Sink gurgles when washing machine drains

  • by

How To Stop Sinks And Toilets From Gurgling When Your Washing Machine Is Draining

When my washing machine drains, why does my sink gurgle? When my washing machine drains the water, it makes my sinks gurgle. The kitchen sink makes gurgling sounds and sometimes suds and water comes out every time I wash my clothes in my washer and then go to drain the water. It gurgles for a time before going back down. The main bathroom toilet, as well as the bathroom sink and bathtub drain, gurgle a short while later. Is there a problem with my plumbing? I have not made any changes, and this problem has been present in my home for around 6 months. I don’t have a septic tank on my property. What can I do to resolve this vexing problem on my own?

Your washing machine is most likely connected to the same waste line as your sinks, bathtub, and toilet. When your washing machine drains or empties the water, it uses its drain pump to force the water out at a high volume. When sinks or toilets gurgle, it’s frequently a sign that the shared waste pipe is partially blocked. The water from the washer is not being pumped out quickly enough due to a blocked waste line. The waste pipe may be partially blocked by various sorts of lint and gunk from the washing machine. Either a plumber or an enzyme-based cleanser should be used to clear out the waste pipe. (You could also have a venting problem, which is a whole other issue; see the bottom of the page for more information.)

Is there a partial blockage in the main waste drain line?

If you suspect the main waste pipe is clogged, you can attempt to clear it yourself. Use a drain cleaner with enzymes, such ROEBIC bacterial drain and trap cleaner. Any Home Improvement store should have this cleanser.

Fill the kitchen sink, washer drain, and bathtub drain with it. Do this at night when no one will be using the sinks or the bathroom. Allow the enzyme cleaner to sit for as long as possible before using it again.

If your gurgling problem was caused by a partially clogged waste pipe, you will start to see changes. Once the gurgling has stopped, keep applying the cleaning every 3 months or so and you should be OK.

This cleanser is safe to use on a regular basis. Because the enzymes in this cleaner devour the soap and organic stuff in the drain line, it works nicely. This allows the lint and other muck to be properly rinsed out. It will clear the drain lines to allow waste water to flow freely, resulting in no more gurgling.

Is there a problem with venting?

It’s possible that the drain connection on your washing machine is incorrect. Do you have a problem with slow drainage or standing water on the floor? If this is the case, add a 2′′ drain with a P trap and connect a vent to the main vent stack.

Plunging your toilet might silence the gurgling if your home plumbing is in good working order. Venting issues can be caused by a partial obstruction in the toilet waste pipe that is used as a vent. If you suspect a venting problem rather than a sewer line blockage, climb to the roof and spray high-pressure water into the primary vent stack to dislodge any obstructions.

Vents Blocked?

Negative pressure will suck air from everywhere it can if the air vents are closed. As water runs through the drain pipes, it creates an airtight seal. The water pushes air out of the way, creating a vacuum. The gurgling noise is caused by a suction powerful enough to suck air through the toilet, sink, or bathtub drain.

A gurgling toilet indicates that the suction is sucking water out of the toilet’s trap, allowing sewage gas to enter the area. If a vent is clogged, as previously said, spray water down into the main vent stack to unclog it.

If everything else fails, you may need to replace your plumbing, redo your plumbing, snake your drain line, or hire a professional plumber before the drain becomes entirely clogged and water overflows into your home.

When my washing machine drains, why does my kitchen sink gurgle?

Your washing machine has a load of laundry in it, the first spinning cycle has just finished, and it is draining the drum to preparation for the rinse. The washing machine is in the room next to your kitchen, and there’s a little gurgling coming from the kitchen sink as it drains.

When the washer drains, a gurgling sink tells a story.

It’s not uncommon for a washing machine and a sink to share drain lines. If your laundry room is close to your kitchen, the drain line is very certainly shared with the kitchen sink. This method of plumbing your home saves money on piping and labor.

However, if your kitchen sink gurgles or worse, fills up with water while the machine drains, you have a problem.

