How to replace the cartridge in faucets yourself

Replacing the cartridge in the mixer detailed instructions for repair in photos and videos

The popularity of comfortable and stylish single-lever faucets is steadily growing. They confidently replace the usual valve structures, decorating kitchens, bathrooms and bathrooms. However, like any household device, they are not eternal. Sooner or later, the owners of this plumbing novelty will need to replace the cartridge in the faucet, since this element most often fails.

How does a single lever mixer work?

The cartridge can be called the main part of a single-lever mixer. Thanks to him, you can control the flow of water with a single handle, which is much more convenient than turning two valves with cold and hot water alternately. In addition, the fixed position of the mixer handle eliminates the need to restore the ratio of the flow of hot and cold water every time.

Inside the cartridge are two ceramic plates that fit snugly together. Unfortunately, over time, extremely unpleasant phenomena may appear, for example, when you press the lever, it is not possible to completely block the flow of water, moisture leaks from below, etc. Obviously, the device is out of order. Finding out how to change the cartridge in your faucet can save you a lot of money.

Possible causes of cartridge failure

In practice, it turns out that the mixer can fail much earlier than its owners expect. It can break for reasons such as:

the quality of the water entering the system that does not meet the manufacturer's requirements;
the presence of impurities in the water from the oxidation of the metal;
salt deposits;
frequent water hammer;
violation of the operating conditions of the mixer;
end of service life;
poor construction quality.

To extend the life of a single-lever mixer, these problems should be remembered already at the stage of purchasing the device. For example, you should give preference to an expensive branded model, rather than a cheap fake created by hardworking Chinese. A common household filter will help to significantly increase the life of the mixer, which will eliminate salts, pieces of rust and other impurities that can degrade the performance of durable ceramic plates.

Finally, some of the breakdowns are due to the carelessness of the mixer owners themselves. Do not apply excessive force when pressing the lever, especially do not drop heavy objects on the device.

How to replace a cartridge

The problem of replacing the cartridge has a fairly simple solution. No complicated specialized tools are needed, just a couple of screwdrivers, a hex wrench and an adjustable wrench. The actual repair of a mixer cartridge is no more difficult than replacing a worn gasket in a traditional valve design. For this you need:

Remove the decorative plug from the faucet, on which hot and cold water are marked in red and blue. A thin screwdriver will work for this.

The decorative plug is carefully removed with a screwdriver.

Now you can carefully remove the faucet handle.

A protective ring is fixed under the handle. It is easily unscrewed by hand.

The clamping nut is carefully unscrewed with an adjustable wrench or wrench.

After that, you should carefully clean the mixer, removing accumulated salt deposits and other contaminants.

Having removed the faulty cartridge, you can go to the store to buy a suitable analogue

It remains to reinstall a serviceable cartridge and do all of the above operations in reverse order, i.e., reinstall the clamping nut, screw on the protective ring, fix the handle, and then insert the decorative plug in its original place.
Restore the water supply and check the operation of the device.

The cartridge has two small protrusions.

Thus, changing the cartridge in the mixer can be carried out even by a novice master. Of course, all operations must be done in such a way as not to damage the decorative coating. At the end of the repair, the device will look and work like new, and the family budget will hardly feel the consequences of the repair.

Do-it-yourself faucet repair

Single-lever faucets work without breakage for a very long time, but due to sand and small particles passing through them, the tightness is sometimes broken and they begin to leak.

Video:

In this case, you just need to change the cartridge in the mixer. The price of this part is very low.

To find out which cartridge is right for you, you need to know its characteristics.

These details may vary:

diameter;
landing part;
stem length.

To buy a new part, remove the old one and take it with you when you go to the store.

So you will be able to pick up and buy a new one, and easily replace the cartridge in the mixer.
Photo:

How to replace the cartridge:

Before starting repairs, shut off the cold and hot water pipes. Open the faucet and let out the rest of the water;
Remove the decorative cap located on the faucet lever at the front. To do this, you can pry it with a screwdriver, and it can be easily removed. After that, unscrew the locking screw of the handle using the hexagon;
Remove the lever under which the defective part is located from the body. If the lever is not removed, then it has become attached to it. Pour hot water on the lever, it will expand and be removed, or spray WD - 40. While the lever is in place, it will not be possible to remove the cartridge from the mixer;
The nut holding the cartridge to the body can be unscrewed with pliers;
Remove the defective cartridge and install a new one. It should fall into place without any effort. Be sure to check whether the holes of the replaced part and the mixer are correctly aligned;
Put on the nut and tighten it;
Install the faucet handle on the cartridge stem;
Tighten the set screw and replace the plastic plug.

