Why Is My Toilet Gurgling When I Use the Shower?
A gurgling toilet when the shower runs can point to a drainage problem. Learn what to observe, when to stop using fixtures and when to call a plumber.
Quick answer
A toilet that gurgles when the shower runs may point to a blockage or a problem with air moving through the drain pipes. The noise alone cannot tell you the cause. Rising water, sewage or several drains backing up means you should stop using the affected fixtures and call for help.
You do not need plumbing knowledge to notice and describe the symptoms.
Why would the shower affect the toilet?
Your toilet and shower drain into the same pipes. As water flows down, air needs to move through the pipes too.
If something gets in the way, you can hear a gurgle at a different drain. The problem could be close to the toilet or shower, or further along the shared pipe.
SA Water lists gurgling toilets and floor drains in its guide to sewer problems. A plumber still needs to check your home to find the cause.
What else should you look out for? 👀
Next time you use the bathroom, notice:
- Does the shower drain slowly?
- Does the water in the toilet bowl rise or drop?
- Is there a bad smell?
- Is water overflowing outside?
- Does the washing machine cause the same noise?
Jot down when it started and whether your drains have blocked before. A short video or sound recording can help, if you can take it safely.
Don't keep running water just to make the noise happen. That can make a blockage worse.
When should you stop using the drains?
⚠️ If water is rising in the toilet or dirty water is coming up through a drain, stop using that toilet, sink or shower. Flushing again and again can cause an overflow.
Keep children and pets away from sewage and get help quickly. Don't reach into drains, lift heavy covers or climb on the roof to check the vent pipe (the pipe that lets air in and out of your drains).
If the problem seems to be in SA Water's pipes, follow the reporting steps in its guide above.
Will drain cleaner fix it?
Drain cleaner won't fix a broken or shifted pipe. It also can't tell you whether air is getting through the pipes properly. Don't rely on it as a fix.
Never mix drain cleaning products. If you've already used one, tell the plumber which product and when.
What will the plumber check?
First, they'll look at which toilets, sinks and showers are affected and how their pipes connect. Depending on what they find, they may clear a blockage, look inside the pipe or check the vent pipe.
A drain camera inspection may help if the camera can get in and see clearly. It isn't needed for every noise.
Questions worth asking
- What have you found so far?
- What still needs checking?
- How will this work help?
- What happens if the noise keeps going afterwards?
Is it urgent if it's only a noise?
A new gurgle that keeps happening is worth checking, even if the water still drains away. Rising water, sewage, or more than one drain backing up makes it more urgent.
The noise can't tell you how long you have before the drain blocks completely. You don't need to wait for an overflow before asking for advice.
What could a blocked-drain service cost?
The right approach depends on what is causing the noise. If a blockage needs clearing, these are our indicative guides:
- Minor, single-fixture blockage: $99–$285+
- Main-line clearing with hydro jetting: $320–$600+
- Complex or recurring blockage: $320–$1,000+
A drain camera inspection is included with every paid blocked-drain service.
We confirm your quote after a site visit. Repair work is quoted separately. See our blocked-drain price guide for more detail.
Need a hand? 👋
Tell us which drains are affected and whether water is coming back up.
We help homes across Greater Metropolitan Adelaide with gurgling toilets and blocked drains. We'll explain what we find in plain English.
📅 Book online or 📞 call (08) 7534 5448
Expertise. Clarity. Care.