When the washer drains, either after the wash or after the rinse cycle, it uses a drain pump to force the water out at a high volume. When you hear a gurgling noise in your sink, it usually means the drain pipes shared by the machine and the sink are obstructed in some way.

The water cannot be drained out quickly enough due to the blockage. As a result, it gurgles.

Alternatively, the venting system may be partially blocked. A venting pipe runs up the home and through the roof as part of your plumbing system. This permits air to enter the pipes, allowing water to flow freely.

Venting is required for all plumbing equipment, including washing machines. Your drains will be sluggish if your pipes are not adequately ventilated. As the water fights to go along, sluggish draining can be noisy. To allow for a smoother water movement, some air is required.

Is It Possible For The Washing Machine To Drain Into A Sink?

Yes is the quick response to the question. A utility sink is frequently used in a laundry room for handwashing garments, washing hands, and other tasks. That sink can be used to drain a washer.

With the right fittings, the washing machine drain hose may be installed into the sink drain and then secured to the sink. You’ll want to check sure the sink drain has the right gauge to handle the volume and pressure of a clothes washer’s drain pump.

There will be no gurgling if the plumbing is adequate and neither the main drain pipe nor the vent pipe is clogged.

When the washing machine is turned on, why does water come up the sink?

But what if the kitchen sink fills up with water while the washing machine is draining? That can’t possibly be good, right?

No, it’s not good, because it indicates that there’s a blockage stopping water from going down the main drainage pipe:

Either the main drain pipe is partially obstructed; or the air vent is partially obstructed; or both are partially obstructed.

If your sink fills up while the washing machine is draining, check both of these possibilities. A capable DIYer might be able to handle this on his or her own.

A plumber, on the other hand, would be able to tell which of the causes is the most likely only by listening to the gurgle. In addition, if the clog is in the main drain line, a plumber is your best bet for clearing it out. It’s more likely that the main drain line clog is causing the water to come up into your kitchen sink.

I’m venting about your kitchen sink gurgle.

If your washing machine and kitchen sink have their own air or “dry” vents, they’ll link to the main dry vent that runs up the wall and out the roof. The obstruction could then be in that main vent. This vent’s purpose is to allow air into the plumbing system so that water can flow smoothly through the lines. Every plumbing system relies on it.

Negative pressure will form if the air vent is blocked, and it will pull air from anywhere it can. As the water from the washing machine drains, it forms an airtight seal in the pipe. The water creates a vacuum, which pushes the air ahead of it.

The gurgling sound you hear coming from the kitchen sink is caused by this rushing air.

Get your ladder and climb up to the vent pipe on the roof. It’s possible that some leaves or a small branch have fallen in. If you’re lucky, it’ll be close enough to the pipe’s top to empty it out by hand.

Bring your hose up and run some water down the pipe if it isn’t. Hopefully, the power of the water from your hose will be enough to dislodge the clog and move it down the line to the main drain pipe, where it will be deposited in the sewer.

If that isn’t enough, a long sewer auger will be required to move it along.

Getting Rid of the Kitchen Sink Gurgle

Those two options can be sorted out by a determined DIYer, and the treatment may be discovered.

Some products are available at plumbing supply stores and larger DIY stores that could aid with the first option, the main drain line. If you suspect the clog is in the main drain line, a bacterial drain and trap cleaner with enzymes may be the answer.

These items are simple to use and will not harm your plumbing system. They aid in the breakdown of clogged pipes due to accumulated grease, soap, and other organic debris.

If you decide to take this path, the store staff can assist you in making a wise decision. Follow the product directions, and if you see a difference after application, you’ve identified the source of the problem and assisted in its elimination. After that, a frequent application might be enough to keep your pipes happy and your kitchen drain quiet.

The solutions for the vent stack obstruction are a little more straightforward. All you have to do is climb to the top of your roof and reach down or spray out the water. One or the other will almost certainly treat the illness while also keeping your kitchen drain silent.

Sure, the gurgle might be annoying. However, the alternatives aren’t all that horrible. Follow the instructions below to help you discover peace and quiet in your kitchen.

Check out this post on How to Unclog a Kitchen Sink