Why Are My Drains Gurgling or Slow to Empty?

Drainage System

Have you ever been washing up, only to hear a strange glug-glug-glug from the plughole? Or maybe you’ve noticed the bath water takes so long to drain, you could almost make another cup of tea while you wait. If you live in Bournemouth, Andover, Bath, Wimborne, Ferndown, Bridport, Corfe Mullen, or Corfe Castle, these symptoms might feel like a small inconvenience — but in reality, they’re often your drainage system waving a big red flag.

In this detailed guide, we’ll explore:

Why drains gurgle or drain slowly
How pitch fibre drainage pipes play a big role in older homes
The dangers of ignoring the problem
What you can do yourself — and when to call Pitch Fibre Specialists

Learn More

Partial Blockages

Over time, everyday materials build up in your drainage pipes:

Hair from showers and baths
Soap scum that hardens on pipe walls
Cooking fat and grease from washing up
Food particles from the kitchen sink

Even a small build-up can narrow the internal pipe diameter, slowing drainage and creating those tell-tale gurgles.

Venting Problems

Your home’s drainage relies on vent pipes to regulate air pressure. If these are blocked by debris, damaged, or incorrectly fitted, air pressure can’t escape properly. This forces air back through the water traps, creating noise and slowing water flow.

Pitch Fibre Pipe Deterioration

If your home was built between the 1950s and 1970s, there’s a good chance you have pitch fibre pipes. These were an economical choice at the time, made from a mix of cellulose and coal tar. Unfortunately, they have a much shorter lifespan than modern PVC. Over the years, they can:

Blister internally, reducing water flow
Warp or collapse under pressure
Become brittle, making them more susceptible to cracking

This is especially problematic if you live in an older property in Bournemouth, Andover, Bath, Wimborne, Ferndown, Bridport, Corfe Mullen, or Corfe Castle, where pitch fibre installations were common.

Damaged or Collapsed Pipes

Tree roots, shifting soil, or simply years of wear can crack, break, or fully collapse a pipe. This not only slows drainage but can also allow soil and debris to enter the system — causing more blockages.

Pitch Fibre Pipes — The Hidden Problem Beneath Your Garden

Pitch fibre drainage pipes are one of the most common hidden causes of recurring drainage issues. Because they’re buried underground, problems often go unnoticed until the symptoms become impossible to ignore — like constant gurgling or water that refuses to drain quickly.

Pitch Fibre Specialists can carry out pitch fibre drain repair and pitch restoration services that restore the pipe’s original shape and strength without the need for full excavation. Using re-rounding tools and lining techniques, they can often extend the life of these pipes by decades — a far more cost-effective solution than replacing them entirely.

Final Thoughts — Don’t Ignore the Gurgle

Gurgling drains or slow water flow are your plumbing’s way of telling you something’s wrong. Whether it’s a simple blockage, a venting problem, or ageing pitch fibre drainage pipes, the sooner you act, the easier (and cheaper) the fix will be.

Pitch Fibre Specialists are here to help homeowners in Bournemouth, Andover, Bath, Wimborne, Ferndown, Bridport, Corfe Mullen, Corfe Castle, and beyond with everything from drain cleaning Guildford to full pitch restoration services.