little bit too long,” it gurgles in that sink; and if we run the water a lot in that sink, the kitchen sink gurgles.

A little over a year ago, in order to diagnose the problem, two times a plumber halfway filled the kitchen sink, totally filled the powder-room sink, and let them drain out. He first thought our problem was due to a clog in the kitchen drain line, but the second time he did this, he felt a clog was in the vent stack. He suggested putting an AAV on the kitchen sink.

Over the next couple of days, my husband tried to reach the head plumber to discuss it more, but in the interim the problem seemed to have resolved. Somehow quickly draining gallons of water down the sink stopped the gurgling, so he stopped trying to call this plumber. Unfortunately, this “fix” wasn’t permanent.

After 6 weeks or so, the gurgling started up again, and over the next number of months, the gurgling was happening more frequently and was of longer duration.

Last August, my husband and I mimicked what the plumber did, and again it gave us a respite from the problem, but it was more short lived than the first time and before we did it a third time a couple of weeks ago, the powder-room sink could gurgle for 25 seconds when using a small amount of water in the kitchen sink.

Before we did the dumping of water this third time, we ran cold water into both sinks for 15 minutes straight -- a couple of times, the powder-room sink would start filling with water, but both times it quickly emptied. Each time we halfway-filled the kitchen sink, it drained in about 30 seconds and had good sucking action at the end.

My husband seems to think that the first-floor fixtures are not vented at all above the first floor, that they only connect to the vent stack in the basement. He thinks that the 4 foot cast iron pipe in the basement (outlined in green), which is the drain line for the second-floor fixtures, acts as venting for the first-floor fixtures.

Can this possibly be true? (By the way, the upstairs fixtures seem to be operating normally.) I’m wondering if there is a vent pipe between the kitchen sink and the 2nd floor, and it is somehow partially clogged, but my husband doubts this. (If it were partially clogged, would the kitchen sink have drained so well?)

If such a vent pipe was there and was partially clogged, could all the issues we have been having (the gurgling, the imperfect draining in the powder-room sink when the kitchen sink was being run simultaneously) be attributed to that?

How about if the powder-room drain line is partially clogged -- is that a reasonable deduction from what is going on? How can the dumping of water help things for a while?

Our plumber will only come if we want snaking done, but we don’t know where the problem is, and we are concerned that snaking the powder-room drain pipe will push the clog to the piece of pvc that joins the two drain pipes or the small copper piece that leads to the 4 inch pipe or damage that piece.

Also, our house is about 100 years old so of course codes were different back then. Also, work was probably done subsequent to initial construction (such as the powder room) and it may not have been done to code.

We would very much appreciate your thoughts. Thank you

On 2022-12-20 by InspectApedia (Editor) - loud ticking when we drain the wash basin in cold weather

@Donald McColm,

It might be possible to eliminate thermal expansion/contraction noises coming from drain or water supply pipes if you can trace the noise to pipe touching and rubbing against other building materials such as flooring or a cabinet or vanity wall or base.

In that case just enlarge the opening through which the pipe passes, and then if there's a draft concern, add a bit of insulation in the opening.

On 2022-12-20 by Donald McColm

Once the cold weather starts, we get loud ticking when we drain the wash basin. I'm told it's due to the expansion/contraction of the of the wash basin drain pipe.
Is there a simple way to eliminate this?

On 2022-11-06 by InspectApedia (Editor) - loud weird noise from the sanitary pipes

@K,

We listened to your recording - it sounds like clanks or thumps - without being on-site we can't guess at direction or source.

It's possible that noise is being picked up from another cause and is transmitted by the piping from a mechanicals room.

With no information about your building: type, age, location, construction, location of mechanical systems, other occupants, etc. any more-specific guess we could make about the cause of this sound is so speculative as to be just about useless.

