How to Fix a Gurgling Bubbling Toilet

A bubbling gurgling toilet is a sign of a plumbing problem. Today, we'll go over the common causes of a bubbling gurgling toilet and how you can video chat a plumber to learn how to fix it. The gurgling and bubbling are caused by air releasing from the pipe as it fills or air being sucked in through the pee-trap of the toilet, shower, bathtub, washing machine, floor drain, sink, or any plumbing fixture with a pee-trap.

Bubbling Gurgling Toilets are a Sign of a Plumbing Problem

There are only 2 reasons why your toilet might be bubbling and gurgling when you flush it or when other plumbing fixtures are used in the home. Here are a few of the most common causes listed by plumbers.

A clogged drain causes the water to back up and push air bubbles out of the sewer pipe into the toilet bowl. This is often caused by flushing items that should not be flushed, such as sanitary products or baby wipes.
If the blockage is in the sewer line itself, this will also cause bubbling. This is usually caused by a buildup of debris or tree roots growing into the sewer line.
Your plumbing system for the toilet needs to have proper ventilation to function correctly. If the vent pipe is blocked or not working correctly, it can cause gurgling or bubbling because the piping system will release air from or suck air into the piping system.

Hire a Plumber to Diagnose Your Bubbling Gurgling Toilet Problem

Now that you know some of the common causes of a gurgling bubbling toilet, let's talk about how you can fix it yourself or hire a local plumber to fix it for you.

Check for clogs in other areas of your home. If the problem is a clogged drain, the bubbling will increase as the drain pipe fills with water. Once the drain pipe is full to the toilet it will stop bubbling and you can possibly clear the drain with a plunger. If that doesn't work, you may need to use a rental roto rooter plumbing drain snake machine or call a plumber.
Check to see if the sewer line is full by removing the clean-out cap. If you see that the pipe is full and water is gushing out, then the problem is a mainline sewer blockage downstream of the clean-out, and you'll need to rent a 5/8" or 3/4" Ridgid or Spartan sewer rodding machine or hire a plumber to clear the sewer drain.
In the unlikely event that you flood-tested every plumbing fixture in your home and all the drains work perfectly and you still have a bubbling toilet then you would check the vent system. It is not as common, however small animals and leaf litter can enter the vent pipe from the roof and clog the vent pipe, or the roofer damage and cover the opening so there is a chance that the problem could be a venting issue, and with a smaller drain snake machine, you can try clearing the vent pipe yourself. If that doesn't work, you'll need to video chat and hire a plumber to fix the problem.

Vide Chat a Plumber to Diagnose Bubbling and Gurgling Toilets

When you need help to identify and fix the plumbing problem that is causing your toilet to bubble, or if you don't feel comfortable doing it yourself, you can use video chat to get plumbing repair guidance from a plumber today. With video chat, you can hire a licensed plumber to video chat with you and teach you how to figure out what is causing the problem.

Here's How it Works

Click the Plumbers category and choose a plumber.
Enter your information and a brief description of your problem.
Choose a date and time for your video chat appointment.
Connect with the plumber to learn how to fix your bubbling gurgling toilet.

Bubbling Gurgling Toilets are Not Caused by a Toilet Clog

A bubbling gurgling toilet is a sign of a plumbing drain or plumbing vent problem, and it is fixable. By consulting a plumber via video chat, you can ask where to check for clogs, sewer line blockages, and venting issues so you can diagnose and fix the problem. And if you need to hire a local plumber, you can always use video chat to show the plumbing contractor to get an upfront price before they come to your home.