Grease build-up, food waste, old pipe runs… it’s usually not “random” — and I’ll tell you exactly what’s causing it.
If you’ve got standing water in the bowl, that horrible slow-glug drain, or the washing machine is backing up into the sink — ring me. I’m Stuart from SKR Plumbing & Heating and I’m out this way most days.
Need it sorted today? Call 07706 889 614 or
send a couple of photos through here.
If you’re stuck near Orpington High Street, Petts Wood or around Bromley South station,
say where you are — it helps me judge the run and traffic.
Most kitchen sink blockages don’t start as a full flood. They start as a slow drain you ignore for a week, then two weeks, then one morning the bowl just… doesn’t empty. And of course it’s always when you’ve got someone coming round or you’ve already got a pan full of water.
I see it constantly in BR5, BR6, BR1 and BR2 — especially in older Bromley terraces where the waste run is long, or in Orpington semis where the pipework’s been “improved” a few times over the years. The annoying part is: lots of people try a quick chemical fix, it seems better for a day, then it comes back worse.
Quick safety thing: if you’ve already tipped drain chemicals down there, tell me. It changes how I work on it (and keeps everyone safe).
If it’s overflowing right now, your fastest move is to stop running water into it and give me a ring on 07706 889 614. Even if I can’t get there in the next hour, I can usually talk you through the “make it calm” steps in 60 seconds.
If what you’ve actually got is a broader repair (leaks, toilets, pipework, weird pressure issues), the main hub is here: plumbing repair work across Orpington & Bromley.
Nine times out of ten, it’s not a single “thing” — it’s layers. Grease that cooled inside the pipe, coffee grounds that never quite flushed away, rice that swelled, little bits of food that got past the strainer, plus soap and washing-up liquid that turns it all into a stubborn paste.
In Orpington and Bromley you also get a lot of kitchens where the waste run has a couple of awkward bends (or it drops and rises slightly). That’s when you see the classic symptoms: the sink drains slowly, you hear a gulp, then the water level sits there like it’s thinking about it.
Common “tells” I listen for on the phone:
• Water backing up when the washing machine pumps out (blockage further along the line).
• Gurgling in the trap (partial restriction + air fighting its way out).
• Only blocks after hot water or washing-up (grease / fat setting in the pipe).
• Sink clears, then blocks again 24–48 hours later (it’s been “punched through”, not cleared).
If you want the drain side of things (outside runs, manholes, more heavy-duty stuff), this sits alongside: drain unblocking and drainage work.
I’m not coming round with a plunger and a smile. If it needs a proper clear, I’ll do it properly. That usually means working from the trap first (under the sink), then moving along the line depending on what we find.
Typical visit, step by step:
1) I check the obvious stuff (trap, waste connections, any “DIY changes” under the unit) and protect the area — towels,
bucket, no mess everywhere.
2) I clear the restriction mechanically (hand tools / rods depending on access) rather than relying on chemicals.
3) I run water properly afterwards — not just “it drains once” — to make sure it’s actually gone.
4) If the blockage keeps coming back, I’ll be straight with you about what that means (often a longer run issue, a belly in the pipe,
or grease build-up that needs a deeper clean).
If the sink is blocked and you’re in a flat near Bromley South (tight parking, busy roads), just tell me when you call — I’ll plan the visit so we’re not doing that awkward “where can I stop?” dance for 10 minutes.
For homeowners that like to understand what’s happening, I’ll explain it as I go — what I found, what caused it, and what to avoid. For contractors, I keep it simple: what was wrong, what was done, and whether it’s likely to reoccur. If you’re a builder and need someone who can slot into a schedule, this is the page: plumbing support for building contractors.
You’re not failing at plumbing — kitchen waste lines can be stubborn, especially once grease has set inside them. If you’re in Orpington (BR5/BR6) or Bromley (BR1/BR2) and you want it handled without drama, call 07706 889 614.
Prefer not to phone? No worries. You can send the details and photos here and I’ll come back to you between jobs.
Short version: ring me, tell me what it’s doing, and where you are. Long version: I’ll get it cleared and help you stop it coming back.
I’ll give you three quick ones because they’re the sort of thing that makes this feel familiar:
1) Petts Wood, late afternoon: sink wouldn’t drain, and every time the dishwasher finished, the bowl filled back up. Under the unit was a maze of extra pipe someone had added to “make it fit”. We simplified the trap setup and cleared the line properly. The dishwasher stopped backing up immediately.
2) Near Bromley town centre, a small flat kitchen: the customer had been using chemical drain cleaner every other week. The pipework was basically coated. We cleared it mechanically, flushed, then I talked them through what to avoid and when to call before it gets bad again.
