Unblocking a sink?

[Andrew_Culture]

Had these issues.

1. you can get a sirally thing to show dow, this helps too

Buh?

 

[MarkF]

That works fine on hairballs and kitchen sink grease, so try it first. But it doesn't work, for instance, on inorganic blockages such as silt - or accumulated toothpaste spittings!

Yep, the latter blocked mine last October, the u-bend was clean and the blockage nearly outside, 2.5m away. Incredible, it was like cement and I had to put new piece of pipe in.

 

[Bodhbh]

Blimey, that stuff looks like it's just a shade under being in violation of the Geneva convention. Excellent!

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5jfRjzXLbE

 

[Andrew_Culture]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5jfRjzXLbE

I like that there's a lot of other sponges lined up by the sink, that lad has a fun afternoon planned!

 

[swee'pea99]

Any time you feel it slowing down, chuck a litre of thick bleach down there. This is extremely environmentally unsound, also very effective.

If it actually blocks, try using one of these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WASTEPIPE...DIY_Materials_Plumbing_MJ&hash=item5d487d4b3c

It's truly amazing what the buggers can work their way round, given a wiggle or three. (You don't have to get them from ebay, needless to say - any hardware shop/Homebase etc will carry them.)

 

[Spinney]

Buh?

spirally thing to shove down...???

 

[Stonechat]

spirally thing to shove down...???

E.g.
http://www.screwfix.com/p/plumbing-tools-by-rothenberger-pipe-drain-cleaning-coil/65766

 

[MontyVeda]

is it a proper U bend or one of those bottle traps?

 

[Andrew_Culture]

Any time you feel it slowing down, chuck a litre of thick bleach down there. This is extremely environmentally unsound, also very effective.

If it actually blocks, try using one of these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WASTEPIPE...DIY_Materials_Plumbing_MJ&hash=item5d487d4b3c

It's truly amazing what the buggers can work their way round, given a wiggle or three. (You don't have to get them from ebay, needless to say - any hardware shop/Homebase etc will carry them.)

You've just reminded me that we do have one of those do-dads!

 

[Andrew_Culture]

E.g.
http://www.screwfix.com/p/plumbing-tools-by-rothenberger-pipe-drain-cleaning-coil/65766

Dear lord, it looks terrifying!

 

[Andrew_Culture]

is it a proper U bend or one of those bottle traps?

U-bend. I've cleared things out of that u-bend that can't be unseen.

 

[ayceejay]

Does this sink drain directly or are other sinks, bath tub etc connected to te same pipe? If so it might be air not hair that is causing the problem and you will need to fit a vent in the system.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

Does this sink drain directly or are other sinks, bath tub etc connected to te same pipe? If so it might be air not hair that is causing the problem and you will need to fit a vent in the system.

Just the one sink, the drainage pipe doesn't appear to be at a very steep angle.

 

[Globalti]

We have the same problem with our shower, which has a very shallow long fall on the drain. This does the trick:

http://www.screwfix.com/p/monument-tools-master-plunger-12-305mm/34513

While searching for that, I found this... I want!

http://www.screwfix.com/p/sink-bath-unblocker/13894

 

[Pikey]

@Andrew_Culture Used to have a similar problem with the drain side of a massive aquarium I worked at, always getting blocked, tanks flooding and the wrong fish mixing....

In the end I put a hose attachment onto a pressure washer with a little rubber gasket on the hose that would cover the rest of whatever aperture is blocked and prevent too much splash back.

Fed the hose into it as far as the blockage and gave it a few short blasts.

Breaks any blockage and is environmentally sound, never failed and in your case you will blissfully avoid a face full of several year old fish turd if it goes wrong