Why does my washing machine drain make a loud gurgling sound?
Loud gurgling occurs every time the washer hits the drain cycle, regardless of the settings used. This makes it difficult to diagnose the underlying plumbing or venting issue and leaves residents searching for a reliable fix they can handle themselves.
What the numbers show
Counted from the threads quoted below. How we count
- The most recent one is from October 2026.
- This comes up 28.4× more often in r/appliancerepair than across the site as a whole.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
Why does my washing machine drain make a loud gurgling sound?
- 1inspecting the vent from the roof for obstructionsDid this help you?
- 2Checking drains, wiring, unit placement, and cycle settingsDid this help you?
- 3Waiting for apartment maintenance to inspect the unitDid this help you?
- 4Replacing or plugging the exterior cleanout capDid this help you?
- 5Routing greywater to a yard or ditchDid this help you?
- 6Cutting the slab to tie the line into the main sewer systemDid this help you?
- 7Run the washing machine on a regular cycle that uses less water instead of the cleaning cycleDid this help you?
- 8Have a plumber snake the pipe in the wallDid this help you?
- 9Install an air admittance valve at the sinkDid this help you?
- 10Use enzymatic drain cleaners to clear the pipes over timeDid this help you?
- 11Replace the plumbing or sewer linesDid this help you?
- 12trying percussive maintenance by shaking or tilting the machineDid this help you?
- 13checking if something loose is resting against a spinning partDid this help you?
- 14contacting the manufacturer to request a warranty replacement part while doing the labor yourselfDid this help you?
- 15Trying to catch and monitor the leak during the spin cycleDid this help you?
- 16Cleaning and manually spinning the drumDid this help you?
- 17Replacing the main bearings, retainer, and cross/axle assembly via DIY repairDid this help you?
- 18Buying a new washing machineDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“Hey y’all. New home owner, noticed this when I came home today. We have lived for a few months. Also noticed there is a white cap on the ground next to the spot. Everything I’m seeing online points the fact that it should not be doing this? I’m just curious if this is an issue. Please help!”source ↗
“When my washer drains it makes loud gurgling sound and i can’t seem to find the cause.”source ↗
“Bad main bearing.”source ↗
“My ge clothes washer is making this noise. It came on suddenly and only really makes the noise when in the spin cycle. Any ideas want might be the problem.”source ↗
“Im pretty handy and can probably fix it but id hate to just start throwing parts at it.”source ↗
“This is the motor. Common failure on these but covered by a 10 year parts (labor not included) warranty.”source ↗
“It started with water collecting at the bottom.”source ↗
“Today it gave out once again, this time with the error code for engine overload/outage. The drum would not spin manually at all. So I opened it once again. Again, there is dark, dirty water leaking from the back of the drum.”source ↗
“The main bearing lets water seep through and it's dark because of...grease?”source ↗
“Might be the drain hose starting to crack, I had a similar thing where it only leaked during the spin cycle when water was really getting pushed out.”source ↗
“Happens every single cycle no matter the setting I put it on or tweak to, and kicks on every time it goes to “Drain”.”source ↗
“We’re in an apartment and I’ve contacted maintenance, but we all know they’re never really the best at totally fixing something and I’m hoping it’s something myself or my husband can just do.”source ↗
“When I do the cleaning cycle with affresh cleaning tablets, it uses a ton of water. It dumps the water into the sink but it doesn’t drain fast enough and it overflows. So I can’t do a clean cycle.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 12Why does my clothes dryer sound like a loud vacuum?
- 43Washer making a loud screeching noise during spin cycle
- 6Why is my washing machine shaking and leaking?
- 3Why is water overflowing from my washing machine dispenser tray?
- 4How to drain standing water from a top load washer
- 2Washing machine keeps humming after cycle finishes