Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on how you feel about having the Loch Ness Monster's relatives as houseguests) it's a sign there's a clog somewhere in your plumbing. A plunger and plumbing snake (no relation to actual snakes) will help you fix your gurgling toilet in quick order.
Can a Gurgling Toilet Fix Itself? It is possible the gurgling sounds go away on their own if the drain clog clears itself or you remove any debris from the vent stacks on the roof. If the issue lies in your main sewer line, you'll need the help of professional plumbers.
For this kind of blockage, clear the things floating on the water, plus the ones stuck in the toilet. If it's further down, you can unblock the toilet with a plunger. Ensure the plunger completely covers the drain hole and start by giving it a good ten to twenty plunges to see if you can dislodge the blockage.
Even if you aren't annoyed by the gurgling or bubbling, this is not a problem to ignore. A blockage in the system will worsen over time and could lead to severe damage to your system that will result in high toilet repair costs. Contact a plumber to inspect your pipes if you aren't able to clear the blockage yourself.
What Causes a Toilet to Gurgle? The cause of your toilet gurgling is a blocked line somewhere. A clog is creating negative air pressure, Instead of air flowing through the lines,the air pushes back and causes the gurgling sound. Sometimes, you'll also see the toilet water bubble.
You can use Drano® Clog Removers to unclog a kitchen sink, bathroom sink, shower or clogged bathtub, but DO NOT use them in toilets. For clogged or slow-running drains, apply the product and let it work 15 minutes, then flush with hot water.
Your pipes may begin to make gurgling noises. The noise will become audible when you run the water or flush the toilet. This is a sign that the tank is full and needs to be pumped. The gurgling results from the septic tank being too full of solids and not being able to function properly.
A bubbling toilet usually indicates some sort of an issue going on in the drain line that connects your toilet to your sewer, usually in the form of a clog.
This can melt PVC piping and pipe seals, causing serious damage. In addition, using boiling water to clear a clogged toilet can melt the wax ring around the toilet, or even crack the porcelain bowl, leading to a pricey trip to your favorite hardware store.
You Have A Blocked Vent System
Your drain and sewer pipes are connected to a vent pipe that exits through your roof. This vent allows air and gases to safely travel through your drains without disrupting the water flow. If your vent pipe is blocked, your plumbing system won't function, and your sink will gurgle.
If your main sewer line is clogged, a professional plumber will need to snake or hydro-jet it. Hydro jetting, which is a complicated process, involves using high-pressure jets to clear blockages in drain pipes and remove all debris. To locate the problem and repair it, call Smiley Drain Cleaning.
A plunger works to unclog the main sewer line because it creates an airtight seal with the drain. In the process, it helps force the stubborn clog out of the plumbing system drains. The perfect airtight seal will create additional pressure and help dislodge the main sewer line blockage.
Drano is not only ineffective, but it's also extremely damaging to your plumbing system. The heat created by the chemical reaction is more than your drains are designed to take. Corroded, aging plumbing can easily breakdown.
Although toilet paper takes at least four minutes to dissolve in the water, too much toilet paper can clog the sewer line and take a massive toll on the entire system.
Will a toilet eventually unclog itself? It sure would be nice, but it's fairly rare for a toilet's clog to clear up after a few hours. It can happen, but only in select circumstances.
You need water, not air, pressure to loosen the clog. If your toilet lacks water, pour in enough water till the plunger is covered. Use a gentle plunge initially since a hard one will force air back around the seal, blowing water all over you and your bathroom floor.
Cola Drain Cleaner Trick
Allow a two-liter bottle of soda to come to room temperature. Pour the entire bottle down the clogged drain. Allow it to sit in the drain for at least an hour or two (or even up to 24 hours for stubborn clogs). Flush drain with boiling water.
Using Toilet Auger:
In case the matter is more serious plungers do not work anymore and at this point of time plumbers come up with a much stronger instrument known as the toilet auger or toilet snake. This is a cable-like tool that plumbers twist in deep into the toilet to the clog.
Because of its corrosive nature, Drano can cause toilet bowls to crack, PVC pipes to melt or break and the glue that holds pipes together can be eaten away. If any of these things happen, you're going to be left with an inoperable plumbing system and costly repairs.
Caustic Soda
Caustic soda is a nasty chemical that can burn, but it's very effective for unclogging toilets.
The chemicals in Drano may not solve all clogs, and they can lead to a worsening of pipe issues. Drano can build up in a clogged area, and corrode the pipe. With repeated use, these chemicals may eat their way through a pipe, and cause a leak or a collapse of the system.