Blocked Sinks London

Kitchen sinks block because of fats, oils and grease. They pour down warm as a liquid, then cool inside the pipe and stick to the walls. Over months the layer thickens until water cannot pass. Food scraps and coffee grounds speed the build-up.

Bathroom basins block because of hair and soap scum. Hair tangles into mats, and soap fats bind it together. The blockage usually forms at the trap, the U-bend just below the basin.

Utility and laundry sinks collect lint and detergent residue. However, the cause is often a stray sock or cloth. Our advice on things that get stuck down the drain lists other offenders.

Keep cooking fat out of the sink. Pour it cooled into a tin and bin it instead. Coffee grounds also build up, because they settle and clog at low points in the pipe.

Food scraps cause trouble too. Even with a waste disposal unit, fibrous items like celery and onion skins wrap around the blade. Rice, pasta and bread swell with water and form a paste, so scrape plates into the bin first. Never pour paint down any drain.

For a typical basin blockage, we disconnect the U-bend, clear the build-up, refit it and test. For deeper blockages, we use a motorised drain auger that follows the pipe and cuts through the obstruction. In busy commercial kitchens, a high-pressure jetter cleans the pipe walls so the problem takes longer to return.

We work across North London. For instance, we cover blocked sinks in Barnet, sink unblocking in Edgware and drain clearing in Southgate. Send the enquiry form and we agree a fixed price before work starts.

Pour boiling water down a metal sink, but not into porcelain, since sudden heat can crack it. Bicarbonate of soda followed by white vinegar, left for 15 minutes, helps with early grease build-up. A plunger over the plug hole also works if you block the overflow with a wet cloth.

If none of that works, stop there. A wire hanger or rough tool can damage older pipework and turn a simple clearance into a repair. For habits that keep sinks flowing, read how to keep your drain clear of blockages.