drip drip dripping water

The main causes of breakdowns

First of all, it should be noted that bathroom faucets are slightly different from the kitchen faucets we are used to. They combine not only shut-off units for hot and cold water, but also a water flow separator (shower / bathroom). If your faucet suddenly malfunctions, repairs will cost much less than buying a new faucet.

Do not immediately grab the adjustable wrench and completely disassemble the crane. First you need to remember who installed the faucet, and what type (old or new) is installed in your bathroom. The difference between these types is huge, because the new type of taps have ceramic cartridges, working with which is significantly different from repairing the old type. The most common types of damage are:

• the valves rotate very poorly, and you have to make a lot of effort to open the tap;
• in the closed position, the tap leaks, constantly flows from it, or water drips;
• in the open position, the mixer hums very strongly;
• a very weak pressure can also be considered a breakdown if the pressure is normal in other taps in the house;

when using the shower, water flows through the tap, or vice versa;

Fortunately, all of the above malfunctions can be repaired with your own hands. It is quite simple, the main thing is to understand the taps of the new and old type.

Single Lever Faucet Repair

In some cases - such as in the case of a leak at the point where the hoses are attached to the faucet or where the faucet is attached to the sink - repairing a mixer with one lever is no different from repairing a mixer with two valves. Moreover, single-lever faucets usually have a one-piece spout and this is a guarantee against leaks at the point where the spout is attached to the faucet.

Ball mixer repair

• In the event that the ball mixer is flowing from the spout, and the water supply lever is in the position that excludes water supply, then two options can be the cause of the problem: gasket wear and the accumulation of lime deposits. Here you will need a hex wrench, a screwdriver and a little knowledge on how to disassemble the mixer. With these tools, you will need to disassemble the faucet into individual parts, and then remove any accumulated deposits, check for wear on all necessary gaskets and replace if necessary. Treating new gaskets with silicone grease prior to installation will prolong their life. Then you will need to assemble the mixer back and it is ready for use again.
• If the cause of the leak is physical damage to the faucet, then you will need to replace the faucet.

Ceramic cartridge faucet repair

Repairing a faucet with a ceramic cartridge is much easier than repairing other types of faucets. You just need to know how to replace the cartridge in the faucet. It's not very difficult. The ceramic cartridge inside such a faucet cannot be repaired. Therefore, there is no other option but to replace it. In this case, disassemble the faucet, separate the cartridge from it, and then just buy a similar one at the hardware store. Install it, assemble the mixer back and everything will work.

What to do if water does not flow from the mixer or low pressure

The reason for the weakening of the pressure and the complete cessation of the water supply may be foreign objects or lime deposits. In this case, you need to disassemble the mixer, rinse it from rust flakes, lime deposits and other foreign objects. After cleaning the faucet, you need to treat all gaskets with silicone grease and assemble the faucet back. After that everything should work.

How to fix a ball valve

A single lever mixer can fail for various reasons.Usually, a leak can occur due to the fact that a small speck has got into the cartridge of the device. In these cases, the mixer is completely disassembled and the cartridge is replaced.

Another such unpleasant problem of a single-lever faucet as the simultaneous flow of water into the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe shower screen and drain often occurs due to wear of the rubber elements in the place of the spool switch. This breakdown is eliminated only with the help of a complete replacement of gaskets and rings.

The appearance of a mixer leak in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe push-button switch may occur due to wear of the gland. To fix this problem, you just need to remove the old oil seal and install a new one. If the push button switch itself stops working, then the failure of the spring may be the cause of this failure. This breakdown is eliminated quite simply - the old spring is removed and a new spring is installed in its place.

If suddenly a ball valve flows in the bathroom, then you need to use the standard troubleshooting scheme. You can fix problems yourself. How to repair a ball valve?

Repair of a ball mixer is carried out as follows:

it is necessary to slightly unscrew the screw that secures the faucet handle with a hex screwdriver and remove it;
after that, we will see the rod that is attached to the ball

As well as a threaded ring with four notches;
then you need to carefully press on the notch and scroll it counterclockwise;
then you need to remove the chrome dome with pliers, there should be a ring;
it is necessary to carefully examine the ring made of plastic. If it has acquired a creamy color and fuzzy shapes, then perhaps the whole point is in this element and it needs to be replaced with a new one.

If there are deposits of rust on the plastic ring, they should be removed with a detergent;
after that, you need to remove the ball from the socket. This element also needs to be carefully examined, if it has scratches, various defects, then it is better to change it;
be sure to inspect the faucet inside. Usually there are seals with springs in the recess, often these elements wear out, the faucet starts to drip. It is necessary to remove them and install new seals with springs;
then we put the ball in place, while its hole should be located on the right;
collect all other elements.

