Gurgling Drains? Here’s What It Means (And When to Worry)

You finish brushing your teeth and suddenly — glug glug glug — the sink makes a weird noise like it’s brewing coffee. It happens again when you flush the toilet. Then when you run the shower.

If you live in North York, and your drains are talking back to you, that sound isn’t random. It’s a sign that something’s off deep in your plumbing system — and it’s not going to fix itself.

At UPR, we treat gurgling drains as a red flag. Why? Because they usually mean your pipes are struggling to breathe.

What’s Causing That Gurgling Sound?

When water moves through your drains, it’s supposed to flow smoothly down, with air behind it to keep things moving. But if there’s a clog, a vent issue, or even a damaged pipe — the system pulls air from wherever it can. That “glug-glug” is air being sucked through the nearest opening, often your sink or toilet.

It’s like trying to drink through a straw with peanut butter in the middle — messy, noisy, and inefficient.

Common Situations We See in North York Homes:

• Someone flushes the toilet and the shower drain gurgles

• The kitchen sink drains slow, then makes gulping noises

• The laundry machine finishes, and you hear bubbling in a nearby floor drain

These are early warning signs. They might not stop things from draining today… but they often point to bigger issues building up in your main line, stack vent, or sewer connection.

What UPR Does About It

We start with a quick pressure and visual test. If we suspect venting problems, we check your roof vents and piping layout. If it’s a blockage, we inspect the drain using a camera — often finding buildup, roots, or improper slope.

From there, we clean the line with the right tool (no guesswork), and make sure the air flows the way it’s supposed to. Quiet drain = healthy system.

When to Call Right Away:

• If gurgling happens when multiple fixtures are used

• If it’s paired with slow draining or sewer smell

• If it suddenly gets worse during rain or laundry

Don’t wait for the bubbling to become a full-blown backup.

Call 647-833-6743

Contact UPR

If your drain starts to gurgle, don’t wait for a hurdle — UPR will fix the flow and silence the burble.
Serving North York & the GTA with expert drain inspections and cleanouts.