A-Z of DIY & Building Guides How To Unblock A Sink

Date Published:

01/06/2009

Contributed By

George Clarke

If you regularly pour fat, tea leaves or peelings down the sink waste, the trap under the sink is likely to get blocked. Luckily it’s a problem you can solve yourself in most cases. Here's how.

Time required: Five to 10 minutes
Cost: A traditional plunger costs just a couple of pounds from a DIY store - pump-action sink unblocker that uses compressed air costs from £5, also from DIY stores
Skill level: You need no DIY experience to do this job
You'll need: A plunger or pump-action unblocker; saucepan or bucket

Step One

If water is draining slowly from a shower, bath or sink, the cause is often hair trapped in the plug hole or trap. Clean regularly and there should be no need to use caustic chemical treatments.

Once you've checked that this isn't the problem, block the overflow holes at the top of the sink with damp kitchen paper or a rag so that the jet of air and water is forced through the system and not back out of the overflow. There should be enough water in the sink to cover the rubber part of the plunger.

Step Two

Place the plunger over the plug hole and push up and down quickly to force a jet of water through the waste pipes to dislodge the blockage.

Take out the plunger and check the water drains away quickly. Run the taps for several minute to flush away any debris and unblock the overflow holes.