Faucet repair can be prevented. Most often, the main cause of malfunctions is pollution coming from the water main. Therefore, the installation of special coarse water filters will help you keep the faucet intact longer.

A dripping faucet is the first sign that the device of this element needs to be repaired. You should not start this process, otherwise you will have to completely change the mixer. Therefore, if your faucet is leaking, immediately start troubleshooting. However, not always repairs can fully restore the efficiency of the faucet and it is often easier to just change the faucet in the kitchen.

We fix problems with our own hands

Not in all cases it is possible to fix the breakdowns on their own. However, this is quite possible if the malfunctions are insignificant. Below we consider the easiest ways to repair plumbing with your own hands.

Option 1: fixing a broken faucet

Gasket wear. This is the easiest repair. The gaskets most commonly worn are on semi-turn faucets and faucets that have shower diverters. You need to replace the seal, and the problem will be solved. You can buy a new gasket at any hardware store. Before replacing, turn off the water supply to the apartment, then remove the old gasket, install a new one and assemble the structure again.

Seal wear. To access it, remove the tap knob, then the decorative cap.A crane box will open, and above it is a hexagon, with which you can unscrew the nut and get to the stuffing box. By the way, often it does not even have to be removed, it is enough to tighten the nut more tightly. If this does not help, you need to replace the gland packing and reassemble the valve.

Step-by-step instructions for replacing the oil seal

Removal of the mixer itself. Devices don't last forever. If the mixer is old, then it is better not to repair it, but to replace it immediately. Repairing worn metal is pointless.

Faucet mixer. Sometimes the mixer is simply defective, and the problem arises due to the poor quality of the casting. Such a plumbing fixture should be changed in the store, and if the gasket is dry, you can buy a new one.

Option 2: if the problem is in the hygienic shower

In recent years, apartment owners are increasingly installing a hygienic shower. This is a simplified version of a bidet for bathrooms where a full-fledged plumbing fixture does not fit. Such an “upgrade” of the toilet bowl is very functional, but not everyone uses it correctly. This may be one of the reasons why hot water flows from a cold faucet.

In order for water to start flowing from the shower, press the start button on the mixer. When the procedure is completed, you need to release the button, close the valve. Many people forget to perform the last step, because the water stops flowing after pressing the button.

If the mixer is not closed, hot and cold liquids are still mixed in it. At the same time, it does not flow out of the hygienic shower, but enters the system. At the moment when a cold water tap is opened in a neighboring apartment, the pressure drops, and hot water flows through a pipe designed for cold water.

Option 3: when the water heater fails

Why does hot water flow from a cold faucet? If a non-return valve is not installed on the boiler, it will still have to be installed after the shut-off valves so that there is no mixing of hot water with cold water. But sometimes warm water enters the cold water system when the valve is installed and working. The reason is the incorrect operation of the water heater.

To use the water heater, close the hot water shut-off valve. Otherwise, the water will go into the cold water system. When turning off the water heater, close all valves and taps so that they do not affect the pressure in the system.

It happens that the reason why hot water flows from a cold tap is utility services. In this case, it makes sense to contact them for help. This does not always give the expected effect, so you should be prepared for drastic measures - the rejection of centralized hot water supply. You can install an electric heater, meters and no longer depend on service providers. These are considerable expenses, but they always pay off, because your own nerves are more expensive.

How to fix the problem

If hot water starts to flow from a cold tap, then the problem must be solved as quickly as possible. You will have to call a specialist, contact the Criminal Code service or independently carry out diagnostics. Each of these methods allows you to identify a malfunction and solve the problem.

Contact a plumber

If the owner of the living space does not have experience in carrying out plumbing work, then a professional must be called to the house to diagnose the system and correct all the shortcomings.

When the owner of the apartment has already determined that the cause concerns a sharp pressure drop, then it is necessary to arrange for a plumber to install a check valve. It is not necessary to buy a spare part if a new type of counter for each pipe is already installed in the apartment, since they are immediately equipped with protective mechanisms.

Call special services

If hot water comes out of the cold water tap, and a major overhaul was carried out in the house the other day, then the possible cause of the malfunction is obvious errors in the assembly of equipment due to the fault of the employees of the management company.

To fix the problem, you need to call the Housing Office or the Criminal Code and report what is happening with the water supply. The management company must send specialists to the site to diagnose problems in the system.