You can use the page top or bottom CONTACT link to send us the sound file and we can add it here to invite comment from others who may have some suggestions. (YouTube didn't let us download the file ourselves without signing up for a for-pay service. )

On 2022-11-06 by K

[Re-posted without link - for reader security - we'll check out your recording]

Having loud weird noise from the Sanitary Pipes in the toilet of my flat. Please refer to the youtube url for my video record. Toilet Weird Sound -

I heard that the sound should be from upper floor via the Sanitary Pipes (marked red box in attached picture)

Not sure what actually goes wrong

On 2022-10-10 by InspectApedia-911 (mod) - gulping sound when the tub drains

@Josh Allen,

The two common causes of the sound you describe are a partially blocked drain or a vent that is inadequate.

On 2022-10-09 by Josh Allen

I'm newly in an older single-story house and occasionally get sewer gasses near the main bathroom. I can occasionally hear a gulping sound when the tub drains, but nothing noteworthy from the sink or toilet.

Inspecting beneath the tub (thanks to a hole around the plumbing in the wall below the kitchen sink) I can see that the tub drain drops straight into the concrete slab, so any p-trap is in or below the slab.

That said, I can't see any vertical pipes leading upward in that area. Could a lack of vent stack be causing the gasses to migrate back into that bathroom? I only see one 4" vent pipe coming out of the roof, but have no idea what it might be connected to.

On 2021-11-21 by Inspectapedia Com Moderator - gulping or “swallowing” sound when water turned on

@Bob Olson,

- water velocity
- air in the lines
- supply piping not adequately-supported

are some possibilities

Try closing the main water valve slightly to see if changing the velocity makes a difference.

let me know

On 2021-11-21 by Bob Olson

Trying to figure out why the water line makes a gulping or “swallowing” sound when water turned on. It’s not the drain. I have heard the noise when filling up a pot so the water was not going into drain…

On 2021-09-07 by inspectapedia.com.moderator - motor sound from the drain

@Laurie Magers,

Possibly a pump is turning on to pump the drainage up to a drain that is higher than the plumbing fixture itself.

On 2021-09-07 by Laurie Magers

This is about the kitchen drain in our office -- when liquid goes down the drain, within a few seconds a sound like a motor comes from the drain. Can you tell me what that is?

On 2021-08-27 by inspectapedia.com.moderator - upstairs neighbor toilet leak risks mold

@Anne,

There are several concerns raised by the toilet leak you describe;

I can't tell if the leak is from the drain: risking sewage contamination and bacterial hazards

or if the leak is from water supply to the toilet as the tank re-fills after a flush

But both of these risk mold contamination within days of such wetting, and over time, a ceiling collapse that could injure someone.

The leak needs to be found and fixed,
and the ceiling opened, cleaned, dried, and repaired.

On 2021-08-27 by Anne

Hello, I live on the bottom floor of a 2 story condo. Whenever the upstairs neighbor flushes their toilet, I hear a spray of water and a drip drip drip on my ceiling then it stops. What could be there issue above and do I have to worry about a soggy rotting ceiling? Please advise. Much Thanks!

On 2021-06-21 by inspectapedia.com.moderator - gurgling and drain vent noises

@Aaron,

I can but guess as I'm so far from being on-site and from having an actual view of the plumbing system in your home, but from your description it sure sounds as if you're close to an accurate diagnosis of that gurgling drain problem.

As you found water leaking into the building's basement when you ran water into the drain-waste-vent system, presumably from the roof, it is likely that there's more than a pinhole leak as well as a blockage in the vent line. The leak could be

- at a plumbing connection
- a rusted opening
- a cracked cast iron or even galvanized drain line if over the life of the building a blocked drain also froze

It's possible that insects, rust, debris, damaged piping materials, or something else, possibly right at the point of the water leak, has also blocked the vent line. I've found every imaginable blockage in such piping, even once, a frog.

As you've read on the page above and in this article series, blocked plumbing vents not only cause drain gurgling; a blocked vent also can siphon water from sink, tub, shower traps, venting sewer gases into the building (potentially unsafe as well as nasty),

and

Watch out: while your "old home" may have plaster walls that are a bit less mold-friendly, drywall and even plaster as well as exposed wood surfaces can become mold city if you send water through building walls, ceilings, floors,

and

in an exterior wall, soaking the building insulation also invites both mold and loss of insulating value.

