why does my toilet bubble when the bathtub drains?Having problems with your plumbing can be a frustrating and potentially costly thing to have to deal with. If you notice something wrong or strange with your plumbing, don’t waste time in trying to find the cause and a solution.

If you are draining your shower or bathtub and notice the toilet is bubbling and making strange noises, you may wonder what the problem is. Let’s take a closer look at this phenomenon and why it happens.

Wet Venting

Known as wet venting, this strange plumbing issue happens when air and gas bubbles return through the plumbing and release in the toilet. In many cases, you will notice these bubbles being released when a bathtub is being drained.

All drains are vented in order to prevent the backup of stinky and potentially dangerous sewer gasses from getting back into your home. However, in some cases a bathroom with an abundance of pipes all coming from a single area may lead to a single vent instead of multiple vents.

If there is a blockage in some parts of the drain, or a blockage at the vent, you may notice air or gas being pushed up through the toilet or other fixtures when a sink or bathtub is being drained.

Fixing the Issue

There are a variety of ways to troubleshoot and fix this issue, be it minor or severe. Let’s take a closer look at some of the easiest ways you can try to fix the issue yourself.

Clean the Top Drain

Since the issue is normally caused by a clog in some part of the drain system, it’s important that you try to break up any clogs quickly. This can be done easily with a drain snake. Start with the bathtub and move to the sink if no clog has been found.

If you can’t find a clog in either fixture, the issue may be further down the pipeline and will need more advanced tools or specific drain clearing chemicals to remedy.

Clean the Middle Drain

If the drain snake failed to find the clog, your next option is to use drain chemicals. These can be found at any plumbing store and most home improvement stores. However, be aware that some chemicals can damage some types of plumbing systems.

Instead, you can use safer versions such as a combination of baking soda and white vinegar, or salt and peroxide in order to create an abrasive and effective drain cleaning liquid.

Clean the Vent

If you still can’t seem to clear the clog from the upper or middle pipes, the issue may lie at the vent itself. In many cases, natural debris such as leaves and mud could potentially be blocking the vent from doing its job.

A quick hosing down of the vent can remove surface debris, and devices such as a plumbing auger can remove more serious clogs. In most cases, you may want to contact a professional for assistance.