So you’ve just finished your business, and hit the lever to flush the toilet. Then from behind you, comes a strange noise.

Gurgle…bloop…barble…

And now you’ve got weird sound coming from your shower drain.

Fantastic.

Now you’ve got plumbing issues, which is the last thing you needed added onto your ever-growing list of things to take care of.

But I don’t know the first thing about fixing something like this!, you think to yourself.

Fear not! We’ve compiled this blog to answer your questions of what the noises are, where they’re coming from, and what you can do to prevent them!

Why Is My Shower Drain Making Noises?

  • Air coming in – When your sewer venting system becomes blocked, it creates severe pressure differences in your system where air cannot come in. This causes air to be sucked into your system via your drains, shower, and tub. This is where the gurgling noise comes from.
  • Air coming out – With nowhere to properly vent, air in a blocked system needs to find anyplace it can go. This results in it escaping through your drains, showers, and tubs, causing the gurgling sound.

What Can I Do About That Noisy Drain?

  • Good old fashioned plunger – Sometimes the simplest solution can be the most effective. A decent sized clog can prevent proper flow from happening, and can be easily remedied with a simple plunge.
  • Fix the roof vent – While this method requires a little more effort on your part, it can be highly effective and preventative for your system. Debris, litter, and sometime small animals can crawl inside, create buildup and block the vent. You’ll need to climb up to your roof, and find the opening of the main vent stack. You’ll need to clear off all debris from the vent screen before beginning. Once that’s done, you’ll want to bring up a hose and pour water from the hose down the vent to clear out debris that may be built up inside. Generally this will solve the issue. However, this may be ineffective if the blockage is too big and prevents water from clearing the debris, in which case you’ll be in need of a professional.
  • Talk to neighbors – Occasionally, the issue is with a community line, rather than in the individual home. In cases like this, it’s a good idea to talk to your neighbors and community members to see if they’re experiencing a similar issue. You could discover together that the issue is mutual, and then call your municipal sewer authority to report the problem. Generally, they’ll send someone to look into the sewer main and, if the problem is there, will likely fix it with no expense to you.
  • Call in a professional – Ultimately, if the issue persists after you’ve tried all you can at home, it may be time to call in a professional plumber. The issue may be more in depth than you can discover without assistance. A professional can increase your pipe diameter to prevent further issues from clogging up at an inexpensive price.