Signs you need blocked sink help
- Water pools in the sink and drains very slowly
- Gurgling sounds from the plughole
- A bad smell from the drain, worse in warm weather
- Water backs up into the second bowl of a double sink
Blocked Sink: what the job involves
A blocked sink drains slowly or not at all. In kitchens, for example, the cause is usually fat, food scraps and soap that set hard inside the pipe. In bathrooms, hair and toothpaste build up in the trap under the basin. Either way, the blockage gets worse each time you use the sink.
The engineer starts with the trap, the curved pipe under the sink. If the blockage is not there, they clear the waste pipe with a small drain snake or a jetter. They also check the outside gully where the pipe comes out, because debris often collects there. Then they run both taps to check the sink drains freely.
Grease is the main enemy of kitchen sinks. While it pours out as a liquid, it cools and sets inside the pipe. Wiping pans with kitchen roll before washing them keeps most of it out. A sink strainer also catches food scraps before they reach the trap.
How the job goes
- 1. Check the trap The engineer removes and cleans the trap under the sink.
- 2. Clear the waste pipe They clear the pipe with a drain snake or jetter and check the outside gully.
- 3. Test the flow They run the taps at full flow to check the sink drains freely.
Typical costs
UK price guides put sink unblocking at about £30 to £75 outside London (Fantastic Services, 2026). MyJobQuote puts a bath or sink job at about £50 to £70. Heavy grease that needs jetting costs more. These are typical ranges, and you can ask your engineer to confirm the price before they start.
Around Wolverhampton
In older terraces around Wolverhampton, the kitchen waste often runs to a gully in the back yard. Leaves and grease collect in that gully, so the sink slows down even though the pipe is clear. Because the gully is easy to reach, the engineer checks it on every sink job. Keeping it clear of leaves helps stop the problem coming back.
Blocked Sink: frequently asked questions
Why does my kitchen sink keep blocking?
Grease is the usual cause, because it sets hard as it cools inside the pipe. Food scraps then stick to the grease and narrow the pipe further. A sink strainer and wiping pans before washing both help.
Should I use a chemical drain cleaner?
It is best to avoid them, especially in a sink full of water, because they can splash, harm skin and damage older pipes. A plunger or clearing the trap is safer.
Can a plunger clear a blocked sink?
Yes, a plunger often clears a blockage near the plughole. Block the overflow with a damp cloth first, so the pressure goes down the pipe. If the water still will not drain, the blockage is probably further along.
How long does sink unblocking take?
A blockage near the sink is usually quicker to clear than a long run of greasy pipe further along. The engineer tells you how long it should take once they see the problem.