Can you unblock a sink without an emergency plumber?

Unblocking a sink isn’t the most pleasant thing in the world, but if water’s backing up and you’re unable to use the bowl as a result, someone’s got to do it. Is it automatically a job for an emergency plumber? Not always. If you’re fairly confident with your DIY skills, you can definitely have a go at getting rid of the blockage yourself.

But be prepared. It ain’t going to be pretty and may require a bit of time. But if it saves you on a call out fee, enduring a bit of unpleasantness could end up putting a few quid in your pocket.

What you’ll need

First thing’s first – you need to get the right tools. Most of these should be easy to find around your home, but you may need to pay a trip to your local DIY store for the more specialist equipment. As a start you’ll need a plunger, some strong wire, gloves and disinfectant. Cloths, a bucket and bowl will also come in useful.

Getting started…

Tackling the sink with the plunger should be your first form of attack. First, plug the overflow with some damp tissue and fill the sink with water. Then push the plunger down the plughole and pump several times. In many cases, this should remove the blockage. Put a little disinfectant down the plughole to finish the job.

Tougher blockages

If the blockage won’t shift using the plunger, then you’ll have to dismantle the sink. First, put a bucket under the u-bend before unscrewing the retaining nuts at either end of the pipe. Once it’s removed, use your gloved fingers or a piece of wire to remove the debris. This can be pretty unpleasant, but it’s the only way to get your sink working properly again. Before reassembling the pipe, rinse thoroughly and give the seals a good clean.

Get insurance cover

One way to avoid needing to sort out the blockage yourself or call out an emergency plumber is to get home emergency cover, such as plumbing and drainage insurance. With this type of cover in place, sorting out something as minor as a blocked sink – along with something more major – is as simple as phonecall to your insurance provider. In return for your monthly premiums you’ll have no repair bills to worry about and the security of knowing you’re letting fully qualified tradesmen into your home. With money tight for everyone at the moment, that’s peace of mind we could all do with.