A few days back I was also wondering why my kitchen sink makes a sound like-Groooahhh… every time when it drains the water out of it. From my curious mind and with an intention to fix my gurgling kitchen sink by myself I’ve done some research.
A lot of solutions out there. Some are instructing to buy some kinds of stuff and others explaining the most complicated ways. It takes a ton of time to find out the easiest methods that I can at least try to fix by myself.
And guess what… I fixed it.
The method that works for me was easy to do. But In some cases such as with the sink vent problem or in the case of replacing the p-trap it’s best to hire a professional.
I’m going to share with you 7 simple tips that you can use to fix your gurgling kitchen sink.
But first, you need to know why your kitchen sink gurgles.
Why does your kitchen sink gurgle
Your sink is gurgling because of air escaping from the drain. This air should not be there. When the exit isn’t completely clear, the obstructed air pressure can cause suction in the drain that pulls on the water in the P-trap, which makes the air movement audible.
When the water drains, to navigate the obstruction the air applies additional pressures.
Drain gurgling can happen for several reasons. Either your sink drain is partially clogged or the drain is not correctly vented. In kitchen and bathroom drains it’s often the result of materials like grease or hair that are caught in the piping and form a clog.
A gurgling sink may appear to be a minor disturbance, but if the issue isn’t corrected, it can develop into a bigger plumbing concern.
How to fix a gurgling kitchen sink: 7 easy steps
These effective tips for how you can fix a gurgling kitchen sink had got me benefited lately. But I’m not providing any guarantee though, as I’m not an expert or professional. Some of these tips may require a plumber to properly fix it.
But If you have some sort of experience and tools to use, it’s better to give it a try yourself.
Let’s jump into the tips.
- Check the P-trap of your kitchen sink is broken or not
- Check if the Sink Vent is Installed Properly
- Search for any external Waste in the Sink Vents
- Check your Air Admittance Valve
- Flush the water down the drainage
- Clean Clogs Inside the Drainage Pipe
- Check if the Sewer Line is blocked
1. Check if your P-trap of your kitchen sink is broken or not
To fix your gurgling kitchen sink you need to first check the P-trap. P-traps are installed under sinks. It’s the bent section of the pipe that holds water. It serves many purposes. P-traps get trash that washes down the channel, preventing clogs deep inside your pipe’s framework. P-traps prevent sewer gases from leaking into your home.
If it’s damaged and needs repair — you can get gurgling sounds from your sink. Check if the p-trap is properly installed or not. When it’s not properly installed, it can become damaged and release harmful sewer smells into your home.
Then, check if the p-trap is dry. This can also cause the problem. When the trap or interceptor lost its water seal p-trap eventually become dry.
Check for any leaks in p-traps. Leaky p-traps can lead to a clogged drain and cause smells to back up inside your home.
If you identify any of these problems then your p-trap needs a replacement immediately. A damaged p-trap can cause serious problems in long run.
To replace a p-trap first, remove the old trap bend (the curved piece) by unthreading the slip nut at both ends of the bend. Lose the nuts with tongue-and-groove pliers; Pull the trap straight down to detach it from the tailpiece, and carefully empty its contents into the bucket.
Then, test-fit the new trap bend and trap arm to make sure they will line up with the tailpiece and wall pipe. Assemble the Parts. Finally, Test the Fittings.
If you don’t feel confident enough to do it by yourself please call a professional.
2. Check if the Sink Vent is Installed Properly
As the water runs down, right venting is needed to prevent a vacuum from being made. In short, the vents allow air into the drain pipes to help keep the drain flowing properly.
If the vent is obstructed, or it is initially not fixed properly from the p-trap you can hear the gurgling sound when water is drawn off the kitchen sink.
First, Examine the pipes under the sink. You may be able to see it rising from the drain pipe. Note its size. It should be at least 1 1/2 inches in diameter. If it’s smaller than that, you need to replace it with a larger pipe.
Measure the distance from the vent tee to the lower part of the P-trap with a measuring tape. This distance should be under 5 feet. If you have a 1.5-inch drainage pipe, ensure the vent is fitted 3.5 feet from the lower part of the p-trap.
If it’s more than that, then proper venting is the reason for your gurgling sink. You need to install a new vent tee closer to the trap. Cut the vent off the old sanitary tee with a hacksaw, glue a cap onto the pipe extending from the old tee and connect the vent to the new tee.
Doing this gets rid of the vacuum inside the vents.
3. Check your Air Admittance Valve
In a customary arrangement, all the plumbing fixtures associated with a vent that leaves behind through the rooftop and permits air into the drain to replace water as it disappears.
