{"id":2936,"date":"2022-08-12T09:49:16","date_gmt":"2022-08-12T09:49:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.showerstoyou.co.uk\/latest\/?p=2936"},"modified":"2024-12-13T09:06:18","modified_gmt":"2024-12-13T09:06:18","slug":"how-to-unblock-a-basin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.showerstoyou.co.uk\/latest\/2022\/08\/how-to-unblock-a-basin\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Unblock a Basin"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>How to Unblock a Basin<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>There aren&#8217;t many more frustrating ordeals in a bathroom or kitchen than a <strong>blocked basin<\/strong>. Whether filling up a kitchen sink to wash those dishes or preparing the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.showerstoyou.co.uk\/sanitaryware\/basins\/\">bathroom basin<\/a> for a nightly shave, it&#8217;s inconvenient, to put it politely.<\/p>\n<p>Before you hop onto your phone and search for your nearest emergency plumber, you\u00a0<em><strong>could\u00a0<\/strong><\/em>unblock that blockage yourself. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.showerstoyou.co.uk\/\">Showers To You<\/a> are on hand to provide a comprehensive guide to how you can unblock your sink\/ basin yourself without breaking your bank or a sweat!<\/p>\n<p><strong>Why is there a blockage?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If your kitchen sink or basin is blocked, there are <strong>a few reasons why<\/strong> that water won&#8217;t drain away. These include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Leftover food<\/li>\n<li>Solidifying grease\/ fat<\/li>\n<li>Soap Scum<\/li>\n<li>Foreign object<\/li>\n<li><strong>Poor installation<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Bad weather<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.showerstoyou.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/blocked-drain.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2938\" src=\"https:\/\/www.showerstoyou.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/blocked-drain.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.showerstoyou.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/blocked-drain.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.showerstoyou.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/blocked-drain-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.showerstoyou.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/blocked-drain-650x433.jpg 650w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Bits of leftover food always find their way into your sink. Unfortunately, i<strong>t&#8217;s unavoidable<\/strong> when draining a large pan, rinsing a mountain of plates or cleaning your chopping board. Even if you have scraped all you can into the bin and even if you have a strainer, over time, food will find a way into your drain.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Meat fats, oils, butter and cooking fat start as a standard liquid. Once left to cool, they quickly turn into an unsightly solid. You may have seen someone pour meat fat into a separate bowl or container whilst you tuck into your roast dinner, and it becomes a solid clump of fat. This is what it does<strong> inside of your drain!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Gradually, soap scum builds up in your sink or basin, <strong>regardless of the brand or cleaning product<\/strong>. This is similar to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.showerstoyou.co.uk\/shower-trays\/\">shower tray<\/a>, and how soap scum is unfortunately inevitable (see our guide on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.showerstoyou.co.uk\/latest\/2022\/07\/how-to-clean-a-shower-tray\/\">how to clean soap scum inside of your shower<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Soap, toothpaste or a clump of hair can easily slip down your plughole. These are only noticeable once the sink\/ <strong>basin is blocked<\/strong>. If a larger object has fallen, it will likely be caught in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.showerstoyou.co.uk\/taps\/waste-fittings\/basin-bottle-traps\/\">basin trap<\/a> located underneath your basin (more on this later).<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; If you have recently moved into a <strong>new house<\/strong> or have had a new basin installed and it is constantly blocked, it can be down to the <strong>pipework or plumbing installed incorrectly<\/strong>. As the water flow is gravity dependent, the pipework is also gravity dependent, so if the pipework has been installed at an incorrect angle, <strong>a blockage will occur<\/strong>. If this is the case, we strongly advise contacting a professional plumber. At <strong>Showers to You<\/strong>, we have various designs of basins available, including <a href=\"https:\/\/www.showerstoyou.co.uk\/sanitaryware\/basins\/wall-mounted-basins\/\">wall-mounted<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.showerstoyou.co.uk\/sanitaryware\/basins\/vessel-basins\/\">countertop basins<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Heavy rainfall can cause drains outside to overflow and block, which will back up into your home and your neighbours. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thameswater.co.uk\/help\/emergencies\/blockages\">Thames Water explains<\/a> who is responsible for clearing a blockage.<strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_2940\" style=\"width: 760px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.showerstoyou.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/mer001_furniture_cameo_v1_ls.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2940\" class=\"wp-image-2940 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.showerstoyou.