If the fault falls on the management company, then the owner will not have to pay for repairs, since the organization is obliged to fix the problems on its own and at its own expense.

A sample application for recalculation to the Criminal Code can be downloaded here.

Try to fix the problem yourself

If the hot water in the living space did not come from the correct faucet, you can try a few steps yourself to fix this problem.

You need to gently touch the pipe from where cold water runs. It is necessary to feel the place only at the valve, where the supply for the entire apartment is blocked. If the area is hot, then malfunctions occurred outside.

The only option is to call the Criminal Code and point out the difficulties that have arisen. When the pipe remains cold, then most likely the mixer has broken. You will need to inspect individual crane equipment, as well as interview neighbors for a similar situation.

An effective solution to the problem is to completely close the two root valves. This will have to be done to see if they can hold up the flow of water well.

If there are no problems, then you need to take the following actions:

1. Find the main valve and open it along with the mixer. If everything is done correctly, then the supply of cold water should resume.
2. Shut off cold water and open hot water completely. When cold water went instead of hot water, you will have to look for an apartment with a problem. You need to contact the neighbor from whom the malfunction comes and fix the equipment.

Is it possible to swim in rusty water

A percentage of rust is always present in our water. The allowable rate is 0.3 mg per liter of liquid. When the orange pigment is in a given amount, it is not visible. However, doctors still recommend drinking boiled or purified water, and not just from the tap.

If the amount of rust is 0.4-0.8 mg, then it can be seen with an armed eye. In fact, you can wash your hands in it and nothing more.

Surely you have seen traces of rust on enameled sinks, in the toilet bowl or on the faucet connections. This disgusting color damages these products and cannot be washed off, sometimes even with a strong acid. Based on these observations, how can one think about whether it is possible to take a bath with rusty liquid?

The problem of rusty tap water is very annoying, but now you know how to solve it. We hope you succeeded.

Tap water hardly inspires confidence in anyone. And not without reason: doctors are increasingly coming to the conclusion that the cause of many diseases is dirty tap water. But how to recognize liquid poison and protect yourself and loved ones? In this article, there are a few simple recommendations that will help you deal with the problem.

Very often, tap water contains various chemicals, however, in addition to them, dangerous microorganisms can enter the body.

The insidious influence of tap water lies in its slow action. If you drink water that is rich in dangerous compounds of chemical origin, then poisoning will not occur immediately, but after some time. After one glass of tea, there will be no effect, but if you drink tea from poisonous water every day, several glasses, the body will begin to decompose from the inside. Water slowly poisons the body, affects the kidneys, kills red blood cells, affects the brain and heart.

Many people are mistaken, taking boiled water for purified water. In the process of boiling, viruses and chemical poisons do not disappear from the water. In addition, sometimes a reverse reaction is observed, since high temperature quite unpredictably affects the composition of water.

Repair of a faucet with two valves

If you need to repair a mixer, the water temperature of which is controlled by two valves, then you need to proceed as follows: the first thing to do, regardless of the type of mixer that we will be repairing, is to turn off the water supply to the mixer. And then:

• If the mixer spout turned out to be the source of the leak, then we remove the valve, then we release the crane box, followed by the replacement of gaskets, as well as sealing the thread with fum tape. After that, the crane box is put in place. However, if the cause of the leak is a failed crane box, then it must be replaced.
• When water oozes out from under the faucet box and the water supply valve, the first step is to check the fit of the faucet box to the mixer. It happens that in order to fix the problem, you just need to screw the crane box closer to the mixer, which you should do. If this does not help, then you should release the crane box, seal the thread with fum tape and screw the crane box back. It will also not be superfluous to check the gaskets and replace them for preventive reasons.
• If the source of the leak is the connection of the spout to the mixer, then it is necessary to release the spout, change the gasket, seal the thread with fum-tape and screw the spout back using a special nut.
• When a leak occurs at the place where the hoses are attached to the mixer, it is necessary to replace the gaskets. In some cases, it may be necessary to replace the rubber hoses themselves.
• If a leak occurs at the point where the faucet is attached to the sink, then you will need to replace the gasket, or put the faucet on a silicone base.
• If suddenly an out of the ordinary event occurred and the mixer body cracked, then in this case you have no other choice but to replace the mixer. How to choose a mixer to replace a broken one is a topic for a separate article.

