Toilet disasters are some of the hardest to deal with when it comes to home repairs. One of the many problems you may encounter with your bathroom is finding toilet bubbles when flushed.
The gurgling sounds and the bubbles in your toilet are the signs of plumbing issues that should be dealt with as soon as possible. However, to solve the problem with your plumbing, you must find out the root of the problem first. Here are some of the reasons why you might be facing a bubbling toilet and how to fix it.
Why Is My Toilet Bubbles When Flushed?
You don’t need to fret about finding the answer to “how do you fix a gurgling toilet”. The answer becomes a lot clearer when you understand why it is happening.
A bubbling toilet is caused by a blockage in the pipes. This causes air pressure to flow the wrong way. So, instead of flowing to the line, it pushes back to your toilet.
It will be fairly easy to fix the problem if the clog you’re dealing with is simple. However, the case is not always that easy, so here are some ways your toilet might be getting clogged.
1. Buildup of Sediment
Hard water will start to form from calcium or magnesium, and this will cause bubbles to form, followed by a gurgling sound in your toilet’s tank. Iron, calcium, or magnesium can cause sediment to build up in your toilet, causing it to get clogged.
2. Tank Equipment in Need of Replacement
When you look inside the toilet tank, you will find a float and fill system and a flapper. The job of the flapper is that it opens and closes when you hit the lever for the flush. All of these complete a functioning toilet, meaning, if any of this is damaged, it will surely cause issues in your toilet.
If any of these are faulty, your toilet will make a gurgling sound whenever you try to flush it.
3. Check Your Vent Pipe
A vent pipe is a pipe that travels all the way to your roof. You might be curious as to how a vent pipe has anything to do with your plumbing. It actually helps control your plumbing’s air pressure and lets out exhaust gas.
Now, why does my toilet bubble, you ask? There are a lot of reasons why your vent pipe might get blocked such as, debris or animal remains might get lodged in there. When this happens, it creates negative air pressure and causes your toilet to bubble.
4. Air in the Pipes
If you are asking yourself, “Why does my toilet gurgle”, this just might be the reason. And if there is any air in the pipes of your plumbing system, it will cause different sounds to form, such as the gurgling.
How to Fix Your Toilet
Now that you understand some of the causes of the bubbling and gurgling noises in your toilet, here are some easy ways to fix them.
1. Use a Handy Plunger
The best way to fix a simple clog is to use a plunger and use the suction to get rid of the blockage. And the suction created by the plunger causes it to move the blockage around and loosen it up. With the right amount of pressure, you will be able to get rid of the clog from the line.
2. Use a Toilet Auger
When a plunger is not working, put on your gloves and take out your toilet auger. Plungers seem to be essential for every bathroom, but toilet augers are equally helpful.
The auger is designed in a way where you won’t have to worry about scratches on your toilet while it is being unclogged. All you have to do is insert it into the clog and crank the lever of the auger so that the coil travels to the drain in screwing motion.
3. Fix the Clog in Your Vent Pipe
If you are determined to fix the clog yourself, you might have to travel to the roof to fix the problem. You will easily be able to get rid of the clog if the object is not too far inside the pipe with any tool that is long enough to reach it.
In order to look for the clog, tie a flashlight to the rope, and use the duct tape to reinforce it. Furthermore, make sure all items that you will be inserting in the drain are thin enough to fit.
Bring your garden hose along with you to the roof. Once you find the clog, but it seems too far down to reach, use your garden hose and aim it at the clog. The pressure of the water will help loosen the clog and will wash it down to the drainage system.
4. Turn on the Water
If the gurgling sound is just because air is stuck in the pipes, calling a plumber would be a waste because the solution is so simple. Turn on all the taps around your house, and you will notice that the water is gurgling and sputtering.
Let the water run till the sputtering has ended and turn off all the taps.
5. Call the Plumber
Fixing problems around the house on your own seems great because it saves you a lot of money, but sometimes, it is best to leave it to professionals. The underlying problem of your toilet’s bubbling might be more serious than a clog.
On the other hand, even if it is as simple as a clog, messing it up, such as installing the flapper in your toilet tank incorrectly, could do more harm than good.
Final Thoughts
Fixing your toilet issues on your own will leave you with a sense of accomplishment, and the journey itself will teach you how to treat your home better. Moreover, it should not be forgotten how much money you will be saving as well.
Now that you have understood the basics of this problem called “toilet bubbles when flushed”, it is now time to tackle it!
