Why Does My Kitchen Sink Gurgle When the Washing Machine Drains?
For a kitchen sink that bubbles, glugs or gurgles specifically when the washing machine pumps wastewater away.
What this usually means
A kitchen sink that gurgles when the washing machine drains usually means the washer's fast discharge is changing air pressure in shared waste pipework. A partial blockage, restricted trap or branch pipe, poor venting, or an unsuitable washing-machine drain-hose arrangement can make air pull through the sink trap and create the noise. If the sink also drains slowly, smells bad or rises with dirty water during the washer cycle, treat it as a drainage restriction rather than harmless noise.
What may be causing this
A partial blockage is restricting the shared kitchen waste
Clues: The sink is slower than usual, smells stale, or the water level moves upward when the washing machine empties.
What to do: Clean accessible sink-trap debris and use a sink plunger if appropriate. If the restriction is further along the branch drain, use a plumber or drainage specialist.
The waste pipe cannot admit air quickly enough
Clues: The sink drains reasonably well but makes a strong suction or glugging noise exactly when the washing machine pump discharges.
What to do: A plumber can check whether the branch layout and any air-admittance valve or venting arrangement are working correctly.
The washing-machine drain hose is routed or inserted incorrectly
Clues: The noise started after a new machine or hose installation, especially with a standpipe connection or a hose pushed too far into a drain.
What to do: Compare the hose height, insertion and routing with the exact washing-machine installation instructions and correct any user-accessible installation issue.
The sink trap or appliance spigot is restricted by grease, detergent or debris
Clues: The gurgle is local to the kitchen, the under-sink trap is dirty, or the appliance connection has accumulated sludge.
What to do: With the machine unplugged and water contained, clean only accessible removable trap or spigot parts you can refit securely. Replace damaged seals rather than overtightening joints.
How to check what is happening
A partial blockage in the sink trap or shared waste is already likely and the washer discharge is exposing it.
The waste line is struggling to carry the discharge and should be treated as a blockage or drainage-capacity problem.
Drain-hose position or the way the appliance connects to the household waste deserves checking before assuming a deeper drain fault.
The pressure or restriction problem may be further along shared drainage rather than confined to the kitchen sink trap.
Can you fix this yourself?
You can compare sink drainage, inspect the washing-machine hose against the appliance manual and clean an accessible sink trap or spigot if you are confident it can be refitted leak-free. Rising wastewater, repeated backups or gurgling across several fixtures points to a deeper drainage problem for a plumber.
- Bucket
- Rubber gloves
- Old towels
- Sink plunger
- Washing-machine installation manual
What you can safely try
- 1
Watch what the sink actually does during pump-out
Run the machine only if there is no overflow risk and watch the sink at the drain stage. A noise-only symptom is different from water rising into the bowl.
- 2
Test the sink on its own
Fill the bowl part-way and release it. Slow drainage, bubbling or a lingering high water level points toward a local or shared waste restriction.
- 3
Check the washing-machine drain hose installation
Compare the hose height, bends and connection depth with the appliance manual. Remove kinks and correct only the user-installable parts of the hose arrangement.
- 4
Clean the accessible trap if it is clearly restricted
Place a bucket underneath before removing a serviceable sink trap. Clear grease or debris, inspect seals and refit carefully. Check for leaks before running the washer again.
- 5
Escalate if water rises or several drains react
Water coming back into the sink or gurgling at multiple fixtures suggests a restriction or venting issue beyond a simple appliance connection and is a good reason to call a plumber.
Call a plumber if…
- Wastewater rises toward the top of the sink or overflows.
- Dirty water backs up into another fixture.
- A waste joint leaks when the washing machine pumps out.
- Several fixtures in the property gurgle or drain slowly.
- The only proposed next step is adding or mixing chemical drain cleaners.
Get the right professional.
This problem can have more than one cause. Start with the checks above: a plumber is the usual first route, while a drainage specialist may be more appropriate when the clues point that way.
Sources used for this guide
We prefer primary UK guidance, regulators and manufacturers for technical and safety-sensitive claims.
- AEG Washing Machine Making Unusual Noises During Draining or Spinning – Causes and SolutionsAEG
- Kitchen Sink Gurgles When the Washing Machine Drains: What It MeansPlumbAdvisor
Last reviewed: 31 August 2026. Home Manual updates review dates only when the substance of a guide is checked or changed.