Wash basin choke
A choked wash basin fills up while the tap runs and drains slowly, often with a sour smell. It is usually hair, soap and toothpaste caught in the pop-up stopper or bottle trap, and most are cleared in under an hour.
Typical price
$80–$130per job, standard hoursTypical job time
30–60 min
Estimate, confirm on WhatsApp
What it looks like
- Water rises in the basin while the tap is running and takes minutes to drain.
- The basin does not drain at all after you brush your teeth or shave.
- A sour smell from the plug hole or overflow.
- Water leaks from under the basin, because a blocked trap pushes water out of loose joints.
- The pop-up stopper is stuck down or will not lift fully.
Common causes
- Hair wrapped around the pop-up stopper and its rod.
- Soap scum, toothpaste and shaving foam building up in the bottle trap.
- Small items such as earrings, caps or cotton buds dropped down the plug hole.
- A pop-up stopper that is stuck or set too low, leaving only a narrow gap for water.
- An old or corroded bottle trap with a narrowed passage.
- A blockage in the wall pipe or the branch pipe the basin joins.
Before you call
Safe things to try first
- Lift or unscrew the pop-up stopper and pull the hair off it. Some lift straight out; others release when you loosen the rod nut under the basin.
- Put a pail under the bottle trap, unscrew its base by hand and clean it out.
- Use a small cup plunger, holding a wet cloth over the overflow hole so the pressure goes down the pipe.
- If you have already used a caustic cleaner, flush with plenty of water and do not open the trap yourself.
Stop and call if
- The bottle trap is cracked, or its thread is stripped and it will not seal again.
- The basin is still slow after the stopper and trap are clean, which means the choke is in the wall pipe.
- A ring or other valuable has gone down. Stop running water so it stays in the trap.
- The floor trap or shower is also draining slowly.
What we do
- 1Check the stopper, trap and overflow, and test whether the floor trap and shower drain normally.
- 2Remove and clean the pop-up stopper and bottle trap, taking out hair and scum.
- 3Clear the waste pipe into the wall with a hand drain spring, or a drain machine if the choke is further along.
- 4Replace a cracked or worn bottle trap or pop-up waste if needed, after telling you the cost.
- 5Refit everything, run the tap at full flow and check for leaks under the basin.
How much it costs
Most wash basin choke jobs in Singapore cost $80–$130 (per job, standard hours). This is an estimate; the final price is confirmed on WhatsApp or on site before work starts.
- Clearing stopper, bottle trap and waste pipe$80–$130
- Bottle trap replacement, added to clearing$20–$40
- Pop-up waste replacement$60–$120
- Drain machine on the wall or branch pipe$140–$220
HDB, condo and landed
HDB
The basin, its trap and the pipe to the branch are the owner's to maintain. Installing or replacing a basin and bottle trap does not need a PUB Licensed Plumber. If several flats on the stack have slow drains, call the town council.
Condo
Fittings inside the unit are the owner's. Some condos have wall-hung or counter-top basins with the trap hidden inside the vanity, so mention this when you send photos.
Landed
Upstairs basins often share a branch with the shower and floor trap. If they are all slow, the choke is likely in that branch or further down towards the inspection chamber.
Wash basin choke: common questions
Why does my basin smell even after cleaning?
The smell usually comes from scum inside the bottle trap or on the underside of the pop-up stopper, which you cannot see from above. Cleaning both usually fixes it.
How do I remove a pop-up stopper?
Some lift or twist straight out. Others are held by a rod that enters the pipe under the basin: loosen the rod nut, pull the rod back and the stopper lifts free. Refit it the same way.
Water leaks under my basin only when it is choked. Why?
When water cannot drain, it backs up and pushes out through weak joints in the trap and waste pipe. Clear the choke first, then check whether the joints still leak. Often a new washer or trap is enough.
Do I need a licensed plumber for a basin choke?
No. Clearing blockages and replacing a bottle trap or basin are not licensed plumbing work under PUB rules.
How do I stop hair choking the basin?
Pull hair off the stopper every week or two and rinse the basin after shaving. If you trim hair at the basin, catch the clippings with tissue first.
Get a price for wash basin choke
Send a photo or short video, your home type and postal code. We reply with a price range and the earliest slot.
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