Sink water coming up through the bath plug

[Sharpkat]

Aaaarghh..... whenever I run the bathroom sink tap water backs up into the bath. The bath is also very slow to drain. The toilet has also started making a whistling noise.

I have used every brand of drain unblocked and bags of soda crystals. I just bought some device but it is hopeless.

Any ideas (@pigletjohn) and others.

Really, really cannot afford a plumber at the moment. Was made redundant and have zero money.

Would be really grateful if anyone can help.

TIA

Have you tried a plunger? Usually does the trick on mine; if not, HG duo drain unblocked is very good.

Assuming that you have not recently altered the pluimbing wastepipes, and it used to work fine, you have a blockage.

What floor of the building is this on?

Do you have anyone in the house who might put toys, kitchen roll or sanpro down the toilet? Or a person with long hair who doesn't clean it out of the drains?

Thanks @AwkwardPaws27. Will get a plunger. Already tried the H2 stuff and no further along.

Meant HG

@PigletJohn nothing changed at all re pipes. Live on 2nd floor. Nothing has gone down the loo. Only I live here.

I do have long hair and I do lose a lot but use drain blocker monthly and clean out as much as I can every day.

Thanks for coming back to me.

Have the people on the floor below (or above) had any drainage problems? If you are in a flat the same soil pipe probably runs through all floors. Is it on the outside of the building wall? Or in a duct in the corner of the bathroom?

I will talk to downstairs and see what they have to say but I suspect it is my hair. It has been much slower to drain since I started using soap rather than shower gel.

I think it is a duct in the corner. (Not very good at this stuff).

Are the neighbours having any issues?

Will ask the neighbours. I have ordered a plunger. Live in central London and cannot think of anywhere to buy one.

Thanks all for the advice.

If you think it's your hair, order a drain snake. I have waist length hair and recently lost a lot of it very quickly, causing a similarly awful back up. The drain snake brought up a disgusting amount of hair (could have been mistaken for a reasonably sized rodent) but the drains now run clear.

@spaneroo what is the drain snake called? I ordered a senai drain unblocked and have spent hours with it today but it has done nothing. Should have read the reviews before I bought it

Argh, the app won't let me attach an image.

This is a drain snake [Amtech S1895 Drain Augers-Plumbing Tools, Transparent, One Size www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01LYX9RRV/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_SeVvDbDEYAS5F] You can get them at b&q, wickes etc for £5-10. Some don't have the handle part (ours doesn't)

It can take a bit of elbow grease to get it well and truly dug deep into the blockage, but it's such a lifesaver with long hair. I wouldn't be without one now. Something very satisfying about pulling up a huge clump of old soapy hair

Link fail, I'll just post the long one...

Amtech S1895 Drain Augers-Plumbing Tools, Transparent, One Size www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01LYX9RRV/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_SeVvDbDEYAS5F

I had exactly this problem, I’m in a maisonette top floor. (Council flat) Had the plumber out and he found tiny stones that were blocking the pipe. I tend to rinse my partners work jeans in the bath before I put them in the washing machine as they are so filthy.

@Spanneroo thank you so much. Ordered it and it will be here tomorrow.

I shall keep you all posted on how it goes. Hopefully very soon I will be hair free!

@Spanneroo promise this is my last question but it will fill down a plug hole that has the circle of little holes. That won't come out. Am now worried it will be too wide.

Just had a shower and the bath drained normally!!! All those hours of poking and prodding today seems to have shifted something. Shall keep an eye on it.

Thanks all so much for the help. I shall reorder the device if it happens again.

Really appreciate all of the good advice. Mumsnet is the best.

Sorry I didn't reply last night. Pleased to hear you've had success regardless!

Usually, the listing will tell you how many mm wide the rod is, so you might want to check before ordering if you have a small access point. You can always rod it through the overflow though, as it all goes to the same place!

I bought a couple of plastic drain 'sieves' to go over the plug hole .
DD has long thick hair and after DS has a shower it looks like a yeti has been waxed .

It really does trap an amazing amount , just tip into the bin, no problem.
Apparently Veet is good to dissolve hair-in-plug holes (for future reference)

if this plug hole is in a bath or basin, it is possible to remove the disk with holes in, usually by removing the screw in the middle. You might have difficulty re-sealing it afterwards, and you need access underneath to hold the trap steady when you screw it back down. Don't do it in a shower tray if you have no access underneath to hold the trap.

If it's a bath, it might be safer to take off the bath panel and undo the trap (usually held by a couple of big, round plastic nuts) and pull out the detritus. Put a plate under it after reassembly so you can see if it is dripping.

Bath traps are usually something like this

Some plumbers like to glue the panel into place with silicone sealant. I think this is very tiresome. A couple of big chrome screws are all you need.

I had this a while ago, it basically turned out to be a huge blockage that had to be jet washed out, costs around £80 in Leicester

@PigletJohn I have got the central screw out but it has been in place since 1999 and was sealed in so there is no way I can get the whole thing out at all. Well not without causing significant damage.

At the moment the water is draining clear so my senua kit and coat hanger must have done something.

Fingers crossed!

Sometimes it just takes a little longer to work than you think