Sink blocking

happily_married

So apologies if this is an easy fix but just newly seperated after 40years  and now having to do DIY again.
So sink was blocked and water would not drain.( this happens every so often) 
Nothing goes down sink aasI have the wee sink plug thing to catch anything.
Anyways I couldn't get the water to go away so I could shove sink unblocked down.
This blocking happens every so often but there never seems to be anything blocking it. 
So i set the washing machine to drain and it took the  blockage away. Is this normal? Has my pipework  maybe got anything to do with it. 
Thanks if anybody can help
I hAve attached photos of pipework

oldernonethewiser

Have you tried using a sink unblocker liquid when you can pour straight down the plughole?

Another quick fix which often works is pouring a kettle full of boiling water down there.

Always good to practice pipe hygiene

grumpy_codger

Have you checked the U-/P-trap at the bottom? Put a bowl under, unscrew it and clean inside.

And what's this electric thing at the very top? Whatever it is, it's screwed to the sink waste incorrectly.

MikeJXE

Rest the palm of your hand over the plug hole and bounce it up and down repeatedly like a plunger a few times 

bjorn_toby_wilde

Is that a waste disposal unit right at the top? If so that might be where the problem lies.

Eldi_Dos

@happily-married

As other posters have commented there appears to be a device with a electrical connection attached to your sinks pipework, I think it may be some form of macerator.Whatever, it needs treated with a degree of caution.

Best thing you can do is trace where the cable goes to, and it is your responsibility to make sure anyone who works on your pipework is aware and that power is isolated.

If you can trace cable and post photos of where it goes to, it would help people to give advice.

molerat

That "electrical thing" will be the Bowden cable and gearbox to make the pop up plug go up and down.

Robin9

I found that mine blocks at the actual sink end where waste food accumulates. Needed a flat bladed screwdrive.

EssexExile

All those pipes unscrew really easily to clear any blockages. 

Eldi_Dos

molerat said:

That "electrical thing" will be the Bowden cable and gearbox to make the pop up plug go up and down.

Oops,,are they any good for removing egg from face.

bjorn_toby_wilde

Eldi_Dos said:

molerat said:

That "electrical thing" will be the Bowden cable and gearbox to make the pop up plug go up and down.

Oops,,are they any good for removing egg from face.

Egg on mine too!  I’ve never seen a pop up waste like that before. You learn something new every day