Blocked Sinks
Slow draining, gurgling or a sink that won't empty at all: we clear the blockage fast and check whether it's isolated to that sink or a sign of a bigger problem in the drain behind it.
Why does my sink keep blocking?
Kitchen sinks usually block from grease, food scraps and coffee grounds building up inside the pipe. Bathroom sinks usually block from soap scum and hair. Either way, if plunging or a drain-cleaning chemical clears it for a few days and it comes back, the buildup isn't fully gone, or there's a second blockage further down the shared drain line that needs clearing properly.
Diagnosis First
Clearing the sink, and checking what's behind it
Blocked sinks are one of the most common calls we get across the Northern Beaches and North Shore, whether it's a kitchen sink full of greasy water or a bathroom sink that's slowed to a trickle. We clear the immediate blockage first, then check whether it's isolated to that sink or part of a wider drain problem.
Kitchen and bathroom sinks block for different reasons, and we treat them differently. Clearing the pipe properly the first time means you’re not back to a plunger again next month.
Know The Causes
What's actually blocking your sink
- Kitchen sinks: grease, cooking oil, food scraps and coffee grounds, which build up on the inside of the pipe rather than washing straight through
- Bathroom sinks: hair and soap scum, which combine into a solid mass around the U-bend or the pipe just after it
- Either sink: a shared drain problem further down the line, if more than one fixture is slow to drain
If several fixtures are affected, not just the one sink, the real issue is likely in the shared drain, and worth a CCTV drain camera inspection to confirm.
What We Do
Clear it, check it, fix the cause
Clear it
Most single-sink blockages clear quickly with the right equipment, without needing to pull the pipework apart.
Check the line
If there's any sign the blockage isn't isolated to that sink, we camera the drain to see what's really going on further down.
Fix the cause, not just the symptom
If it's a drain problem rather than a sink problem, we'll show you the footage and talk through the options, from water jetting to permanent no-dig pipe relining.
See how water jetting and permanent no-dig pipe relining fix the cause behind a recurring blockage, not just the symptom.
24/7 When You Need It
A blocked sink doesn't have to wait
Our emergency service covers the Northern Beaches, North Shore, Inner West and Eastern Suburbs, day or night.
For everything else that can go wrong under the sink, see dishwasher installation and leak repairs.
Last reviewed: 5 October 2026 by the Ready Plumbing team.
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FAQ
Blocked Sinks: your questions answered
Plumbing problems can be extremely frustrating. Our licensed Sydney plumbers are here to provide fast, reliable answers and solutions.
Can I use drain-cleaning chemicals on a blocked sink?
They can work on a very light, fresh blockage, but repeated use on an older pipe can damage the pipe's internal coating, and they don't touch grease or scale that's already set hard. If it hasn't cleared after one attempt, calling a plumber before trying again is the safer move.
Why does my kitchen sink smell bad even when it's draining?
That's usually grease and food residue sitting inside the pipe walls, not a full blockage yet. It's worth getting it cleared properly before it does become one.
What causes a bathroom sink to block?
Hair and soap scum are the two big ones, usually combining into a solid mass around the U-bend or further down the pipe.
Is a blocked sink an emergency?
Not usually, unless it's your only sink or it's overflowing. We still run a 24/7 emergency service across the Northern Beaches and North Shore if you need it sorted straight away.
How do you know if it's just the sink or the drain behind it?
If other fixtures are also draining slowly or gurgling, the blockage is further down the shared line, not in the sink itself. We use a CCTV camera to confirm before recommending any fix.
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