You step out of the shower, and you hear a bubbly, gurgling sound in the drain. Some things around the house make noise; your HVAC unit hums when it kicks on, the coffee maker hisses occasionally. But your plumbing pipes should be quiet. Do you need to call your plumber? Not yet.
Why Plumbing Pipes Gurgle
Sometimes dirt, hair, and grease build up in your plumbing pipes. If you’ve noticed the water seems to drain slower than usual, this is sometimes why. When they are partially clogged, the water – and the air bubbles – don’t flow smoothly through the plumbing pipes. The blocked air bubbles will expel themselves at the nearest vent, and you hear bubbly noises.
Before You Call the Plumber
If you know the clog is hair/gunk-based, you might try using a bent wire hanger to reach in and pull out the stuff. Nobody wants to handle toxic chemicals, let alone pour them into the plumbing, where they will eventually be expelled into our environment.
Baking soda and white vinegar are Mother Nature’s favorite cleansers. Here’s a Drain De-Clogger recipe to try:
- ½ cup baking soda
- 1 cup white vinegar
- 1 gallon boiling water
Slowly siphon all the baking soda down the drain. Pour in half of the vinegar, covering the hole so the fizz is forced down, not up. Add the second half of the vinegar. Allow to sit for 15 minutes or so, and then flush with an entire gallon of boiling water.
When to Call the Plumber: Today
One of the tests of leadership is the ability to recognize a problem
before it becomes an emergency. –Arnold Glasgow
Our plumbing professionals live within 20 miles of our service area so we can respond quickly in an emergency. If you live in or near Conroe, Magnolia, Montgomery, Oak Ridge North, Shenandoah, Spring, The Woodlands, Tomball and surrounding communities, call 281.661.4283 or contact your plumbing professionals at Bradbury Brothers Services today. Let’s begin the conversation about ways to prevent plumbing emergencies before they happen!
