A blocked sink drains slowly, gurgles or holds water in the bowl. Kitchen sinks block with grease and food waste, while bathroom basins block with hair, soap and toothpaste. The block may sit in the trap under the sink or in the waste pipe behind it. A quick look under the sink often tells you which.
The engineer looks at the bend under the sink for a clear cause, since a trap is easy to open. A bowl under the trap catches the water. If the trap is clear, the block sits further along.
Drain rods, a snake or a small water jet clear the pipe behind the trap. This also flushes out the grease on the pipe walls, since grease clings there. Stubborn grease may need a second pass.
The waste pipe ends at a gully or hopper outside. Leaves or silt there can still slow the sink. The engineer clears any debris that sits in the way.
Both taps run at full flow to show the sink drains freely. A gurgle that remains means the block has not fully gone. The engineer then refits the trap and checks for drips.
A sink block usually costs less than a long outside run, yet heavy grease can need jetting. MyJobQuote gives an average of about £100 for unblocking a domestic drain, while Precise Drainage Solutions gives £80 to £150 for a minor block. These are typical UK ranges, not York quotes, since prices vary by site. Ask for a written quote before work starts, and ask whether there is a call-out charge.
Grease is the usual cause because it cools in the pipe, sticks to the walls and traps food. Wipe greasy pans with kitchen roll before you wash them. Fit a strainer over the plughole, and flush the pipe with hot water each week.
They can help with a small block, yet they are not a lasting fix. Read the label, never mix products, and keep them away from children. Tell the engineer if you used one, since the chemicals can harm skin.
Yes, since the sink may share a pipe with other fixtures. A block in the shared part can slow the bath or the washing machine too. In that case the block usually sits further down, not in the sink.
Only water, soap and toilet paper should go down. Yorkshire Water names wipes as a leading cause of blockages, and fat causes them too. Put fat, wipes and food scraps in the bin.
A smell often means grease or food rotting in the trap or the waste pipe. A dry trap can also let drain smells rise. Run the tap for a few seconds to refill it. If the smell stays, ask an engineer to clean the pipe.