The short answer? If your toilet is gurgling when you shower, you have a blockage. Here’s the longer answer: Your shower and toilet most likely share a drain line and a vent stack (this setup is called wet venting, more on that later).

Why does my shower drain gurgle when I flush the toilet?

Since there is only a small amount of pressure created by the water in your p-trap, flushing your toilet can cause water to flow up and out of your shower drain and gurgle while it passes through water that is held in the p-trap. It’s the same as if you were to blow air through a pipe filled with water.

Are toilet and shower drains connected?

In short, it is possible to connect the toilet drainage line and the shower drainage line, as long as they both have separate waste trap arms. However, do note that combining them may also lead to blockages, which can cause smells to come from certain drains.

What does it mean when your plumbing gurgles?

Gurgling pipes are a sign of either a clogged drain line or a clogged vent pipe. Obstacles can block water or air from freely flowing through your pipes. This results in trapped air or gas bubbles, which is the gurgling sound you may hear.

What does it mean if I flush the toilet and the bathtub gurgles?

If your tub drain gurgles when you flush the toilet, it’s likely because there is a blockage in the main sewer line. This can be caused by waste buildup, tree roots, or other objects that become lodged in the pipe. You’ll need to contact a professional plumber to clear the blockage and restore proper drainage.

How do you tell if your vent pipe is clogged?

How to Tell if Your Plumbing Vent is Clogged

  1. A Primer on Plumbing Vents. …
  2. Water Takes A Long Time to Drain. …
  3. Dry and Empty Toilet Tanks. …
  4. Foul Smells. …
  5. Gurgling or “Glugging” Sounds as Water Goes Down the Drain. …
  6. Get Those Clogs Out of Your Plumbing Vent ASAP.


Why is sewer water coming from shower drain?

When the sewer line becomes clogged or blocked, wastewater has nowhere to go but back toward your house. This results in sewage coming up through your drains, often starting with your tub or shower.

Is my main sewer line clogged?

Some signs that your main sewer line is clogged include:

  • Water Backing up in Your Toilet or Sink. One of the first signs there’s a problem with the main sewage line is water backing up in the sink or toilet. …
  • Slow Drains. …
  • Funky Smells. …
  • Flooded Yard.


How do you clean a sewer backup in the shower?

How to Clean Up Sewage Backup

  1. Remove the sewage water as soon as possible – use a pump if there is a lot of water or a wet-dry vacuum with an appropriate filtration device if the spill is small;
  2. Shovel dirt, soil, and debris into strong plastic bags and dispose of them immediately;

How do you fix a gurgling pipe?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: And next mix one cup of hot tap. Water. And one cup of white vinegar pour the mixture down the drain. The foaming action will loosen and dissolve the gunk in the drain.

How do you clear a toilet vent pipe?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: And go to the vent and start putting the snake down through the top of the vent. So once the snake comes into contact with the clog. It'll. Stop this rod right here allowing you to push it down.

How much does it cost to clear a plumbing vent?

Plumbing vent cleaning costs $100 to $200 on average. Signs stacks aren’t venting include bad odors, slow drainage, gurgling noises, or when someone flushes a sink and another sink makes a noise. Using an open cover or screen at the end of the vent pipe prevents debris from clogging.

Where is the toilet vent pipe located?

In older homes, a vent may also be located under a kitchen or bathroom cabinet at a level above the p-trap. Like the plumbing vent, a p-trap prevents odorous gas from seeping up through a toilet, sink or floor drain. It’s the U-shaped piece of pipe beneath your sinks and behind the toilets.

Should there be standing water in toilet drain pipe?

The first answer is YES: Your sewer drains should hold water in certain locations. The reason for the water in the drainage fixture is to prevent rodents and smells entering the building. For example a toilet pan has water in its bowl always this is to prevent foul smells entering the building.

Can a shower and toilet share a vent?

Wet vents are typically used when plumbing a bathroom group. So yes the shower can also be vented by the wet vent along with the toilet. There is one major stipulation when wet venting multiple fixtures when a toilet is one of them: the toilet must be the last fixture connected to the wet vent.

Can a plumbing vent get clogged?

If a plumbing vent is clogged, that means that air can’t escape your plumbing system how it’s supposed to. When that happens, the air will find the nearest exit, which is usually your toilet or your sink. It makes noise as it escapes, which is what causes those gurgling sounds.