How can I unblock a kitchen drain

Question

The water in my kitchen sink does not run away. I have used a plunger which did not work and I have taken off the pipes under the sink and cleaned them out, but the water still does not drain away from the sink.

Can anyone PLEASE let me know what to try next. Please dont say a plumber. I have the manhole cover in my garden for the main drains. Could this be blocked. I am desperate. Thank you.

Answer 1

The drain from the sink runs in 32mm diameter pipe until it connects to a 105mm downpipe leading to the manhole.  The blockage is likely to be somewhere in the 32mm pipe.  Take away the pipes under the sink.  You should now have a short straight section of 32mm pipe disappearing into the wall where it meets the downpipe.  See if you can poke the blockage out using a piece of coat hanger wire.  If that fails, you can probably ram it out with a piece of broom handle and a hammer, but that might break the pipe.

If all else fails, put the pipes back together and use a chemical cleaner.  These dissolve fat and hair which are usually what blocks a sink.  Be careful not to get it on your hands.

Answer 2

Mr Muscle sink and drain unblocker. Buy it from any suprmarket and the instructions are on the packet it's amazing  

Answer 3

If you have cleaned the U bend then the advised chemical treatments is unlikely to work. As the blockage is now shown to be after the U bend I would suggest removing the U bend again and try to dislodge the blockage from the pipe which is running through the property wall by a mechanical means, such as a length of wire. You may be able to unravel a metal coat hanger to do this. Failing that you can buy a special length of flat spring steel to do the job. It is stored as a coil and only costs a few pounds.

If you are competent enough to remove the and clean the pipework, then you should have no problem to continue on to find the cause of the blockage.

Answer 4

If the plunger hasn't worked then get some caustic soda crystals from a hardware shop or B+Q (they may be under a trade name) and pout them down.

You may also want to try boiling water and washing up liquid because if t*t's being blocked by grease (very common) that will do it.

Answer 5

try cillit bang!

Answer 6

sodium hydroxide. Any hardware merchant.

Answer 7

If the pipes and trap under the sink are clear, then lift the manhole cover and see if the blockage is there. If it is, hire some drain rods to clear it or get a plumber. If the manhole is clear, then the blockage is in the pipe from the sink. Then you need to rod out back to the sink.

Answer 8

Cilit band, bleach or any cleaning stuff that contains sodium hydroxide?

Answer 9

Have you tried using caustic soda?

Answer 10

If the pipework outside is plastic, check that as you have to work outwards. Lift the manhole cover, if it is flooded in the chamber you have a blockage from the chamber onwards. If it is clear the blockage is 'upstream'. In either instance you will need a set of drain rods (buy or hire very cheaply) Get some rubber gloves on and have a go. It's all a 'plumber' would do, and it's quite satisfying when you clear it. Use a garden hose to wash it all away. And don't pour fat down the sink any more (joking). If the drain is shared with a neighbour you may have to get advice from a drain clearance firm. Check first with your local authority and the water company for advice if you can't manage it yourself. Good luck!

Answer 11

If its blocked by grease try Soda Crystals. Pour some down the sink and leave for at least an hour, more if you can. Then pour a kettle of boiling water down.

I do this about once a month and never have problems with a blocked sink. It also makes the drains smell clean again.  

Answer 12

boiling water if its fat blocking the drain