How to Fix a Sink Not Draining
How to Fix a Sink Not Draining
Are your sinks starting to stink? Are they full of murky water? Are your kitchen or bathroom sinks not draining?
From food waste blockages to soap scum build-up, matted hair to foreign objects, our article covers every type of sink blockage and gifts you with the DIY answers to get your water flowing again. So whether your bathroom sink isn’t draining or you want to know how to unclog a drain, read on for a sink unclogging masterclass.
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Why is my kitchen or bathroom sink not draining?
There are several reasons for sink blockages, and depending whether it’s a kitchen or bathroom basin, the block might differ. Here are the classic culprits.
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Food waste blockage is top of the pile for blockages to kitchen sinks. It all stems from washing the dishes after eating. Most of the obvious leftovers will be binned, but small bits of food store in your sink trap, congealing and turning hard. The result? A sink not draining. For prevention, kitchen sink waste strainers keep solids and debris above your pipes.
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Soap scum build-up is another cause of sink blockage. Much like food, soap stores in your U-bend. Usually, in bathroom sinks, if left untreated, the pipes become narrower, and that soap becomes a solid resident.
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Matted hair is a classic cause for a bathroom sink not draining. From shaving, clipping, trimming, and washing, all that hair tangles and congels in your P-trap, often becoming a mass of gunk.
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Foreign objects are your final offender behind your sink not draining. Food, soap, and hair usually take the headlines, but items like paper towels, cotton swabs, jewellery, grease and oil, small toys, glass, and wrappers become stuck in the pipes below your sink.
Tools & supplies you will need to fix a sink blockage
To unclog a sink blockage means you need the right tools & supplies. Some blockages, like those of grease and fat, might be resolved by boiling water or baking soda with vinegar.
But some jammed pipes need that extra shove with classic gizmos like
Of course, old towels, a bowl, and a sturdy sense of getting-the-job-done are just as vital. But where would I get these items?
Lucky for you, we’ve compiled all the necessary items for unblocking a sink in our full range of plumbing tools.
How to unclog a sink blockage - 6 methods step-by-step
You’ve got your tools and supplies and you’re ready to tackle that non-draining sink. So, whether it’s your bathroom sink that’s not draining or your sink not draining but the pipes are clear, here’s a step-by-step of each scenario.
Unblocking a sink with boiling water
The simplest un-blockage there is, which is usually caused by a build-up of fat or grease.
Essential equipment
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Boiling water
Step 1.
Fill your kettle and boil the water.
Step 2.
Slowly pour the boiled water down your plughole and leave for 2 minutes. This gives the hot liquid time to dissolve the fat stuck in your pipes.
Step 3.
After 2 minutes, run hot water from your tap to help clear your pipes.
Unblocking a sink with baking soda & vinegar
Is your sink not draining after pouring boiling water down? Then the combination of baking soda and vinegar is your next tool against some of those tougher blockages.
Essential equipment
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Boiling water
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Baking soda
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White vinegar
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Cloth or plug
Step 1.
First, boil the water and slowly pour it down your drain. This will help dislodge and separate your sink blockage.
Step 2.
Next, pour two teaspoons of baking soda down your plughole and give it a few minutes to work its magic. Follow it with 240ml of white vinegar.
Step 3.
When both are poured down, cover your drain with a cloth or plug. This helps stop any of the bubbling mixture from escaping your pipes.
Let that classic chemical combo’ do its thing. There’ll likely be a noise you can hear, too. Leave it for 5-10 minutes.
Step 4.
After the soda and vinegar have had time to work, clear any residue with boiling water down your pipes.
You should now have one unclogged drain. If you don’t, maybe it’s time to look at the other steps in our guide below.
Unblocking a sink with a plunger
Time for the trusted plunger. If your sink isn’t draining after the two previous methods, plungers are your next port of call. This is how you unclog a drain with one of them.
Essential equipment
Step 1.
Firstly, remove any standing water or debris in the basin with a cup or bowl. This will help improve plunger suction and the method’s overall effectiveness.
Step 2.
If your sink has an overflow, cover it with tape or a cloth. Not all kitchen basins come with an overflow, but most bathroom sinks do.
Step 3.
With steps 1 and 2 done, you can now add around 5cm of warm water to your sink, which helps your plunger seal more effectively.
Step 4.
Time to take the plunge. Position your plunger around the rim of your plughole and ensure it seals. Hold the handle firm and push down to release any air. Then, push and pull in motion with all your gusto.
Keep going until you feel the blockage shift or hear the sound of running water.
Step 5.
Remove your plunger and check if the 5cm of warm water you poured in earlier runs freely down your drain. If not, time to repeat step 4.
Step 6.
When your sink is unblocked, run hot water down your pipes to ensure they’re clear.