1. I would go to one or two most-suspect areas and make an opening of sufficient size in the wall near ceiling and/or floor to inspect conditions there.

2. You might get temporary relief from drain gurgling by adding vacuum breaker vents at sinks, ( AIR ADMITTANCE VALVES AAVs https://inspectapedia.com/plumbing/Air_Admittance_Studor_Vents.php )

but ultimately it's likely that the damaged DWV piping needs to be exposed and replaced.

I have run vent pipes up the outside of older buildings at which we didn't want to tear open walls, but IMO that's a rather ugly solution and one I prefer to avoid.

The photo is of a more-modern PVC DWV line that that was found to have completely separated in a building wall cavity.

On 2021-06-06 by Aaron

Hello. Please see my attached drawing for details of my situation. We have an old home and over the past year, have been dealing with a lot of gurgling and drain vent noises.

I've ruled out septic tank/line issues through professional pumping/augering. The shower and sink drains all work quickly, but I ruled out partial clogs as well.

I believe our old cast iron vent stack is clogged with debris, perhaps even iron rust buildup. I say that because this spring I ran a garden hose down the stack, per a recommendation. That ended up being a bad idea!

Where the cast iron elbows, it must be rusted out on the bottom side and at a minimum, pinholed. I ended up with water coming down my wall cavity, visible in the basement.

What are your thoughts? I'm hoping to not get incredibly invasive and redo the entire setup, but I realize at least any rusted out/plugged unions need to be addressed, with the subfloor and/or some wall access potentially.

On 2021-06-19 by inspectapedia.com.moderator

Is there a vacuum breaker event under your sink or is your drain waste vent system pipes to include a normal Plumbing vent that extends above the roof?

Also take a look at the center of the wet area and look directly above it to see if you can spot the Water Source. Attach a photo.

On 2021-06-19 by Marsha

water appears under the sink after hearing a blurp sound every once in a while

On 2021-04-07 - by (mod) - grinding sound when dishwasher drains

@Ed Jules, I think I would look first for a crimp or bend in the dishwasher drain in its route in between the dishwasher and the new connection at the dishwasher nipple or tee at the sink drain tailpiece

On 2021-04-06 by Ed Jules

We just had new under mount sink installed In the kitchen that required old pipe and p-trap to be replaced with shorter pipe, and dishwasher drain to be reinstalled to new dishwasher nipple. Prior to the new install, we had no problem and no noise.

Since the install we have grinding sound when dishwasher drains and when full kitchen sink drains. We do not have noise for water running or low drainage flows. I have checked the dishwasher filter, etc and no issues there. The noise seems to be coming from the pipes and up the drains.

On 2021-04-07 - by (mod) -

@Gavin,

After five decades of building diagnosis and inspection I am not going to claim that very much is impossible. But it would be quite unusual for a building supplier or water main to be leaking directly into the waste piping.

On 2021-03-06 by Gavin

I have low water pressure (about half normal) accompanied by hissing in the water pipe by the stopcock and the sound of running water in the main toilet/bath waste pipe. I have checked that nothing from the house is running into the toilet waste downpipe eg toilet overflow ot condensate etc.

This all continues when the stopcock is shut. There are no external signs of a water leak. Is it possible for mains water to be leaking from the external main into the waste pipe underground? or any other ideas.

On 2021-04-07 - by (mod) -

@elizabeth panetti,

I can but I guess that there may be an adequate venting and you are hearing air being drawn into the vent piping

On 2021-02-15 by elizabeth panetti

When I run the water in the upstairs bathroom sink it makes a really weird sound after the water has drained. It sounds like a faint howling or wind noise coming from the pipe! Man I haunted or is there an explanation?

On 2021-04-07 - by (mod) -

@Kelly, That does sounds like either in adequate venting or a vent blockage

On 2021-02-09 by Kelly

When I flush my toilet I hear a gulp from kitchen drain .
Only happens once a day some days doesn’t happen at all .

No other noises from any other drains in whole house . No signs of anything being blocked . Drains draining just great . Weather has been cold . No smells either . Vent blockage ???