Leak due to a malfunctioning shower-bath switch

The essence of this problem lies in the simultaneous outflow of water from both the tap and the shower. In this case, the cause is a worn spool gasket, which is located in the spool switch, the malfunction is eliminated by the same gasket replacement. But there is one feature - only one gasket can be the reason for the simultaneous outflow of water. If there is confidence that the top gasket is the cause of the problem, then it can be removed with a thin hook, in which case it will not be necessary to completely disassemble the mixer. It is necessary to unscrew the union nut at the shower screen hose and remove the hose itself. If both gaskets are the cause of the leak, they must also be replaced.

To do this, close the cold and hot water valves and disconnect the flexible hose. Then you need to disconnect the spout and unscrew the adapter. To remove the switch handle, unscrew the screw, and then pull out the eccentric. The spool is removed from the mixer body through the adapter connection hole. Rubber rings are removed from the spool with a screwdriver or an awl, after which new rubber rings must be pulled onto it. New rings must be moistened with water to facilitate the entry of the spool back into the mixer body. The spool switch is assembled back in reverse order. In extreme cases, the life of the gaskets can be extended by winding thin copper wire or linen thread around the old rings, but this is a temporary measure, sooner or later the gaskets will have to be replaced with new ones.

It should be remembered - competently approaching the choice of a mixer. you will ensure its trouble-free and long-term operation.

Find out where hot water is mixed

The water supply system of an apartment building is equipped in such a way that it is not always possible to clearly determine where hot water is mixed. Often the "heroes of the occasion" themselves do not know that it is their plumbing that is faulty, and the entire entrance is suffering.

Determining the desired apartment is quite simple: you should close one of the cold water shut-off valves in the entrance, and open the taps in this apartment to supply cold water. If water flows from a faucet, then it is broken. So you can check the plumbing fixtures in all apartments.

If shutting off the taps does not work, then the cause of the problem may be in the pipeline. In this case, the tenants will have to turn to the utilities or the management company for help.

Why does hot water flow from a cold faucet?

Oddly enough, there are a lot of reasons why hot water can run from a cold tap in a mixer. The culprit of such a celebration may be not only the mixer itself, but also other equipment installed in the apartment. Moreover, not even you and not your plumbing may be to blame - this is a disease of apartment buildings, and any of your neighbors in the riser can be the instigator of such trouble, without even knowing it. Among the most common reasons why hot water flows from a cold water faucet, the following points can be noted.

1. Failed mixer. They can be both from the old age of this plumbing fixture, and due to factory defects. At least four common problems with a faucet can be counted - gasket wear, gland wear, mixer body wear and factory defects, and in most cases it consists in poor-quality gaskets that can be dried out from time to time or simply do not fit the desired size.
2. Improper use of plumbing. The simplest and most common example is . People try to simplify everything and instead of completely closing the mixer, they simply turn off the tap on the shower - as a result, due to the pressure difference in the pipes of cold and hot water, a banal squeezing occurs. The same thing can happen with a conventional bath faucet, when a person turns off the water not with a tap, but with a switch on, setting it to an intermediate position.
3. Incorrect plumbing connection. As a rule, it is either , or . In the case of the first plumbing fixture, everything rests on improper assembly by amateur craftsmen - when the booth and all its hoses are connected not at the factory, but manually at the place where the booth is installed. In the case of an electric water heater, it’s the lack of a check valve—when your neighbor turns on cold water, pressure drops in the riser, and hot water from your boiler rushes to make up the pressure difference.

For more information about the situation with hot water in a cold faucet, see this video.

To some, this behavior of home plumbing may not seem critical - on the contrary, some people may see certain advantages in this. I hasten to slow you down a little - the consequences can be very sad. We will talk further about what can happen if the causes of squeezing cold and hot water are not eliminated.

Good advice

Plumbing experts recommend not winding too much "coupling" on the faucet threads. It will be enough to wind only 2-3 layers. Otherwise, you simply won’t be able to screw the clamping nut on top.

Following our recommendations, you can fix the faucet in the bathroom without any problems.

Before proceeding with the replacement of the faucet box, or cartridge, make sure once again that the water in the faucet is completely shut off. This will allow you to avoid an unwanted flood.

To ensure that breakdowns in your bathroom are less frequent, use only high-quality materials. They may cost a little more, but by using them, you can definitely avoid frequent breakdowns.

It would also be useful to buy a special kit for repairing faucets at home. Such a kit usually contains all the necessary parts for emergency faucet repair: o-rings, gaskets, etc.

As you can see for yourself, there is nothing complicated in repairing faucets. Any man who understands how a faucet works can fix it. We wish you great luck in this matter, and let breakdowns occur as rarely as possible.

