4 Reasons Your Toilet Is Bubbling and How to Fix It

A bubbling toilet is always an unwelcome surprise. This issue might be happening due to something simple, like a temporary blockage, or something more serious, like a problem with your septic system. Read on and learn what causes a toilet to bubble and gurgle. 

1. Clogged Toilet  

A clogged toilet is the most straightforward cause of a bubbling or gurgling toilet. All kinds of items can get lodged in a toilet’s drain system, causing a toilet to clog. An obstruction won’t allow water to flush properly and can cause everything in the drain to back up, causing strange noises. You want water to pass through the system without problems. In some cases, these blockages can’t be avoided. The good news is that a clogged toilet is often something you can handle yourself, provided you have the proper tools and don’t mind a little elbow grease.

How to Fix It 

• Use a plunger, as it’s the most gentle method of clearing a blockage. 

• If a plunger doesn’t work, try to use a plumbing snake. 

• A chemical cleaner or boiling water is another DIY option. 

• If the problem persists after trying the above, you need to call a plumbing pro. 

2. Clogged Drain Lines and Vent Lines   

A toilet has an exit pipe that connects to your home’s drain lines. If you are sure the blockage isn’t in the toilet itself, you may want to consider that it’s deeper in the system. Air can become trapped in the pipes, which leads to bubbling and gurgling sounds when you flush. The solutions are similar to what you would use to unclog a toilet, but drain pipes are significantly harder to reach with these methods. 

Remember that plumbing has plumbing vent lines. These regulate airflow and help water move smoothly through your system. These can become clogged as well and need to be checked and cleared. 

How to Fix It 

• Use a plunger, snake/auger, boiling water, and chemical cleaners (in that order) to break up the blockage. 

• If you can’t locate the blockage in your drain line, check your vent line. 

• When a blockage is immovable, or you can’t access it, call a pro.  

3. City Water Problems  

City water problems that can cause toilet bubbling are usually due to inconsistent water pressure or disruption in the lines, causing air pockets to form. You don’t have much control over this, unfortunately. This issue can be a result of routine maintenance, and if that’s the case, the bubbling should stop relatively quickly (or after a few flushes). 

If you suspect this is the cause, you can call the city and ask if there’s any work being done to the municipal lines. Take a look outside your window, you may spot crews with service trucks working near a sewer line. 

How to Fix It 

• There is not much you can do about this situation as the work is done by the city. Usually, a gurgling toilet caused by outside maintenance will resolve once the work is done.

• After the work is done, flush your system by flushing all your toilets and running the water for ten minutes. 

• If this is a regular occurrence, consider a water pressure regulator in your home.  

4. Septic Problems  

Bubbling toilets can be caused by an issue with your septic system. A septic system consists of a number of lines leading from your house to the tank, then a distribution box, then a drain field—any of these could become blocked or damaged, leading to air in the system that causes toilet issues. Regular maintenance can help prevent this from happening, so make sure you’re up to date on your septic maintenance. 

How to Fix It 

• Call a pro unless you have experience maintaining and fixing septic systems. 

• An expert will likely check your tank, then inspect the lines. 

• If the problem isn’t there, it’s likely an issue with your drain field.

• Sometimes, a septic tank pump is required to fix the bubbling toilet.   

When to Call a Pro

You should call a local plumbing pro if you can’t clear the blockage yourself or suspect there’s an issue other than clogging (new smells, sounds, etc). Bubbling toilets mean trapped air in your system or water backing up, and an expert should be able to diagnose the cause and suggest a remedy. You don’t want to mess around with your home’s plumbing, as it can quickly lead to a much bigger (and messier) problem. Talk to a local plumber before attempting the more involved fixes above.