On 2021-04-07 - by (mod) -

@Lindsay,

Water flowing down other building drains can cause gurgling noises and an individual fixture if there's a plumbing defect and occasionally if there is a remote drain blockage

On 2021-02-03 by Lindsay

At regular intervals, approximately every 10-15 minutes, it sounds like our bathtub is draining water. There’s no drip as far as I can tell but I’m uncertain what else could cause this. Help? It’s quite perplexing.

On 2021-04-07 - by (mod) - leak at the sink trap tailpiece

@Dave,

A leak at the sink trap tailpiece tells us

1. the piping connections are not properly made - as it should not leak, period.

2. there is probably a drain blockage downstream from that point

On 2021-01-01 by Dave

Newly installed p traps on double vanity leak at tail piece insertion connection. But not while draining or when water running. After a minute or so of sitting idle. Any help with reason and solution would be greatly appreciated

On 2021-04-07 - by (mod) -

@Shelly, @Anonymous,

Pumping a septic tank is necessary to protect the drainfield and extend its life, but if there is already a septic failure or a blocked drain, pumping the septic tank will not fix that condition.

If on inspection of the septic tank by a professional you learn that the levels in the septic tank are normal, and that wastewater flowing into the tank sends an like amount into the drainfield, then your description sure sounds as if there is a blockage or partial blockage in your building drain system.

On 2020-11-09 by Shelly

I have a septic system. Pumped a month ago. My tub, bathroom sink gurgle and water comes up them when the washer drains. When the washer is filling with water the toilet water drains down. I replaced the vent under the bathroom sink that water was leaking out of. Help

Also we get fumes in the house.

On 2020-10-27 by (mod) - vent a gutter drain

Migs:

You can run a vertical vent down from rooftop but probably need it to be 2-inches not 3/8";

You might also see if this alternative

AIR ADMITTANCE VALVES AAVs is permitted and works as it's trivial in effort.

You also will want to read

DRAIN & VENT SIZE & DISTANCES to FIXTURES

On 2020-10-27 by Migs C

I think I need to vent a gutter drain but not sure how or where. 2" drain is 25 ft vertical, makes a 90 degree turn and runs 15 ft horizontally to a cistern. During tropical heavy rains, I'm getting a glug. Only horizontal run is accessible, but is fixed to the underside of a cement floor. Can I vent by running 3/8" tube down the vertical from rooftop? Sideways mounted saddle clamp?

On 2020-09-23 - by (mod) - fix for backing up, un-vented basement sink and floor drain

@Kari

1. If the floor drain backs up into the room when you run the washing machine or sink, it's likely that the floor drain is plumbed to drain into the main sewer line or septic system (a common, if not wonderful, practice.)

A fix for the symptom but not the underlying problem is to install a floor drain that includes a float valve that closes to prevent back-ups into the room.

Products that fix this problem are

at FLOOR DRAIN / TRAP ODORS

2. Grinding the roots out of a drain line is only a temporary "fix" as they'll grow back repeatedly until the offending trees or shrubs are removed and the leaky, cracked, invaded drain lines are replaced with solid, continuous piping

3. No surprise that a basement sink isn't vented.

The least-costly "fix" is to install an air admittance valve.

Details are at AIR ADMITTANCE VALVES AAVs

On 2020-09-23 by Kari K - deep sink plumbing doesn't have proper venting

Our washer drains into a deep sink. There is a floor drain and that was flooding when we ran the wash.

I had a sewer guy come out and take a look thinking it was just roots or clogged with toilet paper from the bathroom that is right next to the washer/dryer. He cleared the clog by snaking 175 feet and I thought we were in the clear but then he said that our deep sink plumbing doesn't have proper venting. Does anyone know what this means and what we need to have done?

He said that we will need to have a plumber come and fix the venting issue or the clogging issue will just happen again every year or two/three.

Thanks!