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/mer001_furniture_cameo_v1_ls.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.showerstoyou.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/mer001_furniture_cameo_v1_ls.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.showerstoyou.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/mer001_furniture_cameo_v1_ls-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.showerstoyou.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/mer001_furniture_cameo_v1_ls-650x433.jpg 650w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-2940\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.showerstoyou.co.uk\/bathroom-furniture\/nuie-bathroom-furniture\/nuie-merit-bathroom-furniture\/\">Nuie Merit Basin Collection<\/a><\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>How can I unblock my basin?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Now that we have covered <strong>how a blockage can occur<\/strong> let&#8217;s run through some options to <strong>unblock<\/strong> your bathroom basin or kitchen sink.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">You\u00a0<em><strong>may<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0need the following items:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em>A plunger<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Kettle\/ boiling water<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>A sizeable old towel\/ sheet<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Bleach<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Small cloth<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Rubber gloves<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Bicarbonate of Soda<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Alka Seltzer<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>White Vinegar<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>A Plumbers snake\/ pipe cleaner<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Biological Washing Powder<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>Adjustable spanner<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Plunger method:\u00a0<\/strong>This is the easiest method on the list:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ul>\n<li>Pop the <strong>rubber gloves on<\/strong> and remove the drain stopper\/ pop-up waste<\/li>\n<li>Cover the overflow with the old cloth<\/li>\n<li>Firmly press the plunger&#8217;s suction cup over the plug hole and ensure the hole is <strong>completely covered<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Pull the plunger<\/strong> into the air and repeat until the water drains<\/li>\n<li>If this method doesn&#8217;t work, <strong>try one<\/strong> of the below.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ol start=\"2\">\n<li><strong>Bicarbonate of Soda method:\u00a0<\/strong>Soda is often a staple of daily cleaning routines:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Measure out<\/strong> 500ml of white vinegar into a jug or cup<\/li>\n<li>Spoon three teaspoons of bicarbonate of soda into the drain<\/li>\n<li>Gently <strong>pour<\/strong> the vinegar down the drain after the soda.<\/li>\n<li>Leave for five minutes to allow the reaction to occur.<\/li>\n<li>Simultaneously, <strong>boil<\/strong> a whole kettle of water.<\/li>\n<li>Once boiled, flush the <strong>blockage<\/strong> away with the water.<\/li>\n<li>Repeat if necessary<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ol start=\"3\">\n<li><strong>Washing Powder method:\u00a0<\/strong>This method is very <strong>similar<\/strong> to the Bicarbonate of Soda method above:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ul>\n<li>Firstly, boil a whole kettle of water.<\/li>\n<li>Spoon three teaspoons of <strong>biological washing powder<\/strong> into the <strong>drain<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Immediately flush the powder with boiling water.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Repeat<\/strong> if necessary<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ol start=\"4\">\n<li><strong>Check the Waste Trap:\u00a0<\/strong>If none of the methods work, check the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.showerstoyou.co.uk\/taps\/waste-fittings\/p-traps\/\">U-Bend\/ trap<\/a>:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Turn off the water<\/strong> at the mains and clear the underneath of the sink\/ basin.<\/li>\n<li>Lay an old towel\/ sheet down to catch any water that drips from underneath the area<\/li>\n<li>With the <strong>adjustable spanner<\/strong>, carefully loosen the <strong>fittings<\/strong> on the waste trap. <strong>Keep all parts together<\/strong> (e.g., seals or delicate washers)<\/li>\n<li>Once the trap is <strong>removed<\/strong>, clear the debris away and reassemble (remember to test for any leaks)<\/li>\n<li>Turn the water <strong>back on<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"attachment_2939\" style=\"width: 760px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.showerstoyou.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/plumber-5183349_960_720.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2939\" class=\"wp-image-2939 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.showerstoyou.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/plumber-5183349_960_720.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.showerstoyou.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/plumber-5183349_960_720.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.showerstoyou.