Blocked kitchen sink

Caustic soda, boiling water and skin, and especially eye protection.

If it dissolves a human body in 6 weeks, it usually unblocks a sink in 6 seconds.

The alternative to caustic would be carefully disassemble the U Bend and clean it out. There are plenty of safer alternatives for sink clearance other than caustic, but it will work and usually produce some heat in the process. Can be quite entertaining and interesting patterns form on stainless steel sinks too.

Chuck the waste down the loo and NOT back down the sink because you'll get wet feet ;-)

not wise, use the bin or garden. Its remarkable how tiny things can block a bog.

NT

================================== They do work pretty well but there are cheaper alternatives. First, and most obvious, buy another plunger since you've been satisfied with one in the past. Secondly, check the sink trap. Many come with a screw cap or base which can be removed to clear blockages. If your trap doesn't have a removable screw cap it might be possible to dismantle a part of it if it's 'push fit'.

If you've got an ancient lead one-piece system then stick with the chemicals - there's less risk of damage.

Cic.

Get another plunger

"Matt" wrote

Er indoors only blocked ours once before I got one of those plug hole cover/strainer things. They are a bit of a pain in that they slow the water leaving the sink, but they do stop vegetable matter etc from entering the waste trap and pipe work.

Phil

As someone who has never had a blockage, I would suggest that it is worth dismantling the u bend to check there isn't something causing frequent blockages (heavy grit for example).

Hi,

Try a 4 pint milk container full of water as a plunger, just squeeze as hard as poss while pushing down. Ensure sink is at least half full of water first :)

cheers, Pete.

Often assorted debris left behind by kitchen fitters who can't resist cleaning their tools in the sink once it's connected. Chemicals are hardly ever necessary, but their use seems to give people satisfaction. Another triumph for the marketing brigade, along with bottled water etc.

I use one of these for unblocking sinks

Shifts almost anything.

You're not a plumber unless you have washed out a trap in the sink you just removed it from :-)

Where I'm not 100% sure that all hidden joints are securely solvent-welded I tend to go for sucking the pipe clear rather than blowing, in case I blow a pipe joint apart in an inaccessible location. I used to have a sort of bike-pump-on-steroids gizmo that would do this but lately I've just used my wet&dry vac, with some success.

Thankfully Dave I'm not a plumber otherwise I'd have a £2m mansion and people clearing out the crap for me ;-)

I'll stick to repairing lorry cranes ta!

Is this those hydraulic cranes on lorries used for lifting pallets of bricks etc. or are you talking about a large stationary crane able to lift lorries?