In some systems, this vent is replaced with an air valve just after the P-trap. If this valve is broken or clogged, it disturbs the air pressure in the system. Confirm if the air admittance valve is in good condition. The gurgling sound might be a result of it being trapped or immovable.
In some uncommon cases, the valve might be clogged, which is another explanation you may be encountering this issue.
You can easily replace a clogged or broken air admittance valve.—Just unscrew and re-screw them by hand. That’ll fix your gurgling kitchen sink.
4. Search for any external Waste in the Sink Vents
Check that nothing is blocking the vent pipe opening exterior of the house (Usually through a wall or on your roof). Sometimes birds or other animals build nests on top of un-enclosed vent pipes for warmth.
The waste eventually cascades into the vent and ends up stacked at the joining points. Clearing these vents can solve the gurgling issue. You can do this by simply flushing water through the opening of the vent.
The waste, at last, falls into the vent and ends up stacked at the joining points. Clearing these vents can fix the sink gurgling issue. Just flush a big amount of water through the opening of the vent. It requires a significant amount of water pressure to remove the garbage stacked inside.
You can also use a drain auger to manage this issue. Push the auger inside the channel as deep as you can until you can feel the blockage. The pipes drill will help you push or pull out the flotsam and jetsam, which brings about the making of room in the vents.
5. Flush the water down the drainage
In some cases, it’s however straightforward as it seems to be. In order for you to fix a gurgling kitchen sink, sometimes all you require is to give the sink an appropriate flush.
If your primary vent or air induction valve and P-trap all look great, presently you should attempt the least complex fix—run water. Simply turn your water on hot and let it run for around 15 minutes.
Allow the water to run excessively for a few minutes to kill the blockage totally. The excessive water pressure pushes out waste from the drainage pipe.
If it’s a minor clog then the method can eliminate the gargling sound quickly.
6. Clean Clogs Inside the Drainage Pipe
If flushing the line doesn’t work you need to clean the drainage pipe. My sink drainage pipe has this problem. It was blocking the line with unnecessary tiny things drained with the water that I never think could create a problem.
Usually cooking grease or oil cake onto drain pipe walls, detergent soap bubble and un-dissolved food particles (such as rice which expands in water) can be responsible for your sink drains clogging.
If the drain pipe becomes partially obstructed, the water will still drain but air will get trapped at the obstruction and make that gurgling sound.
When the drainage pipe isn’t getting adequate air, the water flows at a low speed. The outcome is a buildup of residues that cause obstructions inside the line.
To solve this you need to clean the p-trap. I recommend not to buy a liquid drain cleaner. These products are made of harsh chemicals that can be dangerous for you. And in many cases, they do more damage than good, especially to older drain pipes.
To clean the p-trap simply start by running very hot water down the drain to soften the clog. Wait a few minutes, and then dismantle the p-trap. Position a bucket straightforwardly under it. Then, using pliers, eliminate the coupling nuts connecting the snare to the rear end of the sink and to the adjacent wall fitting.
Finally, remove the p-trap, but if the nuts don’t move, or they rapidly self-destruct at whatever point you attempt to move them, a replacement trap. Clean inside the p-trap utilizing a fixed wire coat holder or an enormous jug brush made of nylon to dispose of the garbage. Ensure it is spotless, both all around; at that point reassemble it.
7. Check if the Sewer Line is blocked
If you suspect a sewer line clog, don’t delay; the sewage reinforcement and gases that get into your home can be a genuine well being danger.
Sewer line blockages are normally brought about by a messed-up sewer line or tree roots that have developed into the lines. Primary sewer pipes are at any rate six inches in width, so a hair stops up or other minor issues are probably not going to be the reason.
It’s also possible an extreme clog, for example, long periods of grease buildup has hindered the line. Don’t make a mistake like me. It’s significant never to dump grease into the sink. Remember that boiling water won’t prevent blockage.
For this situation, you shouldn’t attempt to fix it yourself except if you have experience and the right instruments. Call a plumber.
Plumbers have specific tools to help clear clogs, for example, a hydro jetter or more mechanical drain snake. If they can unblock the pipe that way, then the cost should be minimal.
Last Few Words
Last but not least, Don’t think you’re alone sink gurgling is common among many homes. Just try all the methods above and try to at least identify the problem.
If you are not confident to try your best bet is to call a professional.
It’s conceivable there is a blockage further in your lines, or an installation mistake you overlooked someplace. In any case, the maintenance is likely past basic DIY undertakings. Whatever you do, don’t overlook the issue on the off chance that you can’t fix it.
Sink gurgling may appear to be a little issue, yet it’s quite often a warning sign of a hidden issue simply standing by to transform into a major, costly wreck.
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