On 2020-09-21 - by (mod) - drain pipe banging noise when toilet is flushed

@ Ken

I suspect you're heating water hammer as the toilet is re-fillilng - please check

WATER HAMMER NOISE DIAGNOSE & CURE - home

and let me know what you think

On 2020-09-21 by Ken

Hi guys, what causes the waste drain pipe on a toilet to bang and knock in the wall only when flushing waste or toiltet paper down the line? We live in a town house and it makes a load banging noise in the line as the waste is dropping down the line.

I don't think it is water hammering as it still does it when I shut off the main water line to the toilet and we have tried draining all lines from top to bottom as recmmended to create a new air space to prevent hammering.

Nothing seems to help. Please help, this is so annoying and I am concerned the system will fail at some time in the years to come if this banging continues. Thanks Ken

On 2020-08-28 - by (mod) - bath tub drain gurgles when sink is drained

@Alan

Gurgling drain from the nearby tub when the sink is draining suggests either inadquate venting or a partly clogged drain line - details are discussed and solutions offered above on this very page

On 2020-08-28 by alan

bathroom.when draining the sink which has a good flow out. we notice a gurgling sound comming out to the bath waste

On 2020-08-26 - by (mod) - lower floor drain takes water when upper floor fixtures are drained

@Mary

My GUESS is

you are describing what sounds like one of 2 problems:

- a partly-blocked building drain that causes water to back-up out of the building drain into your kitchen sink drain line

- the building's drain system is inadequately-vented so upper floor drain use is drawing air through your kitchen sink trap, along with air, causing splashing in the trap

On 2020-08-06 by Mary

I live on first floor of a condo and every time when the second floor releases water from kitchen sink I hear loud girgling and can see water splashing in the drain. what is the cause of this. Second floor installed a back stop on his pipe in case of back up.

On 2020-08-06 - by (mod) - whining kitten noise from the drain after shower isused

@Melanie

I suspect that the shower drain isn't adequately vented and you're hearing noise of air being drawn into the drain waste pipe from a nearby fixture or other source

OR there is a partial blockage of the shower drain

On 2020-08-06 by Melanie

When I'm finished with my shower, I can hear a noise coming from the drain. It sounds like a kitten whining.

My house is on a slab and built 2003. I do not hear the sound from any other drain.

On 2020-08-05 - by (mod) - improve sound insulation to stop annoying drain noise from normal drain use

@Angelos

You're describing plumbing drain noise and noise transmission that is worse in buildings using plastic drain pipes and in particular worse, still, when the pipes run near occupied space without adequate sound insulation.

You may be able to improve the noise problem by having the passage around that drain line insulated - I like using spray foam insulation but you'd need to use a profssional to fill the cavity. Just squirting a bit of foam from a little spray can wont' be effective.

On 2020-08-05 by Angelos

I live in a condo and any time the people above me flush it's like a freight train going through my room
why?

On 2020-04-25 - by (mod) - new gurgling from waher drain pipe

@Mary

I suspect you're hearing a partly clogged drain line

On 2020-06-20 by mary

gurgling from waher drain pipe have not washed clothes for several days just started to hear the noise

On 2020-04-25 - by (mod) - gurgling at toilet flange

@Mike

I'd like to help but I don't understand the "forced air" part of your question. Surely you're not using an air pump to push waste up a drain line.

On 2021-04-25 by Mike

Ground floor forced air, basement finished electric baseboard. Municipal sewage.

When the forced air is pumping the basement toilet (not up flush) gurgles at the flange and a basement vent stack from a sink which terminates interior in an unfinished area nearby also gurgles.

Sink runs slow but may not be related. Gurgling slowly getting louder. Thoughts?

Realized my air conditioning drain from the furnace flows into this pipe, likely forced air flowing into it. Put water in the very small trap to see if that is dry making the flow.

Any thoughts about how to prevent the back flow into my septic? Does a furnace have something build in to prevent this?

On 2020-03-21 - by (mod) -

@

On 2020-03-31 by Davre

I have a one story home built in 2007. We also have a Casita(an exterior bedroom outside the main house). When a toilet, etc. is flushed, in either the main house, or the outside room, it sound likes like the water is draining right down the wall, from ceiling to floor, in the main house, down the wall that is next to the main sewer line outside. Nothing backs up, or drains slowly. BTW, we have a septic system. Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

On 2020-02-19 - by (mod) -

@

On 2020-02-19 by Ellen

Every so often we hear a large volume of air either entering or exiting (not certain which) through our bathroom tub drain.

