When draining the washing machine, there is a gurgling sound in the sink.

Drainage problems can arise at any time—there's no escaping them. But it's even worse when they occur while the washing machine is running. Is there a gurgling sound in the sink when the washing machine is draining? This isn't normal. If left untreated, it can lead to even more unpleasant consequences. Let's look at why this happens and how to deal with it.

Blockage in the sewer

A typical drainage system in a home operates thanks to reliable connections between all waste pipes. Therefore, washing machines, dishwashers, dryers, and other appliances are typically connected to the plumbing system to save money.

This is why, when draining waste liquid from a household appliance, a large amount of water is pushed into the drain pipe. Most often, sink drain holes are designed so that liquid flows into the drain without changing the pressure in the pipe.

But if a clog occurs in the sewer system, such a blockage will create uneven pressure when draining waste. This is what causes the unpleasant gurgling sound heard in the sink or other appliances. What can be done to remove these air and gas bubbles trapped in the pipe and unable to escape due to the clogged drain?

In this situation, there's nothing left to do but clear the blockage, which will allow air to flow smoothly again. Special drain cleaners can help. You can use household chemicals like "Mole," regular baking soda, a drain snake, and other drain cleaners.

Clear the sink from blockage

Now let's look at the process of clearing a clogged sink, which most often causes uneven pressure and a gurgling sound when draining your sink. First, ensure there's no clog in the trap itself. Carefully disassemble it, clean it, then reinstall it and rinse with hot water. If it's clear and the problem persists, proceed with further thorough cleaning.

Experts recommend cleaning your kitchen sink's drain trap at least once a month, which can be done manually or with household items.

We'll describe in detail how to eliminate gurgling in your sink if cleaning the trap doesn't help. In this case, you'll first need to choose one of four reliable methods for eliminating uneven pressure.

• Chemical drain cleaner. There are many household chemicals on the market that can help clear clogged drain pipes. For example, you can buy products from the brand Drano, which are inexpensive and work very quickly. The downside of this method is that such chemicals emit toxic fumes along with contaminants, which can cause long-term corrosion and other damage to the plumbing system if used too frequently. The method is extremely simple: pour the contents of the bottle down the drain and flush the drain after half an hour.
• Enzymatic drain cleaner. This product, rich in bacteria and enzymes, not only eliminates clogs and debris but also mold and mildew, which often form in plumbing systems. Moreover, this type of product is much safer than chemical household drain cleaners and will not damage your plumbing. The downside is that enzyme drain cleaner is harder to find in stores, and it works slower. Most often, this product needs to be poured into the drain at night before going to bed, so that no one touches it for at least eight hours, and then washed off.
• Baking soda. One of the oldest cleaning methods for clearing clogged drains. Simply pour a large pot of boiling water down the drain, then force a full cup of baking soda down the drain. Next, add a cup of vinegar, plug the drain, and wait about 10 minutes for the bubbling reaction between the baking soda and vinegar to loosen any remaining clog from the sides of the pipe. After a break, pour another pot of boiling water down the drain to remove any remaining clog along with the baking soda.

Be careful with boiling water to avoid accidentally burning yourself or damaging plastic pipes.

• Drain snake. Finally, you can use a drain snake. Insert the end of the snake into the pipe, then turn the handle on the drum to push the snake further into the drain. Continue this process until you hit the clog, at which point you should begin rotating the snake against the clog, breaking the blockage with this rotational action. Once you no longer feel the product working, remove the snake from the drain—this will likely remove the clog along with the snake. After all this work, all that's left to do is clear the pipe with a powerful stream of hot water from the tap.

Now you know what to do in a situation where you need to urgently clean a drain using improvised means.

Check the air bleed system

In addition to regular cleaning, it's also necessary to install an air vent system to maintain uniform pressure in the pipes while draining the washing machine. This is a bit like emptying a can of evaporated milk without a second hole to allow air to enter the can. In this situation, the milk will splash in all directions and pour out unevenly.

The second hole is what the air bleed system is like. It allows air to flow freely into the drain pipe as the washing machine drains, ensuring water drains quickly and quietly.

Such a system can be installed outside a private home, for example, in a basement. If the system is needed in an apartment building, it was likely installed during construction and simply clogged or was poorly designed. In this case, you won't be able to fix it yourself; you'll have to contact the management company.

   

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