blocked sink...why does everything feel like it's 1 step forward and 2 back?

[sosickofitall]

There is a v v long backstory to this, the crux of which is through no fault of my own I had to have a lot of disruptive building work done (cost mostly covered by home insurance) including a new kitchen. The whole process has been really shitty, and has taken 15 months and counting.

My sink (only put in 5 months ago) is blocked and leaking. Because every contractor (6 companies in all) provided by my insurer has been shit, I have no faith in them to appoint anyone decent. And because of all this bad experience my faith in any tradesman is pretty low.

So when this issue arose I told insurers I will find someone. Except I can't. Friends recommended 2 people. One said it wasn't worth his while and the other hasn't replied to my messages. I still have a leaking and blocked sink I can't use at all, no drinking water, and if I want to wash up I have to do so in the bathroom. The leak has damaged all the cupboard below the sink which is also only 5 months old.

I just feel so despairing of the situation. I appreciate this is a first world problem but I just want it all resolved. After nearly a year without a kitchen now having no sink is so frustrating.

We have checked the u bend (with difficulty as water was gushing everywhere) but it was clear. There's not much more I can do than call a plumber but I have so little faith in anyone doing a decent job.

Will have to take pot luck on someone local I guess as I can't use friends recommendations. Can't cope without a sink for much longer so have to do something.

Have you tried asking on Facebook for recommendations for a plumber? To be honest, a handyman might be able to fix it for you depending on how complicated it is.

I have tried FB. The last time I did that I ended up with someone who did a shockingly bad job so I just don't trust anyone. If you ask for recommendations it's mostly people touting their own business. Or you get people like the 2 my friends recommended who consider the work beneath them or just don't bother to reply. I just don't get why I find it so hard to find anyone who will do a job properly. I feel so hugely vulnerable when I ask anyone to do any work because I know it will go wrong or more problems will result.

I / we feel your pain. It's soul destroying.

Rather than trying to find a plumber you could try finding someone who specialises in odd jobs - a handyman type person who can sort it for you.

sosick is it a Wickes install?

I wonder if dd wrote this first.
Our kitchen sink frequently blocks . No product unblocks it .
Dh says it is a fault of something and will always be like that.( It does my and dd s heads in )
Plunger, fairy liquid , soda crystals and a fine gadget that we shove up and down plug hole . Every now and again we take s/u bend out and power hose it.
Op you have my sympathy .

We had a blocked sink, turned out it was a blocked sewer so the water didn’t have any where to go, just check that isn’t the case with yours as it took a couple of people to visit before they realised.

Also you could buy your own rods and have a go yourself might be quicker

It's he same issue whether I look for a plumber or handyman though, I've still got to risk them being shit. Or hope a friend recommends someone AND that person is interested in doing the work/ available/ replies to me.

Queenie its not a Wickes instal. I did have a Wickes kitchen before this current nightmare and it was great. Unlike this kitchen with which I've had nothing but issues from day 1.

Most block sinks are due to crap being put down them. What did the previous plumbers say were the issue?

Emergency plumber? They do actually turn up and do the job.

Sinks elsewhere in the house are fine so it seems it must be a problem in the kitchen. It was never a problem before the recent works. I've tried boiling water, bleach, soda crystals, plunger and no luck. At the moment the fact its blocked is ok because at least it's not leaking everywhere (which it was when it was partly blocked).

Most sink plumbing you can do yourself. It just screws and unscrews. Can you post a picture of the underneath?

There was never an issue with the sink before. It was replaced by the shit tradesmen appointed by my insurers as part of a larger building job. Like everything else they did it was clearly a bodge job hence why its now blocked and leaking a few months later (after I'd had the previous sink for 10 years with no issue).

The worry for me is whoever I get they won't fix it. Won't do a good job. Because no one ever seems to.

I can't take any of the pipes below the sink it apart because its all full of water. The water will go everywhere again and damage the cupboard yet further. We did try previously but the u bend was clear.

Where are you? I have a fabulous plumber in sw London...

Unfortunately I'm not near SW London but thank you.

Have you tried caustic soda? That usually burns through any blockages. Put a basin or bowl underneath the u/bend.

As pp said plumbing isn't difficult. Most leaks are caused by the pipe joints not sealing properly. To get them watertight you can wind PTFE tape around the screw threads before re-screwing the joints.

I've got bowls and towels under the pipes already because of the leaking. The leaks are coming from the drain where it doesn't look like it was ever sealed when fitted (or not done properly). But the sink is still blocked anyway. I can't do much because all the pipes are still full of water and it's not draining away.

I couldn't buy any caustic soda, none of the shops near me had any. But I've already tried various other methods to no avail.

Have you complained to the Ombudsman?

The insurers are still dealing with it (ha) so until we get to a final position there's not much point complaining to the Ombudsman.

Bail out any water in the sink itself. B&q usually sell caustic soda. Mix in a well ventilated room in a plastic bucket and stir with a plastic or wooden spoon. It heats up. Pour it down the drain and leave it for 30 minutes (I think check the bottle) then flush the pipes through with boiling water until they run clearly. Once that's sorted it sounds like the plumbers putty or silicon sealant hasn't been done properly. There are u-tube videos that show you how to redo it. It should have been done with plumbers putty if it was done properly.

Is it worth looking at John Lewis Home Solutions?

It's sort of like their version of trust a trader.

Probably not cheap but tradesmen on their list have been vetted and work guaranteed for 12 months. Something like that.

It's on their website, under Home & gardens section - extra services.

Worth a try?

If it is the drainage pipe from sink leaning can't you use a bowl in sink for washing up/drinking tap water and empty down outside drain or other sink?

Have you tried something like the British Gas local heroes? When we used them it was very efficient, and BG back the work for a year (assuming it's all booked and paid for via the app)