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/plumber-5183349_960_720-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.showerstoyou.co.uk\/latest\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/plumber-5183349_960_720-650x433.jpg 650w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-2939\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><strong>Waste traps catch larger items and can be easily accessed.<\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n<ol start=\"5\">\n<li><strong>Bleach and water method:\u00a0<\/strong>Everyday items can come in handy with this one:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ul>\n<li>To ensure safety when dealing with bleach, <strong>we strongly recommend<\/strong> wearing gloves and being <strong>careful<\/strong> not to inhale fumes\/ rub your eyes.<\/li>\n<li>Measure 250ml of <strong>bleach<\/strong><\/li>\n<li>Boil a whole kettle of water<\/li>\n<li>Pour the bleach down the drain.<\/li>\n<li>Immediately after, slowly pour the water to <strong>flush the bleach<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Repeat if required<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ol start=\"6\">\n<li><strong>Alka Seltzer method:\u00a0<\/strong>This one is slightly obscure, but trust us with this to unblock your basin:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ul>\n<li>Measure 500ml of white vinegar<\/li>\n<li>Place two <strong>Alka Seltzer<\/strong> tablets down the plug hole.<\/li>\n<li>Pour the vinegar over the tablets.<\/li>\n<li>Leave for approximately five minutes.<\/li>\n<li>During this time, boil a whole kettle of water.<\/li>\n<li>Slowly pour the water into the blockage and on top of the <strong>vinegar and tablets<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Repeat if required<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ol start=\"7\">\n<li><strong>Plumbers Snake:\u00a0<\/strong>Whilst this tool isn&#8217;t an everyday household item, it can certainly help with that <strong>unsightly<\/strong> blockage:<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<ul>\n<li>Insert the snake straight into the hole<\/li>\n<li>The snake&#8217;s end is a small part <strong>resembling a corkscrew<\/strong>. This breaks down the blockage.<\/li>\n<li>If you do not wish to insert straight into the plug hole, repeat method four and insert the snake straight into the pipes from <strong>underneath<\/strong> the sink\/ basin<\/li>\n<li>The snake will either break down the debris or pull it out.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>What if my outside drain is blocked?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>We strongly urge anyone to contact a local <strong>professional<\/strong> to inspect the outside drain. A professional may use a jet or a rod to clear the blockage. A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.checkatrade.com\/blog\/cost-guides\/drain-unblocking-cost\/\">guide by Checkatrade<\/a> has broken down the average cost of a call out and repair, with prices ranging from <strong>\u00a360 to \u00a3400<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>How can I prevent a blockage?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>It always helps to <strong>identify<\/strong> the cause of a blockage. We advise being more careful when draining pans, scraping dishes thoroughly and consistently placing any leftover oil or meat fat into a separate container and discarding them into the bin once cooled down. <strong>Basic maintenance<\/strong> will help unblock the drain and tackle smaller blockages.<\/p>\n<p>If you <strong>suspect<\/strong> the blockage is caused by soap scum, clean the basin after every use, or it could be time to change to a <strong>different brand<\/strong> entirely. If none of these methods works, it could be time to call a <strong>professional plumber<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Check out our full range of <strong>bathroom basins and kitchen sinks<\/strong> online today! Alternatively, if you have any questions, don&#8217;t hesitate to <strong>contact us<\/strong> via email (<a href=\"mailto:info@showerstoyou.co.uk\">info@showerstoyou.co.uk<\/a>), <a href=\"https:\/\/www.showerstoyou.co.uk\/contact\/\">online contact form<\/a> or phone (01472 242159).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How to Unblock a Basin There aren&#8217;t many more frustrating ordeals in a bathroom or kitchen than a blocked basin. Whether filling up a kitchen sink to wash those dishes [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":3738,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[143,291,290,289],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.showerstoyou.co.uk\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2936"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.showerstoyou.co.uk\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.showerstoyou.co.uk\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.showerstoyou.co.uk\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.showerstoyou.co.uk\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2936"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.showerstoyou.co.uk\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2936\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4131,"href":"https:\/\/www.showerstoyou.co.uk\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2936\/revisions\/4131"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.showerstoyou.co.uk\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3738"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.showerstoyou.co.uk\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2936"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.showerstoyou.co.uk\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2936"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.showerstoyou.co.uk\/latest\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2936"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}