ᐅ Replace Atlant siphon?

Hello

Is it possible to replace the Atlantis trap and the drain strainer?
My partner was a bit too enthusiastic and opened both holes for the sink overflow with a screwdriver, and now the water is spraying everywhere under the sink.
The home improvement store doesn’t have a suitable drain strainer or an appropriate trap.
For now, I’ve taken a trap that only allows me to connect the washing machine so I can at least do laundry again (which is needed after about two weeks).
Do you have any advice?
I won’t be able to get to IKEA for at least six months.

Best regards,
Eva

Hello,
new Atlantic siphons are being sold on eBay. Otherwise, just put a piece of hose on the connectors, plugs into the hose sections, and secure them with clamps. You should be able to find suitable parts at the hardware store. For a hose, I would look in the garden section; for plugs, first check the plumbing section, otherwise the electrical installation materials. If necessary, ask several employees. Many are not very resourceful there.

I don’t quite understand what was done to the overflow with a screwdriver and why it’s now leaking.

- Is the overflow on the metal sink?
- What about the installation underneath, with the seal to the trap? What is damaged there?

A new Atlant trap costs 10 to 15 euros at Ikea.
If you’re already checking the hardware store, you might as well go to Ikea directly.

Maybe Eva has to drive about 100 km (62 miles) to the nearest IKEA?

Maybe Eva has to drive 100 km or so to the nearest IKEA?

Sure, but I don’t really understand the problem or the damage that has occurred.

Water is spilling out from the overflow.
- Is the metal of the sink bent?
- Is the rubber gasket between the metal and the overflow (made of plastic) damaged or leaking?
- Is the screw broken or stripped?

You can temporarily “close” the overflow. But broken is broken, it just depends on what exactly is broken.

You can also simply hang a washing machine hose into a drain with a weight (!!) on it, so it shouldn’t slip out. There are weight attachments available on the market (clip-on type, so the hose always hangs downward).

If the washing machine must be connected only at the siphon and only in the kitchen at that position.

In that case, I can only recommend sealing the overflow. There are several ways to do this. But keep in mind that the overflow will then be deactivated, so the kitchen could flood if water backs up.

There are also blind caps with seals for siphons. So a fitting where no pipe or hose is attached, but instead there is just a round piece of plastic with a seal inside the fitting. This prevents water from leaking out of an unused siphon connection (any standard round one, no matter where).

Just search for “blind cap” and “siphon” or “end cap” in an image search engine (e.g., Google).

If the overflow connection (on the siphon’s plastic) has no threads, or has a special diameter, I don’t know for sure, but in a pinch you can also plug the connection. You should know what you’re doing here. I’ve done this occasionally until a proper part was available for the customer to prevent leaks.

You can also fit a rubber hose with the right diameter AND a matching hose clamp onto the overflow outlet of the siphon, sealing it tightly (!). Then twist and knot the rubber hose. Before knotting, preferably plug the hose (e.g., with kitchen paper, but it should not flow back into the drain!) or use more professional tools to seal the inside of a rubber hose.

To secure a twisted/knot and possibly plugged makeshift hose stopper, thick household twine (like hemp string for packages or similar) works quite well. It’s only supposed to hold for a few wash cycles, right? (I don’t mean to choke the hose itself with the string, but to secure a pinched hose in its twisted state.)

A trip to IKEA is unavoidable if you want to prevent the kitchen from flooding due to a missing or leaking overflow.

You can find everything at the hardware store, but if something is broken, it’s broken.

Even if IKEA is 100 km away, if that’s the case—well, a flat tire in the car is just a flat tire. Spraying tire sealant is neither professional nor safe, but depending on the tire, it might be the way to get to the nearest repair.

As I said, I still don’t know what exactly got damaged or punched through with a tool. (I understand that the overflow is leaking.)

So there is no basis for an improvised fix, only the above guesswork and examples can be offered right now. I understand that washing is important, but without detailed information, that’s the best help I can provide. (Or call a professional.)

If you are not familiar with the siphon, there is nothing more to add. The siphon has several connection outlets, for example, for a dishwasher, washing machine, etc. These are initially closed, and you have to break through the plastic to open them. Eva should have understood what I wrote; if not, she could ask for clarification.