Blocked sink

aj9648

Hi

My sink is blocked - standing going very slowly!!

But I have this type of sink hole - any ideas of how to get the middle bit out - so I can give a good plunge!!

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CxKU_X8XEAAt-B1.jpg:large

Ebe_Scrooge

Not sure about that particular one. Try very gently pulling or twisting it. Don't go too mad though, you don't want to damage anything !

But really, if it were me, my first point of attack would be get underneath and remove the U-Bend, or trap, or whatever is under there. Far more effective, and very easy so long as you can get to it. Put a bowl underneath, unscrew the trap. Scrape out the worst of the gunge, then give it a good wash under the tap ( NOT the tap in the sink that you've just removed it from !!! ).

Clean all the threads up ( an old toothbrush is ideal for this ), screw it back in place - it only needs to be hand-tight. 9 times out of 10, job's a good-un. Sure, it's a bit of a manky job to do, but much more effective than just attacking it from the top.

And it costs now't to give it a go - this is MSE, after all !

Smartsaver7

I agree, my sink well blocked and just undid u bend and full of gunk and grease.

Try turning the plug gently as probably screwed in, my pop down one was in bathroom , just unscrewed

xyz123

Have u tried one shot drain cleaner? You should still take u band off and clean as suggested but Might be less messy if sink is not fully blocked...

Kiran

Before you put chemicals down it, try a plumbers snake or a decent plunger. As above, the blockage is likely to be in the u bend or trap below so if you can access this after the water has drained you stand a much better chance of cleaning it properly. Chemical cleaners are great but as soon as there is a whole through the blockage they disappear down the drain with the water without properly cleaning it

27cool

Dismantle the Ubend and trap. It is only likely to be hand tight. It ain't rocket science and no chemicals will be involved.

qsk

xyz123 wrote: »

Have u tried one shot drain cleaner?

Can you use one-shot on sink? I have poured directly down the drain before but was a bit hesitate to use it on metals. Will it do any damage to sink or the (plastic) pipes?

Dipak

If you try pouring generous amount of good thick bleach, leave it to work overnight. In the morning, before you open the tap, pour 2 full boiling kettle loads of water and that should clear it.

Hope that works!!

Ebe_Scrooge

All these various chemicals are fine and dandy - personally I always go for bog-standard caustic soda. Cheap and very effective.


But really, to reiterate my earlier point - take the blooming u-bend off and clean it !! It's dead easy, costs nothing, and 90% certain that'll cure the problem. If it doesn't, well that's the time to start on the chemicals.


Things like a shower plughole - fair enough, they're often very difficult to get to the u-bend, so caustic soda is a good option. But for a sink, it's so easy to remove and clean it, why wouldn't you ? Even when I do use caustic soda, I've always got a nagging worry in the back of my mind that it's going to cause a joint to fail somewhere along the line......

Marktheshark

kettle of boiling water first, then if that fails try something else.

longwalks1

we have blocked sinks regularly, long girl hair and other stuff block it regularly, i use (i think its called) Duzit unblocker, basically a sachet of strong smelling crystals that you pour in, then add a cupful of hot water and leave it for 10 minutes

Works a treat, and costs £2 for 3 sachets