Properly supplied replacement faucet cartridges will allow them to last for several more years.

On a note

Devices that automatically regulate the temperature are very popular, but you should be careful when purchasing such models. Such cartridges are sensitive to the level of pressure, the quality of the water supplied, the frequency of use

They react especially negatively to calcium. This element is present in the composition of water in almost all regions of our country. An autonomous water purification system will not help to correct the situation. It is effective only with a small flow of water volumes, and also has a high cost. The price of such a system may be higher than the entire shower. Models that respond to water pressure in the pipeline are not suitable for everyone. If the pressure is small, the cassette may simply not work. In addition, it is unstable to water hammer - load drops.

The principle of operation of a single-lever mixer

As the name implies, the functions of both heads, which are characteristic of a two-valve device, are performed by one lever. When it is turned from side to side, lifted up or down, the temperature and pressure of water from the tap are regulated. It consists of the following elements:

lever handle,
frame,
a stem with a nut and washer so that the part fits snugly,
ball cartridge. It is held in the body with rubber seats, it has three outlets: for hot, for cold water and for supplying a mixed liquid. A ceramic faucet cartridge is sometimes called a disc cartridge and is much more common than a ball cartridge.

It cannot be said that one of them is preferable to the other. All types of faucet cartridges have one weak point: they easily become unusable if the water is not filtered before reaching the faucet.

What should prompt an idea about the necessary repairs?

The principle of regulating the water temperature is violated. That is, the single-lever mixer operates arbitrarily, regardless of the movement of the handle.
When the water supply is blocked, it continues to leak.
The usual pressure was gone, but there were no failures in the operation of the water supply system.

Before heading to the store to purchase a new faucet cartridge, you should remove the old one and take it with you. The fact is that this part may differ from different manufacturers:

along the length of the rod,
landing part,
diameter.

Where to buy and how much

If your "one-handed" has become faulty, it is not advisable to repair the mixer cartridge, since it is difficult to find individual parts for it.

It is better to buy a new part, because its cost is low.

Therefore, it is better to buy such products of well-known brands, choosing from the middle price category if you have a limited budget.

If the wallet allows, it is better to buy water filters at the same time, then it will work flawlessly for a long time.

Video:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=sTBDCAe73WQ

Untreated water spoils the faucet, and therefore, without filters, you will soon have to buy a faucet cartridge and replace it.

It should be borne in mind that each company installs its own cartridges, and therefore if you have a mixer from one company, then you will have to buy the “stuffing” from the same company.

Some large manufacturers produce these parts in several sizes, although they work the same way, they just control water of different volumes, so the price of a faucet cartridge can vary greatly.

Sometimes on sale you can find low-quality Chinese fakes, their price is low, but the quality is incomparably worse than that of well-known brands.

Manufacturers and prices. Design features

The ball cartridge for a single-lever faucet is a hollow, round piece that fits snugly against rubber saddles. Water pressure ensures a tight fit. It is made of stainless steel and is a reliable and durable mechanism. Replacement of the cartridge in the mixer will be required if its hermetic fastening is broken, for example, due to the ingress of scale. Ball mechanisms are less common on sale, since the manufacturer must have a license to install them.

Therefore, it is much easier to find a replacement ceramic analogue than a cartridge for a ball mixer. It consists of two discs, tightly adjacent to each other. The upper plate during the movement of the faucet handle is displaced relative to the lower one, blocking the supply of hot or cold water to varying degrees. The pressure is adjusted according to the same principle.

Structural differences in the cartridges of any manufacturing companies are small. But among professional plumbers, it is generally accepted that faucet cartridge replacement it will be required much earlier if this product is from an inexpensive price category. Well-known brands can afford to invest in the development of their own technologies to increase the life of their product, but the price for this is correspondingly high.

So, what is the price of a single lever faucet cartridge on average?

