Unblock a sink.

Clearing a blocked sink in the UK typically costs £70–£200 for a single visit by a plumber or drain specialist. Simple blockages (food waste, hair, soap scum) clear in 30-60 minutes. Persistent or deep blockages (cast iron pipework, fat-and-grease build-up, structural issues) run £150-£400+. Most local plumbers handle this; specialist drain firms (Dyno, Drainage 2000) for harder cases.

The UK economic logic: DIY clearing with chemicals (£3-£10) often works for fresh blockages. For repeat blockages or anything that won't shift with hot water and a plunger, professional clearing is much better than damaging pipes with strong chemicals.

Typical UK costs

Common sink blockage types

• Hair / soap scum (bathroom) — slowly accumulates over months. Clear with hand rodding through the U-bend or with bristle brush.
• Fat / grease (kitchen) — primary cause of UK sink blockages. Cooled fat solidifies in waste pipes, traps soap and food. Hot water flush + degreaser, or pressure clearing.
• Coffee grounds — accumulates and absorbs water, becoming concrete-like. Avoid putting down sinks; clear when blocked with rod.
• Foreign objects — children's toys, lost rings, bottle tops. Trap removal usually finds these.
• Tree roots — invading external waste pipes through joints. Visible on camera survey; cutting + relining or pipe replacement.
• Pipe collapse — old clay or cast iron pipes failing. Visible on camera survey; section replacement.

What you can DIY first

• Hot water flush — sometimes shifts fresh fat-based blockages. Don't use boiling water on plastic pipes.
• Plunger — old-school but effective for many simple blockages.
• Bicarbonate of soda + vinegar — gentle, eco-friendly. Pour 1 cup baking soda, 1 cup vinegar, leave 30 mins, flush.
• Caustic drain cleaner — works but corrodes pipes over time. Use sparingly.
• Empty trap — under-sink U-bend can be unscrewed (have a bowl ready). Cleans out food and hair.

If none work in 30 minutes, call a professional rather than escalating chemical strength.

Things people often miss

• Don't pour fat down sinks — solidifies in pipes, picks up everything else, creates "fatbergs" eventually. Wipe pans with kitchen roll into bin instead.
• Strainer baskets — £3-£10 sink strainers prevent the most common cause of blockages (food waste). Cheapest preventive measure.
• Tree root threats — properties near trees with shared drain runs face recurring issues. Camera surveys identify; biennial professional flushes prevent.
• Shared drains — UK drains often shared between properties. Persistent blockages may originate from a neighbour's property; collective solution needed.
• Building regulation responsibility — drains within property boundary are owner's responsibility. Drains beyond boundary (typically in road) are the water company's. Camera survey establishes boundary.
• Insurance — accidental damage to drains may be covered. Sewerage and drains specifically covered by some policies.

Frequently asked questions

Want a local pro to handle this? A local plumber for inside blockages; drain specialist (Dyno, Lanes, local independents) for stubborn or external issues. For recurring issues, camera survey + repair often cheaper long-term than repeat clearance callouts.