Skip to main content

Blocked Sinks

Clearing blocked kitchen and bathroom sinks, including waste pipes and the drains they connect to.

About blocked sinks

Kitchen sinks and bathroom basins block for very different reasons. In kitchens, fat, oil and food waste cool and cling to the inside of the waste pipe until water can barely pass. In bathrooms, hair, soap and toothpaste do the same job more slowly.

Many blocked sinks can be cleared at the trap. When that does not work, the blockage is usually further along the waste pipe or where it meets the outside gully or drain. Kitchen wastes in particular often run into a gully that collects grease over time.

Clear Drainage clears the sink, waste pipe and connecting drain as needed, and explains what caused the blockage so you know how to keep it running.

Signs you may need help

  • Water sitting in the sink or draining very slowly
  • Gurgling from the plughole
  • Smells from the sink or the outside gully
  • Water backing up into the sink when the washing machine or dishwasher empties
  • Grease visible around the outside gully

Common causes

  • Fat, oil and grease from cooking
  • Food scraps, coffee grounds, rice and pasta
  • Hair, soap and toothpaste in bathroom basins
  • Build-up in a poorly sloped waste pipe
  • A blocked outside gully or drain

What our approach means for you

  • Blockages are cleared from the trap through to the outside drain where needed.
  • Kitchen gullies can be cleaned of grease at the same time.
  • Advice on what to keep out of the sink.
  • Help identifying why a sink blocks repeatedly.

How it works

What you can expect when you contact Clear Drainage about blocked sinks.

  1. Check the trap and waste

    We check the trap and waste pipe for build-up and make sure the problem is not further down.

  2. Clear the blockage

    The sink waste, gully or drain is cleared depending on where the blockage is.

  3. Clean and test

    Water is run through to confirm the sink drains freely and connected appliances empty properly.

  4. Prevention advice

    We explain what caused the blockage and simple changes that help prevent it.

Blocked Sinks across Southampton and the surrounding area

We provide blocked sinks throughout Southampton and the surrounding area within roughly 60 miles. Choose your area for local information.

Also covering

Related services

Drain Cleaning

Cleaning drains that are slow, smelly or partly blocked, before a small problem turns into a full blockage.

Drain Unblocking

Clearing blocked drains, gullies and waste pipes at homes and businesses, then explaining what caused the blockage so it is less likely to come back.

Blocked Drains

Help with blocked outside drains, gullies, inspection chambers and underground drain runs: found, cleared and explained.

Drain Jetting

High-pressure water jetting to clear stubborn blockages and scour away fat, silt, scale and debris from the inside of drain pipes.

Blocked Sinks FAQs

Why does my kitchen sink keep blocking?

Most repeat kitchen sink blockages are caused by fat and food waste building up in the waste pipe or outside gully. A waste pipe with too little fall can make it worse. Clearing the full length of the pipe and changing what goes down the sink usually helps.

Can I pour boiling water down a blocked sink?

Hot water can loosen light grease, but it can also soften plastic joints and it will not shift a full blockage. Fat simply sets again further down the pipe once it cools.

Is a blocked sink always a sink problem?

No. If the sink backs up when other fittings are used, or several fittings are slow, the blockage may be in the underground drain.

Need help with blocked sinks?

Call Clear Drainage or send us a few details about the problem. We will explain what is likely to be involved before any work starts.

Call Clear Drainage Get a quote