How to unblock a kitchen drain

How do you unblock a blocked drain in the kitchen?

Blocked kitchen drains are a common household problem.

There is likely a blockage that needs clearing if you notice any of the following:

• Standing water in the sink
• Slow draining
• Unusual gurgling sounds
• Bad smell

If caught early, unclogging a kitchen drain is a fairly straight forward process. Effective drain unblocking methods include:

• Pouring hot water down the kitchen sink
• Using specialist unblocking products
• Using a plunger

Ignoring a blocked drain is a bad idea. There are several DIY unblocking methods you can try but they are not always effective. Read our expert guide to learn more about unblocking a drain yourself.

Professional plumbers have the skills, tools and knowledge needed to clear a blocked drain successfully.

How to unblock a kitchen drain without a plunger

Kitchen drains can easily become clogged up with food waste and debris. We recommend keeping a plunger in your kitchen to deal with blockages as soon as they happen.

Don’t have a plunger? Don’t worry. There are other methods you can use to get your kitchen sink back to full working order in no time.

Drain rodding

Drain rods are long flexible pieces of durable plastic or metal. The rod is inserted into the drain and used to break up the debris.

Manual extraction

We only recommend this method if you have previous experience working with pipes and drains.

Manual extraction involves dismantling the pipes beneath the kitchen sink and using your hands to clear the blockage. If the debris clogging your drain is further down in the pipes, you will need to try a different method.

Unclogging solutions

There are several drain unblocking products available to buy. These formulas often include chemicals such as hydrochloric acid, caustic soda and sulfuric acid.

Drain unblocking formulas work by creating a reaction inside the drain. The chemical reaction breaks up the build up of waste and clears the pipes.

What can I pour down my drain to unblock it?

As well as drain cleaning products, you can also try using hot water to unclog your kitchen sink.

Avoid using freshly boiled water as this can damage your pipes and lead to more problems. Instead, wait a few minutes after boiling the kettle before pouring the water down the drain.

You can also make an unclogging solution with household products. Homemade remedies do not contain harsh chemicals and are often a cost-effective way to unblock a kitchen sink.

How to unblock a sink blocked with fat

Pouring hot fat, grease or cooking oil down the sink is not advisable. Once in the pipes, these liquids will cool and solidify.

Over time, fat waste will build up inside the pipes and stop water from flowing freely through the drain. Removing fat from the pipes can be tricky, but it is not impossible.

Prevention is always the best course of action. If you do pour hot fat down the sink, immediately pour hot water down after it. This should be enough to break up the fat and keep it moving through the system.

Using homemade solutions can also be effective.

The best home remedy to unblock a kitchen sink

Here is a home remedy commonly used to unblock kitchen sinks:

• Pour hot (recently boiled) water down the kitchen sink
• Mix equal amounts of hot water and vinegar into a jug
• Add baking soda to the mixture. If you used 250ml of hot water, use 125g of baking soda
• Immediately pour the mixture down the drain. The ingredients will foam up and react inside the pipes, hopefully breaking up the waste causing the blockage
• Leave the kitchen sink alone for an hour and then run hot water for one minute

You may need to repeat this process several times. Other methods may be needed if the blockage doesn’t clear or the problem gets worse.

Who to call when the kitchen sink is clogged and you’ve tried everything

DIY drain unblocking methods are not always successful. You will need to hire a plumber if you have tried everything and the kitchen sink is still blocked.

Drain rodding, plunging, pipe removal and motorised drain snaking are all methods commonly used by professional plumbers. An experienced tradesperson can find the source of the blockage and use the appropriate unblocking methods.

A drain clearance specialist may be needed if the blockage is further down the system and the outside kitchen drain is clogged. A CCTV survey may also be needed to locate the build up of debris.

We recommend searching the Checkatrade directory to find plumbers near you.

Plumber costs

The average hourly rate of a plumber in the UK is £50. You can expect to pay between £20 – £100 an hour for a professional plumber to unblock your kitchen sink.

An emergency plumber comes with a higher cost, with an average call out fee of £100.

More severe drain blockages may need to be fixed by a drain clearance specialist. The average daily rate for this service is £275. If a CCTV pipe survey is needed, this typically costs an additional £200.

Take a look at our drain unblocking cost guide for more information.

Key takeaways

• Bad smells, standing water and slow draining are all signs of a blocked kitchen sink
• DIY drain unblocking methods include plunging, pouring chemical formulas down the sink or using home remedy solutions
• An experienced plumber can use specialist techniques and equipment to remove a blockage
• Drain clearance experts may be needed to clear a build up of debris further down the pipes
• Plumbers charge an average hourly rate of £50
• Drain clearance specialists have an average daily rate of £275