A bubbling sound in the drain: what is it?

When you have a building inspection carried out before purchasing a home, the condition of the house's plumbing will naturally also be checked. Pipeline problems most commonly occur in bathroom and kitchen drains, but problems can also arise in the toilet drain. During a building inspection , everything is checked, and a gurgling or bubbling sound will also be noted. The problem will, of course, be identified immediately.

It's possible to hear a strange noise constantly in the drain, but more often, the noise is only heard when a dishwasher or washing machine is running, when someone is in the shower, or when the toilet is flushed, for example. It's possible that the horizontal pipe has sagged. This pipe is located downstairs and can fill with water.

This can prevent the roof vent, the pressure relief pipe, from functioning properly. It's also possible that the trap under a water trap or sink is being pulled empty. A gurgling sound can also occur when the drain to the downpipe is too long. This is common in apartment buildings. There are many other causes of a gurgling or bubbling sound.

It's quite possible that the noise is caused by a blockage. In some cases, the blockage is very easy to resolve. The problem might be solved by thoroughly flushing the pipe. Clearing a blockage doesn't have to be a major and expensive job. However, there could be much more to it, such as a sagging pipe in the crawl space that needs to be replaced, for example. In that case, the cost will be considerably higher. That's precisely why a gurgling or bubbling sound in the drain should never be ignored by home buyers.

If you notice a strange noise coming from the drain during a property viewing, make sure you have a building inspection before you buy the property. It's important to identify the cause so you know what to expect and what needs to be done to fix the problem. A building inspection can, of course, reveal any potential defects, making it always recommended before buying a house. Homekeur can perform a professional building inspection. You can easily schedule an appointment online.

The cost of a building inspection (up to 250 m²) is only €489 including VAT. We'll conduct a comprehensive building inspection and you'll receive a building report. Do you have any questions? We're happy to help and can schedule an appointment with an expert inspector right away if you wish!