I assume that it it air entering because there are no associated smells. This does not happen every time we flush the toilet in thatt bathroom and occasionally seems to occur when nothing is going on in that bathroom or a nearby bathroom. It has only started recently.

We are on a septic system and the house is about 20 years old. My first thought is that it is a clogged vent - it is winter and I suspect the vent may be covered with snow on the roof. Is this a possibility and is there anything I can do to either further diagnose the problem or fix it before the snow melts off of the roof (probably in late April)?

On 2020-01-16 - by (mod) - gurgling at bath sink

@Maddie

Gurgling drains usually mean a nearby blockage or inadequate venting.

Ask your plumber to inspect the drain and vent piping and to check the whole route using a sewer line camera

On 2020-01-16 by Maddie

I have recently moved into a bungalow. Since day one I have been heard gurgling sounds coming from the bath/sink. Basically every time water has been turned and drained away. I am very concerned about problem and worried about the whole drainage system

On 2019-12-29 - by (mod) - twangy sound after sink has been used or toilet is flushed

@persona

Are you sure the twang noise is from the drain line? More likely it's a water supply pipe noise or perhaps water supply pipe noise being mechanically picked-up and transmitted through a drain pipe ? (Less likely).

Try slightly closing the main water shutoff valve to see if that changes the noise.

And take a look at

WATER SUPPLY PIPE WHISTLE NOISE

If that gets nowhwere, have the drain line inspected using a sewer line camera, looking for partial obstructions.

On 2019-12-29 by personagrata108

I have a sound that has not been described by any of your reports. It is a twangy sound and appears to happen after the bathroom sink has been used, or it could be after the toilet is flushed, but just a bit more delayed in that event.

It sounds like if you had a big flexible knife blade whose tip was held flat on a table and then twanged, but the sound is louder. In case this is part of the issue, i will mention that the apartment beneath us has been vacant for at least 2 months.

Workmen used it periodically before that, but virtually it has been vacant for 6 months. Also it appears to only happen in the morning when we have not used the bathroom more or less overnight. There is no water gurgle but this more metallic or maybe even wooden sound reverberating for about.3-4 seconds.

I am the landlord btw, hence why i am on alert to weird sounds in this old building. However lots of new plumbing on all floors but still have the original stack/drain. Thanks in advance for any ideas on this one!

On 2020-01-15 by (mod) - why are our drains gurgling when it rains?

Maggie

I suspect that your drainfield or septic tank are flooding - signs of failure, but we need to look more-carefully:

See the diagnostic steps and cures at GURGLING DRAINS

On 2020-01-02 by Maggie

We are hearing a gurgling sound In our laundry room when we have a lot of rain. It’s never happened before and we are wondering what it is. The outside drains and gutter are all clear and running.

On 2019-12-26 by (mod) - When I flush my toilet, it makes loud slurping sounds

If the noise is coming from the toilet itself not the drain, I'd look carefully at the fill valve mechanism. While the toilet is filling, with the tank top removed, briefly lift up the float.

Does the noise stop?

On 2019-12-26 by Sieggy

I checked that when I pulled the toilet to replace the wax seal.

Did the '5 gallons down the drain hole' test to see if it was backing up at all, and it drained like a champ. The sound seems to be coming from the commode itself, not the drain lines.

Other than no siphon, the toilet and tub right beside it drain with no problem. Is it that perhaps the commode is just getting old and clogging with scale?

On 2019-12-26 by (mod) - When I flush my toilet, it makes loud slurping sounds

That sounds to me as though there may be a clogged toilet drain line. Check the ARTICLE INDEX and you'll find advice on how to diagnose and repair toilets and also on Diagnostic and repairing clogged drains.

