Leaky Pipes & Dripping Taps

Posted on: 22 May 2020

If your toilet makes gurgling noises when you flush it, then you could have a nasty problem in store. This is because when toilets make a sound like this, it often means that there is a blockage in the wastewater pipe. Sometimes, such blockages will eventually shift of their own accord and the problem of gurgling sounds will simply go away. However, more often than not, the blockage will worsen and your toilet bowl will not drain properly any longer. If so, you may need to call out a plumber to resolve the problem for you. What should you be doing in the meantime?

Act Immediately

First of all, many emergency plumbers would recommend dealing with a gurgling toilet at an early stage rather than waiting until it is overflowing. In the worst cases, foul water will start to back up from your waste pipe, and it could even spill over into your bathroom. Therefore, if your toilet is gurgling, don't keep flushing every few minutes because this may simply overload the system and lead to an undesirable overflow.

Clear the U-Bend

The next step is to try and clear any material that may have become lodged in your toilet's U-bend. A plumber will have the necessary tools to do this job effectively but a good tip, if you want to try on your own, is to insert a bent-over coathanger into the toilet. Use a wire one which you can shape to fit into the U-bend. Try to hook any material you latch onto back into the bowl rather than push it further down. If this does not work, then you will need to look into your drains.

Inspect Your Drains

Inspecting your wastewater drainage pipes means lifting up the pit covers. This is sometimes quite a physically demanding job depending on the type you have, so you may need a plumber to help you. That said, if you can lift these covers and look inside your inspection pits, you should be able to determine where the blockage is located. If a pit is full of water, then the blockage is downstream. If it is clear, then the problem is upstream.

Rod Your Pipes

Plumbers have different tools at their disposal to clear underground pipes, such as high-pressure jets, so you might like to consider calling in a professional at this stage. However, you could also insert drainage rods into your pipes to try and physically shift the blockage. Wear protective equipment like goggles and gloves, however, because this is a very dirty task!