Why does my bathroom tub and sink sound like it's burping when I flush

This is new for us home, but built in 1959. Kitchen sink drains slow but have not heard burps.

  10 answers
  • Bernadette Staal Bernadette Staal on Jul 14, 2017

    call a plumber URGENTLY it is likely that your pipes are blocked and you could have a potential disaster about to occur e.g. your sewer may be overflowing at your gully trap or you will flush the toilet and it will overflow because there is no where for the water to go. Being an old house you may have clay pipes and the pipes may have become blocked by tree roots.

  • Michele Pappagallo Michele Pappagallo on Jul 14, 2017

    Definitely something I would get checked out! Older homes may have pipes that are not in great shape and they may even crack or burst if there are roots, blockages, etc. Better safe than sorry.

  • Lavica Lavica on Jul 14, 2017

    Yes, I concur that a plumber may be in order, but FIRST try an all-natural way to clear the drains in your sink and tub. Good ol' vinegar and baking soda poured down the drain and then placing the drain stopper over the drain to create a vacuum in the pipe which allows for the chemical reaction to force a possible clog down the pipe. Your problem could be clay pipes and / or could be tree roots (which can sometimes be chemically dissolved depending on your pipe materials). In any event, if this is your first home, were you offered a Home Warranty upon purchase? If so, and if it's within the first year of ownership, the Home Warranty may cover some of the expenses related to your problem. Best Wishes!

  • Suzette Suzette on Jul 14, 2017

    Hi Donna, More than likely you have cast iron pipes that may be clogging. When this happens, it's not venting properly causing your burps! You should call a professional to get their opinion.


    Good luck!

  • Diana Deiley Diana Deiley on Jul 14, 2017

    You need a professional....call a plumber as soon as possible. Better safe than sorry. It could be a simple fix, could be something serious. But don't wait. Best of luck.

  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Jul 14, 2017

    That obviously screams for a professional sorry

  • Linda Sikut Linda Sikut on Jul 14, 2017

    Did you have a home inspection before you signed for your house? That's pretty much normal where I live to have that done. It's also the law here that the seller must disclose any issues they know about to the buyer. I my state, in a situation like this, the seller would be responsible for fixing this and you would have known about it before you signed the contract. Here's an article that explains what is probably wrong and what to do about it. If you and/or someone close to you has plumbing skills, it can probably be fixed by that person but if not, you should definitely call a plumber.


    http://homeguides.sfgate.com/going-plumbing-burping-63343.html


    HTH Sorry you're having trouble with your 'new' home. Hopefully it won't be bad will can easily be fixed.

  • William William on Jul 15, 2017

    Sounds like the plumbing vent is blocked or clogged. Sometimes birds or varmints can fall down the vent and create a blockage. Going on the roof with a garden hose and running it down the vent with water running full blast can sometimes push the clog through. Otherwise you may need a plumbing snake to push or remove the blockage. I have rodded many vent pipes through the years. For the slow kitchen drain; pour some baking soda down the drain. then pour some vinegar down. Immediately cover the drain with a cloth. The pressure should push any debri through. If a double bowl sink cover both drains with a cloth.

  • Sharon Sharon on Jul 15, 2017

    I had that in this old house, had roto router come and they put a camera down there and it was redwood tree roots ..... a big ball or roots.

  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on Jan 08, 2023

    Ours started with the kitchen sink and the toilet not emptying, we did the bs/vinegar, then pouring hot water down the drains with the bucket of it held high to force with hot water and pressure, no luck. Called a plumber service, got the camera shots and it was the pipes-ceramic-collapsed just after the front porch to the street. $11,000 later and a dig up front yard we had service. House and plumbing 1950.