Gurgling Drains

[Marci]

I found your site while looking for information on gurgling drains. When we flush toilets, the kitchen sink gurgles. Very disgusting. There is never any sewer back up or smell in the kitchen, it's just the "idea" that is disgusting. It also happens when the dishwasher is draining water. I have been told that it's because the roof vents are plugged. I have several related questions.

- Is that the only possible cause?
- Is there any other solution besides cleaning the vents?
- If the vents must be cleaned, how does one clean them? Do we need professional help?
- can check vents help in any way?

Thank you in advance!
Marci

[Mark]

The sink gurgling for the dishwasher is normal, as the dishwasher empties directly into the sink drain. Think of the gurgling your bathtub makes when it drains. Same idea, the vent in both cases is right there at the fixture.

As for the other, you've either got a vent that is clogged, or a line that didn't get a vent put on it. For me, whenever the washing machine drains, it sucks water from the master bath toilet bowl, but I am going to let the factory fix that, if they ever get here to fix anything.

[Roy T. Bonney]

Plumbing vents work much like opening the other side of a can so that the liquid will pour out. If the vent is restricted, much like if the hole in the other side of the can is too small, the water will flow slowly. What we a speaking to here, is only air being allowed into the line, so that the water will flow out. If the home is equiped with a metal vent cap on top of the plumbing vent, it may be squashed down against the pipe. Note that the only time you hear this, is when you are putting a large amount of water into the line very quickly.

[Marci]

Thanks so much to both of you for the information. We will definitely have to investigate the vents, now that you've both confirmed what I had heard.

The "large volume of water" point was not something I had realized, but that's exactly right. We only hear the gurgles and burbles in the kitchen sink when it's something "big" draining: the washing machine, shower, bathtub, toilets, and dishwasher (which also gurgles in the normal way, out it's own vent, in addition to the gross sink sounds.... )

Once again, THANK YOU both for taking time to respond to my questions. It is a big help, and as a relatively new mfg home owner, I am glad this site is available!

Marci