There are a few everyday noises that plumbing fixtures in your home can make: a gurgling sound, creaks, and groans. As a homeowner, these are not only frustrating, but we’re triggered to assume that noises in our homes will lead to bigger problems.
If your home has been experiencing these noises, we’ve got some diagnostic steps you can take as well as steps to solve the problem. Some fixes are DIY, others require an expert. Either way, your plumbing and sink issues will be “out of earshot, out of mind.”
Why Does My Sink Make a Gurgling Sound?
If you hear a gurgling noise shortly after using the shower, sink, or toilet, you may have a blocked drain or vent pipe. Over time, all sorts of things can build up in the drains and plumbing. And when air and water struggle to move past them, the gurgling noise happens.
What’s Going On? The buildup is causing the water to drain slowly, and air bubbles aren’t being expelled correctly. This is what makes the sound. With a cleaned drain line, water and air bubbles can move through and be expelled correctly.
What Can I Do? In-store solutions are available to clear clogged drains and are usually effective for small clogs. It’s important to follow all bottle instructions for both safety and effectiveness. If this method doesn’t work, you can try an augur. An auger is a flexible, long, coiled piece of metal that can reach far down a drain and break up debris.
Other Potential Problems: The other possibility is a blocked vent pipe. Believe it or not, your home plumbing system vent pipe is typically on your roof. Issues with the vent pipe could be with the internal setup or the vent area on the roof. If the above steps don’t seem to help your gurgling issue, it’s time to call a Virginia plumbing professional.
Why Does My Sink Sreak & Groan?
Do you hear a loud, groaning clamor when water comes from the faucet? This is common in sinks that have two basins within one singular unit. Bonus — if these basins are made of stainless steel, you’ll hear more of a gong sound. Yikes.
What’s Going On? These basins sit next to each other, but an empty space on the underside of the sink separates them. It’s acting as an echo chamber.
What Can I Do? If you insulate this space, that echo chamber will be no longer, and the noise will stop (it’s best to remove the basins before starting the project).
• Purchase basic expanding foam from a hardware store.
• Wear any necessary protective gear like gloves, face masks, etc.
• Fill in the space with the solution — but be careful not to add too much. It will expand, and you may find it challenging to refit those basins.
• Put the sink back into the countertop and caulk the edges.
• Refit any plumbing you disconnected.
It’s a good thing we’re primed to pay attention to abnormal sounds in our homes. Abnormal sounds from your plumbing could result in major issues if left alone — and can impact your system’s efficiency and effectiveness. If you’re hearing consistent creaks, groans, thuds, knocks, drips, or other things coming from your home’s plumbing, schedule a consultation with John C. Flood.
