: Always scrape food scraps into the bin rather than rinsing them down the sink.
| Method | Effectiveness | Difficulty | Cost | Best For | |--------|---------------|------------|------|-----------| | (gloves, scoop, bucket) | High (if accessible) | Easy | Free–£5 | Solid debris in gully | | Boiling water + washing soda | Moderate (grease only) | Easy | £1–2 | Soft grease blockages | | Plunger (over sink & outside gully) | Moderate | Medium | £5–10 | Compacted but soft block | | Drain rod (from outside gully) | Very high | Medium | £15–30 (rod set) | Stubborn FOG or debris | | High-pressure water jet | Excellent | Professional | £80–150 | Heavy grease, roots, silt | | CCTV survey + descale/jetting | Definitive | Professional | £150–300 | Recurring or unknown cause | outside drain from kitchen sink blocked
| Aspect | Rating (1–5) | Notes | |--------|--------------|-------| | Severity | ⭐⭐⭐ (3) | Unpleasant but rarely an emergency | | DIY-friendliness | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4) | Most cases solvable with rods/water | | Prevention effectiveness | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5) | Almost 100% preventable with habits | | Professional cost | ⭐⭐ (2) | Can be expensive for jetting/CCTV | : Always scrape food scraps into the bin