On 2019-12-26 by Sieggy

When I flush my toilet, it makes loud slurping sounds and won't get enough siphon going to clear the bowl with a gurgle. However, if I pour in water from above, it just shoots right through in a great siphon. I keep thinking that maybe air is being sucked in somehow, but I don't see just how .

On 2019-12-10 by (mod) - Draining noise in the bathtub when we flush toilets

Most likely be draining noise your hearing is one of the noises or caused by one of the things listed in the article above on this page. That's a good place to start. Please take a look and let me know what further questions arise.

On 2019-12-1 by Joan

Draining noise in the bathtub when we flush toilets, run washing machine or run water in any of our sinks.

On 2019-12-03 by (mod) - did a smoke test and I had smoke coming in from my bathroom sink.

Thanks for your interest in question about Plumbing drain and vent system failing a smoke test, Natasha.

Is never normal to see smoke coming out of a plumbing drain during a smoke test.

That's telling you that there's no water in the drain trap. In turn the loss of water in the drain trap means usually that there's a problem with the venting system which could be a clogged vent or improper distances or improper vent sizing.

The risk is that dangerous sewer gas also enters the home when the Trap seal is siphoned such as happened in your case. It seems to me you need a more thorough inspection by an experienced plumber to find the problem. I'm not sure from your message if the problem is only event problem.

There may also be as you suggested a clogged drain. However event problem alone can cause drains to gurgle and drain slowly.

On 2019-12-02 by Natasha

My city just did a smoke test and I had smoke coming in from my bathroom sink. The worker came in and said it was normal and to turn the faucet on. He left and I turned the water in but it didnt drain it just gurgled the water

. I called him back in and he looked at it and told the other workers to stop the smoke test. He suggested that I had a clogged plumbing vent. My signifigant other went on the roof and use a long pole to check if it is clogged.

He said he pushed the pole all the way into the crawlspace so it doesnt appear to be clogged. Do I have an issue with my sewer? Pipes? Or was this simply the result of them still pushing the smoke into the system below? Should I be worried and if I need to fix something how to I know what that would be and where to start?

On 2019-11-26 by (mod) - hearing gurgling sounds from my shower

If the problem is new it's probably a partly blocked drain or vent.

If the problem is one that has always been present it's probably inadequate venting

On 2019-11-26 by scott

i have no foul smell, nor pooling in the yard and no issue with the toilet on my septic system but i am hearing gurgling sounds from my shower. what would be the cause of this?

On 2019-05-14 by (mod) - glug glugging noise

Ricardo

The glug glugging noise is caused by EITHER a blocked vent OR a partly-clogged drain (or a failing septic system). So sure, try inspecting and un-blocking both pipe systems.

On 2019-05-14 by Ricardo De Leon

I’m hearing drain noise glug glug noise in washer machine drain in 29 story high rise building in the 2 Nd floor washer machine drain. Vent line is plugged. If I clear vent pipe will it solve noise issues.

...

Continue reading at PLUMBING DRAIN NOISE REPAIR - how to fix drain noises, or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see PLUMBING DRAIN NOISE DIAGNOSTIC FAQs - questions & answers posted originally on this page.

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• CLOGGED DRAIN DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR - clogged drains may gurgle or burp
• PLUMBING DRAIN NOISE DIAGNOSIS - home
  • DRAIN NOISE & slow drain complaints due to plumbing vent problems: causes
  • BLOCKED PLUMBING VENT & GURGLING / SLOW DRAINS - glub glub noises from toilets or other fixtures
  • GURGLING DRAINS
  • SOUNDS of RUNNING / DRIPPING WATER in DRAINS
  • NORMAL PLUMBING SOUNDS
  • HOW TO FIND THE SOURCE OF PLUMBING NOISES
  • REPAIR PLUMBING SYSTEM NOISES
• PLUMBING DRAIN NOISE REPAIR - home
• PLUMBING VENT NOISE - since vent problems can cause gurgling at drain lines
• WATER TANK BUBBLING / GURGLING NOISE DIAGNOSIS

Suggested citation for this web page

PLUMBING DRAIN NOISE DIAGNOSIS at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to BUILDING NOISE DIAGNOSIS

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