Kitchen sink unblocking by an emergency plumber

Why kitchen sinks block up

Every day, the kitchen drain has to cope with a mix of warm washing-up water, grease, soap and small food scraps. As long as everything is warm, it flows away. Further along, in the colder part of the pipe, it cools down, and that's where the trouble starts.

Grease in the drain and the trap

Grease is the biggest culprit. Pan fat, deep-fryer oil and the layer of fat on top of a pan of soup all look liquid when you pour them away, but in the pipe they set into a soft, sticky layer. Coffee grounds, grains of rice and bits of vegetable stick to it. Gradually the passage narrows until there's only a small hole left.

Food scraps that swell up

Rice, pasta and bread swell up in water. A handful of leftovers won't make much difference, but a little every day for a few weeks will. Coffee grounds and tea leaves are sneaky too: they don't dissolve, and they sink to the lowest point, which is usually the trap.

A pipe without enough fall

After a kitchen renovation, the waste pipe sometimes runs differently from before: longer, with extra bends or with too little fall. The water then flows slowly and leaves dirt behind. If the blockage keeps coming back in the same place, the way the pipe has been laid is often the real cause.

Blocked kitchen drain? The warning signs

The first warning sign usually isn't standing water but a sink that drains just a little more slowly than it used to. That's often followed by a gurgling noise, a sour or musty smell from the plughole and washing-up water that sits there for minutes on end. If you have a double sink, water can come up in one bowl when you let the other one drain. And if the dishwasher no longer pumps out properly, that too is a sign that the shared waste pipe is silting up.

Try it yourself, without harsh chemicals

With a minor blockage, you can often have a go at unblocking the kitchen sink yourself first. If the water is still draining slowly, these steps are safe:

• Switch off the dishwasher and stop using the sink, so no more water goes in.
• Place a sink plunger over the plughole, cover the overflow with a wet cloth and pump firmly up and down a few times.
• Put a bucket under the trap, undo the nuts by hand and rinse the trap clean outside with the garden hose or in a bucket. When you put it back, make sure the rubber washers are seated properly.

Why harsh drain cleaners are best avoided

Drain cleaners containing caustic soda or sulphuric acid are widely sold, but we advise against them. A plug of grease and food scraps is often further along in the wall, where the product can't reach. It then sits in the sink and the trap, and when you undo the trap or use a plunger it can easily splash onto your skin or into your eyes. On top of that, these products can damage rubber washers and older metal pipes.

When to call a plumber

Call us if the trap is clean and the water still won't drain: the blockage is then in the pipe in the wall or the floor. It's also time for a plumber if water comes up in another drain, if the trap leaks after you've put it back or if you can't get it undone. Forcing it with a pair of pliers can easily leave you with a cracked trap or a leaking wall connection.

Unblocking the kitchen drain: how the plumber works

For a plumber, unblocking a kitchen drain means more than just poking something down it. The plumber starts at the trap, takes it off and cleans it. If the blockage is further along, a drain snake or electric drain machine goes into the pipe through the wall connection.

If there's a thick layer of grease, the pipe is then cleaned with a high-pressure water jetter. That blasts the pipe walls clean instead of just making a hole in the blockage, so the drain stays clear for longer.

Checking the pipework while we're there

And because it's a plumber who comes out, they also check the pipework around the sink while unblocking it. A cracked or worn-out trap can often be replaced on the spot. If the tap has been leaking for a while or is loose on the worktop, they can replace the kitchen tap during the same visit. And if there's damp in the cupboard underneath and it's not clear where it's coming from, leak detection will help find the source.

What does kitchen sink unblocking cost?

Prices start at €89 for a simple unblocking. The call-out charge is extra and isn't included in that price. In the evening, at night and at weekends an out-of-hours rate applies. Before the plumber sets off, we give you a price estimate over the phone, so the decision is yours.

If the drain has silted up over a long stretch, or a section of pipe behind the kitchen units needs replacing, that's hard to judge over the phone. In that case, ask for a quote. The plumber assesses the situation and explains what the work involves before anything is done.

Limiting water damage in the kitchen

Water that spills over the edge of the sink often ends up in the cupboard underneath or behind the plinth. Chipboard soaks it up and swells, and then doors and drawers stop closing properly. Empty the cupboard as soon as you see water, dry the base and leave the doors open.

If you live in a flat, check that nothing has leaked through to the floor below and warn your downstairs neighbours if necessary. Take photos if you want to report the damage to your insurer; whether it's covered depends on your policy.

Keeping grease and food scraps out of the drain

Once your kitchen sink has been unblocked, you won't want to be calling us again a few months later. These habits will keep the drain clear for longer:

• Wipe greasy pans out with kitchen roll first and put that in the general waste.
• Let used frying oil cool in a bottle and take it to a collection point if your municipality or supermarket offers one.
• Put a strainer in the plughole to catch rice, coffee grounds and bits of vegetable.
• Flush the drain every now and then with hot water and a few tablespoons of soda crystals.

Kitchen sink unblocking out of hours and in your area

A blocked sink after a dinner party or just before the holidays can't always wait until Monday. That's why we're available day and night, weekends included. After your call, the plumber comes out as quickly as possible, often within the hour.

We work in Utrecht, Tilburg, Almere and Enschede, among other places, and throughout the rest of the Netherlands. The overview of our service area lists the cities that have their own page. If the washbasin or shower is slow as well, the plumber will look at that at the same time; you can read more under drain unblocking. Call 085 115 0249 and we'll send a plumber your way.