3) Orpington, BR6 semi: the sink drained fine… until hot water went down it. Classic grease build-up setting further along. Once we cleared the restriction and ran hot water through properly, it behaved. The “it only blocks sometimes” part is exactly what catches people out.
If your sink issue is connected to a bigger plumbing problem (leaks, water damage, pipework faults), you might also need: leak tracing and repair work in Orpington & Bromley.
Look, anyone can clear a sink if it’s a soft blockage sitting right in the trap. The difference is whether it stays clear. I’m more interested in leaving you with a kitchen that works tomorrow morning, not just “fine for the next hour”.
I’ll tell you if it’s a simple blockage, and I’ll also tell you if it’s likely to come back because the waste run is awkward or the pipe is scaled up. That honesty is basically why I’ve stayed busy since starting SKR in 2020.
What you can expect from me:
• A straight conversation (no scare tactics).
• Proper tools and proper clearing — not just masking the problem.
• Respect for your kitchen (I know it’s the heart of the house; I’m not trashing units to “get at it”).
• Clear next steps if the pipework itself is the reason it keeps blocking.
If the problem turns out not to be the sink at all (toilets backing up, drains outside, etc.), I’ll point you in the right direction. That might be one of the other pages — for example: toilet blockage help in Orpington & Bromley.
“Our kitchen sink had been ‘nearly blocked’ for ages and then suddenly stopped draining completely. Stuart explained what he was doing as he went along and didn’t leave until it was running properly again. Tidy and no drama.”
Homeowner — Orpington (BR6)“We use Stuart for refurb jobs because he actually turns up and communicates. One of our client’s kitchen lines kept blocking and he sorted it properly rather than just getting it draining for the day.”
Local contractor — Bromley“Fast response, respectful, and the pricing was explained before anything was done. Sink drains better than it has in years.”
Customer — BR1Want more? You can jump to the main site areas here: bathroom refurbishment work and heating & boiler services.
Sometimes it shifts a soft blockage near the top. But kitchen blockages are usually grease-heavy, and chemicals don’t “remove” grease so much as cut a small channel through it. That’s why people get the same blockage coming back. Also: if chemicals sit in the trap, they can be nasty to work around — so if you’ve used them, tell me before I put hands near it.
Honestly? That’s the best time to deal with it. When it’s “slow”, it’s usually easier to clear properly, and it stops that horrible moment where you’ve got a sink full of water and nowhere for it to go. If it’s slow in a Bromley terrace with a longer waste run, it tends to get worse, not better.
Hot water melts fats and oils, they move down the pipe, then they cool and stick further along. Over time you basically get a “grease lining”. Add food particles and it builds up. That’s why it often feels random — but it’s actually very predictable.
Most of the time, yes. A lot can be done from the trap and the accessible sections of waste pipe. If it’s further along, I’ll talk you through what access is needed before doing anything. I’m not into wrecking cupboards to “prove a point”.
My core patch is Orpington and Bromley (BR5/BR6 and BR1/BR2), plus nearby areas like Petts Wood, Chislehurst and the SE postcodes. If you’re a bit further out into Kent, it depends on the day and where I’m already working — the easiest thing is to send your postcode via the enquiry form and I’ll be straight about availability.
Stop running water into it, don’t keep forcing it (it just overflows), and if you can, clear the cupboard under the sink so I can get straight in. If it’s leaking as well as blocked, pop a towel down and a bucket under the trap. Then call me on 07706 889 614 and tell me what you’ve already tried.
Owner • SKR Plumbing & Heating (Established 2020)
“Fix it properly, explain it simply, and leave the house calmer.”
I run SKR as a proper hands-on local service. No call centre. No passing you to three different people. When you ring, you’re speaking to the person who turns up with the tools.
I’m City & Guilds qualified (Levels 2 & 3), hold BPEC and ERS for unvented systems, and I’m Gas Safe registered for gas work. Kitchen sink blockages aren’t glamorous, but they’re one of the most common “day wreckers” I get called about — so I treat them seriously.
If you want the wider picture of what I do (not just blocked sinks), there’s more here: SKR plumbing and heating services.
If you’re reading this because you’re literally stood in the kitchen with a full bowl and nowhere for it to go — call me on 07706 889 614. If you’re near the busy stretch by Nugent Shopping Park or coming off the A21, mention it so I can plan the quickest run.
Whether it’s been slowly getting worse for weeks, or it’s just gone from “annoying” to “proper problem” today — you don’t need a lecture. You need it fixed.
Call 07706 889 614 or send the details here: contact SKR Plumbing & Heating.
And if you’re local and stuck near Orpington High Street or around Bromley South, tell me where you are when you ring — I’ll be honest about timing and we’ll sort a plan.
