Where the blockage is matters
A single slow fixture usually has a blockage in its own short pipe, close to the trap. The trap is the U-shaped bend under the sink or shower. It holds water to stop smells, and it also catches debris.
If the kitchen sink, laundry and shower all drain slowly, the problem is likely in the shared pipe that leaves the house. That needs a different approach.
Kitchen sinks
The usual culprit is fat. Hot oil goes down the sink as liquid, then cools and sticks to the pipe wall. Food scraps catch on it. Over months it narrows the pipe until the sink drains slowly or not at all.
- Wipe pans with paper before washing
- Scrape plates into the bin or compost
- Use a sink strainer and empty it daily
- Never pour cooking oil down the drain
Some older kitchens have a long, shallow pipe to an outside gully. Shallow pipe means fat settles more easily.
Showers and basins
Hair and soap scum form a tight plug just under the grate. If you can see the plug, you can often pull it out with a bent wire or a plastic drain tool. Wear gloves.
Soap scum binds hair into a mat. Clearing the grate every few weeks keeps it from growing.
What to try before calling
- Remove and clean the grate, strainer or plug
- Pour a kettle of hot, not boiling, water down a kitchen sink to soften fat
- Use a plunger with the overflow hole blocked by a wet cloth
- Take the trap apart and clean it, with a bucket underneath
Avoid chemical drain cleaners. They can damage older pipes, they can burn skin if they splash back, and they make the next plumber's job less safe.
When to call a plumber
Call if more than one fixture is slow, if water backs up into the shower when the washing machine empties, or if the same drain blocks again within weeks. Call if you hear gurgling from drains you did not use.
A plumber can clear the line with a drain machine, which is a motor-driven cable, or with water pressure. For tough fat or roots, ask about jetting. See hydro jetting for how that works.
What it costs
A trap clean is a small job. A blockage in the sewer line is bigger. The price depends on access and the tools needed. Ask for a quote before work starts.
Keeping them clear
- Use hair catchers in showers and basins
- Treat the kitchen sink as a place for water and soap only
- Clean traps once or twice a year in older homes
- Have the line checked if you notice smells, gurgles or slow drains in more than one place
Blocked drain in the Blue Mountains?
Call 0495 053 644Blocked sink or shower questions
Why does my shower drain slowly even after cleaning the grate?
The blockage is likely in the pipe below the grate. Hair and soap can pack tightly in the first stretch of pipe. A plumber can clear it with a cable.
Is baking soda and vinegar worth trying?
It is harmless and can loosen light build-up, but it will not clear a solid plug. Do not rely on it for a full blockage.
Why do my drains gurgle?
Gurgling means air is being pulled through water in a trap. It often signals a partial blockage in the line or a vent problem.
Could tree roots block a kitchen sink?
Not directly, but roots in the main drain can slow every fixture in the house, including the kitchen sink.
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