Blocked kitchen sink? We'll clear it properly
Water sitting in the sink after you've washed up, a gurgle every time the dishwasher empties, or a sour smell coming up the plughole. Kitchen sinks block slowly, then all at once. We're based in Matraville and clear kitchen drains for homeowners right across the southern Eastern Suburbs. We find out what's causing the blockage, talk you through the options, and give you a fixed price before we touch a thing.
Signs your kitchen drain is blocking up
Slow to drain
The sink takes minutes to empty instead of seconds. That usually means grease and food scraps have narrowed the pipe, and it will keep getting tighter until the water stops moving.
Gurgling noises
Bubbling or glugging from the plughole, especially when the dishwasher pumps out, is air being pushed past a partial blockage further down the line.
Bad smells
Fat and food rotting inside the pipework gives off a stale, sour odour. Air fresheners won't help, because the source is sitting in the drain itself.
Dishwasher water backing up
Dirty water rising into the sink when the dishwasher drains, or the dishwasher holding water at the end of a cycle, often points to a shared blockage under the bench.
How we clear a blocked kitchen sink
First we work out where the blockage actually is. Sometimes it's close by, in the trap under the sink or in the connection where the dishwasher hose or a food waste disposal unit joins the waste pipe. Those spots catch a lot of gunk, and clearing or remaking the connection can solve the problem on its own.
If the trouble sits further along, in the pipe running through the wall or out to the gully outside, a plunger or a quick snake only punches a small hole through the build-up. The sink drains for a week or two, then slows down again. For grease blockages we usually recommend drain jetting, which uses high-pressure water to scour the full width of the pipe and flush the fat away rather than just poking through it.
Where a kitchen drain keeps blocking even after a proper clean, we can run a camera through it to check for a sagging section, a broken joint or tree roots in the line outside. Then you'll know exactly what you're dealing with before deciding on a repair.
- Trap and waste connections cleaned or remade
- Dishwasher and waste disposal outlets checked and cleared
- High-pressure jetting for grease and food build-up
- Camera inspection if the blockage keeps coming back
Kitchen drains in southern Eastern Suburbs homes
A lot of the older brick and fibro houses around Matraville, Maroubra, Malabar and Botany still have their original kitchen drainage. That often means narrow galvanised waste pipe inside the wall and clay pipe underground. Galvanised pipe rusts on the inside and becomes rough, so grease grabs onto it faster than it would in modern PVC. Clay joints can shift in the sandy local soil and let roots or silt in.
In the newer townhouses and units in Pagewood and Eastgardens, the pipes are usually PVC, but kitchen waste lines can run a long way horizontally to reach the stack. Long, flat runs give fat more time to cool and settle, so these homes block too, just for different reasons. Whatever the age of your place, we'll explain what we find in plain terms.
What not to pour down the kitchen sink
Most kitchen blockages are caused by everyday habits, and a few small changes make a big difference:
- Fat, oil and dripping. They're liquid when hot but set hard in the pipe. Let them cool, wipe pans with paper towel and put it in the bin.
- Coffee grounds. They clump together and act like sand in the line.
- Rice, pasta and bread. Starchy food swells with water and sticks to grease already in the pipe.
- Eggshells and vegetable peelings. Even with a waste disposal unit, these break into gritty pieces that settle in the bend.
- Harsh chemical drain cleaners. They rarely shift a solid grease plug and can damage older pipes and seals.
A sink strainer is the cheapest protection you can buy. Empty it into the bin or compost after every wash-up.
What you can safely try first
- Pull out and clean the plug basket or strainer.
- Run very hot water for a minute or two to soften light grease.
- Use a sink plunger, covering the second bowl's plughole if you have a double sink.
- Check the dishwasher filter, since a clogged filter can mimic a drain problem.
If the water still won't go down, stop there. Repeated plunging against a solid blockage can loosen old joints under the sink and turn a blocked drain into a leaking one.
Why locals call us
- Free on-site quotes
- Clear options and a fixed price before any work starts
- Lifetime labour warranty on our workmanship
- 100+ five-star Google reviews
- Licensed plumbers and gasfitters (Lic. 398171C)
Common questions
Why does my kitchen sink keep blocking every few weeks?
Usually because earlier clearing only made a narrow hole through the grease instead of removing it. Jetting cleans the whole pipe wall, and a camera check will show whether a dip or damaged section is collecting waste.
Can a blocked sink affect my dishwasher?
Yes. Most dishwashers empty into the sink waste, so a blockage under the bench can stop the dishwasher draining or push its dirty water up into the sink.
Is drain jetting safe for older pipes?
In most cases, yes. We adjust the pressure to suit the pipe, and if a line looks too fragile we'll show you on camera and talk through other options first.
Should I use a chemical drain cleaner?
We'd advise against it. Caustic products seldom clear a thick fat blockage, they can harm older metal pipes and seals, and they make the job riskier for whoever has to open the drain afterwards.
Do waste disposal units cause blockages?
They can if they're used for the wrong things. Fibrous peelings, eggshells and starchy food are the main culprits. Run plenty of cold water while the unit is on and keep fats out of it altogether.
How do I know if the problem is in the sink or the main drain?
If only the kitchen sink is slow, the blockage is probably in its own waste line. If toilets, showers or the outside gully are also playing up, the main sewer line is the more likely suspect.
Will you tell me the cost before you start?
Always. We look at the problem, explain your options and give you a fixed price. Nothing goes ahead until you've said yes.
See all our blocked drain services, including drain jetting and CCTV drain inspections. Other drains giving trouble? We also clear a blocked toilet or blocked shower. We look after homes in Matraville, Maroubra, Botany and Pagewood.
Want to know more first? Read our free blocked drains guide for homeowners in the southern Eastern Suburbs.