Water dripping at night

It is very important to distinguish the natural discharge of water from the failure of components. When the water-heating equipment is connected to the electrical network, in the absence of its operation, a small amount of it should flow through the fitting part of the valve device, including at night

When the appliance is operating in a medium load mode, which includes regular washing of dishes and cooking, water flows out of the valve device periodically, in a volume slightly higher than the usual amount. Constant leakage, including overnight, may indicate a device failure.

The main reason for the leakage of water droplets at night is the clogging of the fitting or the inside of the fitting with scale or debris. The spring mechanism that opens the valve is not able to close it at the right time, so water flows out even when the water heating equipment is turned off. An equally common cause of water leakage at night is too high pressure in the plumbing system. In order to check the working water pressure, it is measured in the main water supply.

Consequences of leaks

Often people simply turn a blind eye to the dripping faucet in the bathroom for years without taking any action. In fact, "chronic" leaks tend to lead to much bigger problems. Therefore, a leaky shower faucet or faucet can lead to an emergency and a massive leak. The most negative consequences of plumbing leaks in the bathroom are:

• Increased humidity inside the bathroom. The bathroom is already characterized by high humidity, which negatively affects the finishing materials and furniture inside the room, and a dripping faucet further increases the amount of moisture in the air.

• Annoying sounds. When a tap or faucet leaks, the sound of falling drops is heard throughout the apartment, especially if the sink or bathtub is made of thin-walled metal. Historians claim that during the Middle Ages they were even tortured with such sounds, so it is not surprising that this situation annoys the household.
• Increased water consumption. Almost every apartment is now equipped with meters installed on water pipes, so when a mixer, faucet or shower in the bathroom flows, the water consumption increases significantly, and hence utility bills.
• Danger of flooding the lower floors. If you don’t figure out why the faucet is leaking in time and don’t eliminate the cause of the breakdown, the situation can worsen and result in an extensive leak that will ruin the repair not only in your bathroom, but also in the apartment of the neighbors below.

Preparing and filing a complaint

If the breakdown is not at the neighbors and not in the apartment of the owner, you will have to call the Criminal Code. Employees can accept the application by phone, so you don’t have to go to the office of the company in person. After receiving a complaint, the organization sends specialists to the place who will try to quickly fix the problem.

You can download the Complaint Form from this link.

If employees ignore complaints, other measures will have to be taken:

1. Make a claim (in writing) against the management company.
2. In the central column indicate the provision of improper services.
3. Write a formal complaint and send it to the prosecutor's office.
4. Ask for help from local authorities.
5. Gather the tenants of the house and formally bring up the problem that has arisen for discussion. If it is unanimously decided that the Criminal Code is not coping with its obligations, then termination of the contract is allowed. After that, a new agreement is drawn up, but with a different managing organization.
6. The last resort is to sue the UK.Residents are endowed with such a right under the Housing Code of the Russian Federation, since the company is not coping with its official duties. But at the same time it is necessary to present evidence and documents. Before filing an application, it is advisable to contact a lawyer who will indicate all the nuances.

Thus, you can not only find out what is the cause of the crane malfunction, but also take appropriate measures.

Watch the video: “Hot water from a cold tap - mixer malfunction.”

Free phone consultation! Moscow and region:; St. Petersburg and region:

What is the safety valve on the boiler for?

The safety valve device is a pipeline version of direct-acting fittings, which is intended to protect water-heating equipment and the pipeline system from mechanical damage under the influence of excessive pressure.

The valve element releases excess liquid in automatic mode, and stops the removal of water in conditions of normalization of the operating pressure.

Externally, the safety valve device is represented by a brass-plated body. The inner part includes a pair of springs and locking elements.

The starting spring mechanism is located in the inner part of the flow channel. With the function of a non-return valve, such an element prevents the water from flowing back into the pipeline supply system.

With an increase in water pressure, the spring device moves away, which ensures an unhindered flow of water into the storage tank. After the tank is completely filled and when the pressure indicators are equalized on both sides, the locking device closes the hole, which prevents the water flow from being thrown back into the pipeline main system.

The second spring mechanism is located on the outlet part of the device, and the function of such an element is represented by a water discharge in conditions of increasing pressure indicators.

In such a situation, the pressure arising in the pipeline is able to overcome the stiffness of the spring, which causes it to compress and open the opening for the water flow by the shut-off element.

The use of a safety valve device protects the storage tank from rupture, prevents hot water from being thrown from the water-heating equipment into the plumbing system, smooths out pressure drops, and ensures the discharge of excess water at a critical level of pressure and temperature. Among other things, the valve drains water at the stage of maintenance and repair of the boiler.