How to Unblock a Sink

Place a bowl under the U-bend (bottle trap). Unscrew the trap collar nuts by hand where possible, empty contents into the bowl and rinse the trap. Refit firmly but do not overtighten plastic threads. This single step fixes a large share of bathroom basin blockages in Chelsea flats.

If the trap is clear but water still stands, cover the overflow opening with a damp cloth and plunge the plug hole with a sink plunger. Short, sharp strokes work better than gentle pumps. For kitchen sinks, remove food debris from the plug first so you are not forcing solids deeper.

Avoid pouring fat down kitchen sinks and do not rely on chemical cleaners for grease plugs — they often fail in long horizontal wastes under Chelsea kitchen units. A gentle hot (not boiling) water flush after a successful clear can help, but boiling water can soften or warp some plastic wastes.

If the sink still will not drain, waste returns from another fitting, or you cannot refit the trap without leaks, stop and call Emergency Plumber Chelsea on 020 3002 6667. We clear wastes, replace damaged traps and investigate further blockages across SW3 and SW10.

Quick tips

• Use a hair catcher in bathroom basins and showers to cut repeat blockages.
• Wipe greasy pans with kitchen paper before washing up.
• If a dishwasher shares the sink waste, a blockage may show as dirty water in the sink when the machine drains.
• Keep a small adjustable bowl under the trap whenever you open it — leftover water always spills.

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