If the plunger hasn’t worked, maybe it’s time to use a pipe snake.
Unblocking a sink with a pipe snake
A pipe snake is a long, thin tool that can bend around your pipes. Making it an effective way to dislodge those stubborn sink blockages.
Essential equipment
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Old towels
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Rubber gloves (your choice)
Step 1.
Prepare the area by placing a bucket under your U-bend or P-trap and old towels (or something similar) underneath that.. The aim is to cover and protect that space from errant debris and water.
Making them easier to clean afterwards.
Step 2.
If you have a sink stopper or anything similar covering your plughole, like a kitchen sink waste strainer, remove it and place it to one side.
Step 3.
With care, insert your pipe snake down the drain until you feel the blocked debris.
Step 4.
When the pipe snake is in position, twist the handle clockwise to push it further. Rotate the snake whilst applying pressure to help dislodge that clog.
Remember to not push too hard. As doing so might push the blockage further down your pipe.
Step 5.
Crank the handle and pull at the obstruction. Repeat until you can’t feel any other blockage and your drain auger goes freely through your pipes.
Step 6.
Carefully remove your pipe snake from the U-bend or P-trap and clean it of any debris. A cloth will do.
Then, correctly store your tool.
Step 7.
Test your method's success by running hot water down your plughole. If the water runs free then you’ve done it.
If it doesn't, our next step might be the one to follow.
Unblocking a sink with a drain rod
If your kitchen or bathroom sink is still not draining, this is how to unclog a drain with a drain rod.
Essential equipment
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Old towels
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Rubber gloves
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Pipe wrench (if you want to remove your U-bend or P-trap)
Step 1.
Like the pipe snake method before, prepare your area by laying old towels underneath your U-bend or P-trap, with a bucket on top of them and directly beneath the pipes.
Step 2.
Push your first drain rod down your sink and keep going and attaching further rods until you meet the obstruction.
Step 3.
Press and rotate the drain rod against the blockage to help dislodge your pipe impediment.
Step 4.
Keep pressing and rotating until you feel no resistance. If the blockage is stubborn, you might need to attach more drain rods.
Step 5.
If the obstruction clears or you start hearing running water, congrats! You’ve shoved aside your blockage. Gently remove your rods from the pipe to avoid any damage to them and pour hot water down your bend to confirm it’s clear.
If the rods haven’t worked, you might need to remove your U-bend or P-trap. Move on to the next step.
Step 6.
If the drain rods haven’t worked via the traditional method of going down the drain, then the sink blockage might be further down your pipes.
And that requires removing your specific bend.
Step 7.
Use your pipe wrench to unfasten the slip nuts that hold your bend in place. Do this above your bucket for water and debris fallout. Then, repeat steps 2 to 5 down your pipe until your blockage comes unstuck.
Unblocking a sink with drain unblockers
Here we are. The last DIY method available to you until you have to call in a professional plumber. If your sink isn’t draining despite you trying all the techniques above, then chemical drain unblockers are your last resort.
Essential equipment
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Chemical sink cleaner
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Rubber gloves
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Old towels
Step 1.
Ventilate your sink area by opening windows to release any chemical fumes, then remove any standing water from your basin with a cup or bowl.
Step 2.
Prepare by applying your safety goggles, rubber gloves, and face mask. These will protect you from chemical irritation or inhalation. As always, read the instructions on the drain unblocker bottle for detailed guidance on how to use them.
Step 3.
Slowly pour the unblocker down your drain, taking care not to spill the liquid.
Step 4.
Give the mixture around 30 minutes to work. In this time, keep people and pets away from the area.
Step 5.
After the recommended amount of time has passed, run hot water down your sink to see if the blockage has cleared.
When to call a professional for a non-draining kitchen or bathroom sink
Sometimes doing-it-yourself just isn’t enough and there’s no failure in recognising that some problems need the attention of a professional plumber.
If you’ve tried the techniques above and still come unstuck, your sink not draining may be a more complex case than normal. Issues like deep clogs, recurrent blockages, multiple simultaneous clogs, broken pipes, sewer line obstructions, blocked outside drains, and broken plumbing parts all need expert eyes to assess and amend.
So, if you think your sink blockage is down to any of them, we recommend using a competent and suitably qualified NICEIC registered plumber.
Key takeaways for when a kitchen or bathroom sink is not draining
A sink not draining is a real pain but thankfully there are plenty of DIY methods you can follow to help unblock that bend.
Whether you use boiling water or baking soda & white vinegar to dislodge grease or fat build-up, a plunger or pipe snake to break it up, or a drain rod or chemical drain cleaners for those most stubborn of blockages, you can usually remove the blocker yourself.
If not, be sure to see a professional plumber.
However, if you’re looking at replacing that sink because of this issue, read our bathroom sink buying guide to help you pick.