Here’s Why Your Sink Is Gurgling And How You Can Fix It ASAP
A sink gurgling is not something people are happy to hear because it usually signifies repairs you could do without. Here are a few reasons why your sink may be trying to communicate with you.
If the exit is not completely clear for air passage, the obstruction and subsequent air pressure it creates can trigger suction in the drain.
This pulls on the water in the P-trap, making the air movement audible, and as water appears in the drain, it applies additional pressure as it navigates the obstruction.
The obstruction can be caused by a variety of reasons but in kitchen and bathroom drains, it's usually because of materials like grease or hair – mostly things that should have been disposed of in another way.
The gurgle might seem like a minor issue at first but if it is not promptly fixed it can become a bigger one.
Since the gurgle is caused by air seeping through an existing blockage, there is the possibility of other debris getting trapped in there blockage as well.
Unfortunately as more debris collects, the blockage will grow in size until the pipe is completely jammed, leaving you with a bigger and more expensive plumbing problem to repair.
How to fix the gurgle
The easiest, cheapest strategy for fixing a gurgling kitchen sink is to buy a chemical solution designed to remove buildup from your drains.
This is usually a simple affair but read the directions thoroughly because the chemicals can be quite toxic. Avoid letting them get in your skin or eyes and keep them away from children and pets.
If the problem persists, you will need a more manual alternative to physically unclog the blocked area.
A drain auger is a flexible, long, coiled wire made of metal that allows you to reach deep into your sink's drain and dislodge the debris.
Note that sufficient pressure will be needed to break up the jam, but not so much that you damage your plumbing.
For weaker clogs or those closer to the drain, you may be able to get rid of them using a plunger.
When using a plunger to clear a sink clog, you need to have at least an inch of standing water in the sink, so remember to add or bail out water as necessary.
If neither of these solutions work then it's time to call an experienced professional plumber. This is usually a more costly endeavor, but better to do it before it gets worse.
