Short answer
Gurgling means air is trapped in the drain. Plunge the toilet with a flange plunger to clear a partial clog. Does it also gurgle when the shower, sink or washer drains, or does water back up in the tub? Then the main sewer line is likely clogged: stop using water and call a plumber. A blocked plumbing vent on the roof causes it too. Leave that to a plumber.
Safety first
Do not climb onto the roof to check the vent: a plumber has the gear to clear it safely. Do not pour chemical drain cleaner into a gurgling toilet.
What to do when a toilet gurgles
1Bubbles and gurgles in the bowl
Air is pushing back up through the water. Something in the drain or the vent is not letting air and water move freely.
Read all the steps
- Bubbles and gurgles in the bowl. Air is pushing back up through the water. Something in the drain or the vent is not letting air and water move freely.
- Plunge it with a flange plunger. Seal the cup over the drain hole and give it 10 to 15 firm pushes. A partial clog in the toilet is the easiest cause to fix.
- Other drains gurgle too? Main line. Gurgling when the shower or washer drains, or water rising in the tub, points to a clog in the main sewer line. Stop using water and call.
- A clogged roof vent can do it. Leaves, nests or ice can block the vent pipe on the roof. Do not climb up there: a plumber clears it safely.
- Quiet bowl. Gone after plunging? You are done. If the gurgling comes back, call a plumber to check the vent and the line.
- Still not fixed? Call a plumber Especially if: water backs up in the tub or shower when you flush or run the washer.
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Why it happens
- A partial clog in the toilet or its drain: water squeezes past and drags air with it.
- A clog in the main sewer line: every fixture that drains pushes air out through the toilet.
- A blocked plumbing vent: drains cannot pull air from the roof, so they pull it through the toilet water.
- Tree roots in an old sewer line, common in older homes with big trees nearby.
What not to do
- Do not climb onto the roof to look at the vent, least of all when it is wet or icy.
- Do not pour chemical drain cleaner in the toilet. It rarely reaches the clog and is dangerous for whoever opens the drain later.
- Do not keep running the washer or the shower if water comes up in the tub: it has nowhere to go.
When to call a plumber
- Water backs up in the tub or shower when you flush or run the washer.
- Several drains in the house are slow or gurgle at once.
- The gurgling comes back after plunging.
- You smell sewer gas in the bathroom.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my toilet gurgling?
Air trapped in the drain is escaping through the toilet water. The cause is a partial clog, a clog in the main sewer line or a blocked plumbing vent.
Why does my toilet gurgle when the shower drains?
The shower water is pushing air through the toilet, which points to a clog in the shared drain or the main line, or a blocked vent. Call a plumber.
Is a gurgling toilet an emergency?
Not by itself. It is urgent if water comes up in the tub or other drains, or sewage backs up: stop using water and call a plumber now.
Can a blocked vent make a toilet gurgle?
Yes. Without air from the vent, draining water pulls air through the toilet instead. A plumber can clear the vent from the roof.
Will a gurgling toilet fix itself?
Rarely. A partial clog usually gets worse. Plunge it once; if the gurgling comes back, have a plumber look.