Does your toilet have a tendency to burp or gurgle? If so, rest assured that “bad manners” are not to blame. Rather, it’s telling you that some sort of problem is at work behind the scenes.
Any drain – toilets included – causes suction when the water is flowing. That suction is released by air entering the pipes through special vents placed in strategic locations throughout your home. The vents are connected to one or two outside vents located either on the side or roof, sometimes both. If a drain line or vent is clogged, air can’t play its role…and thus, that familiar gurgling sound.
If DIY drain cleaning methods don’t solve the problem, either climb up on the roof or get someone to do it for you. Then follow these simple steps:
- Shine a flashlight into the vent in an effort to locate the cause of the blockage.
- If you one but can’t reach it by hand, use a tool or a stick to loosen it to re-establish airflow.
- If no blockage is visible, try snaking the vent or flushing with a high-pressure blast from your garden hose.
- Have you succeeded? You’ll know as soon as you get back inside and flush a toilet.
When all else fails, we won’t. We’re Swan’s Complete Plumbing, a trusted resource for all residential and commercial plumbing. Contact us today and let us know how we can help.