Grohe disc cartridges are distinguished by the fact that carbon-crystalline sputtering is applied to the plates. This makes the already reliable ceramic cartridge even more durable. Depending on the diameter of the model 46 or 35 mm, the price ranges from 1300 to 2000 - 2500 rubles.
Plumbing from TM Vidima (Bulgaria) does not belong to the category of elite, but the quality guarantee for cartridges from the manufacturer is impressive - 5 years. For products, the price of which, regardless of the diameter and installation location, does not exceed 950 rubles, this is a very commendable characteristic.
If you're lucky, you can find a cartridge from the Finnish company Oras for 2800 rubles. But in search of a replacement part, you will not have to go soon, it will last a long time.All mechanisms of this brand are standard, so there will be no problems with purchasing a cartridge.
Plumbing from the German brand Handgrohe was created in accordance with the national principles of thoroughness and frugality to consumed resources (water and electricity). Such "smart" cartridges cost from 3 - 3.5 thousand rubles, but the crane device itself assumes a long service life of the entire mechanism as a whole and its components in particular.
Replacing the cartridge in the Damixa faucet does not take a long time. The Danish company is distinguished by the desire for innovation, and in the production of their plumbing, among other technologies, patented for the creation of spaceships are used. Changing the cartridge in Damiks plumbing will cost from 2 to 4 thousand rubles.

Thinking about the upcoming repair is still at the stage of choosing a mixer. Replacing a cartridge in a faucet is an inevitable procedure even for expensive brands. Therefore, with a limited budget, it is worth choosing among the offers of the middle price category. It would be useful to find out about the availability of replacement spare parts in the free sale, so as not to order the right one through official distributors, wasting time waiting for its delivery.

Criterias of choice

The best solution would be to purchase a cartridge similar to the one that was originally installed in the shower faucet, but this is not always possible. If the same model is not on sale, you should read the selection tips,

What to pay attention to?

In order to carry out a high-quality replacement and not face an early failure of the part, when making a purchase, they are guided by the following criteria: Material. Ceramic and plastic cartridges are considered the best option. They have good wear resistance. The best choice would be a product made of stainless alloys, the worst - from polymers. The latter are not reliable and wear out quickly. Cost and brand. Cheap models allow you to save on purchases, but after a year or even earlier they require replacement. Unscrupulous manufacturers use not only low-quality raw materials, but also molds. Flywheel travel. If it jams or wedges, then the part is defective. The tightness after installing such a cartridge will quickly be broken, which will lead to leakage. Inlet fittings. The quality of this element is evidenced by a cast structure, a thick partition of the clip. The fittings must be perfectly smooth and even. In addition, the packaging must contain all information about the manufacturer and full details. If this is an expensive model, then it is under warranty.

Replacement procedure

Do-it-yourself replacement of a cartridge in a mixer is a process available to any home master. Before starting work, turn off the supply of hot and cold water, drain the remaining liquid from the tap.

It is necessary to disassemble the single-lever mixer. To do this, remove the decorative cap, which is located on the front side of the crane lever. It is made of plastic and sits tightly in the recess, so it can be gently pry with a screwdriver or knife. It not only serves as an indication in which direction to turn the knob to get warm or cold water. It closes the locking screw, so its loss is fraught with the fact that households and guests will have to constantly see the internal structure of the mixer.
After removing the plug, access to the locking screw is open. It must be twisted using a hex wrench. It is better to use a special tool so as not to damage the parts.
Before removing the cartridge from the mixer, it remains to remove the lever from the faucet body. The defective part you are looking for is right below it. It can be difficult to unscrew the mixer if the parts stick to each other during operation. In this case, it is recommended to pour hot water on the lever for some time - it will expand a little, now you can treat it with WD-40 aerosol preparation.It dissolves rust and oxide, after which the handle can be easily removed and it will be possible to change the cartridge in the tap.

The principle of replacing defective parts in various modifications of single-lever mixers is identical. It may differ in a couple of details, but the essence is unchanged.

Now, in order to change the cartridge in the mixer, you need to remove the decorative nut. It can be handled without a tool, manually, if you make a little effort.
The clamping nut prevents the cartridge from being pulled out of the mixer. You will need a ring wrench, and in case of its absence, gas or pliers will do. The clamping nut ensures a tight fit of the cartridge inside the faucet, so during the assembly process it will need to be tightened very carefully.
Now you can remove the cartridge from the faucet by simply pulling it out of the mounts.
The seats on which the cartridge rests are provided with holes. On the old and new parts, protrusions are clearly visible, which must be clearly aligned with the holes in the fasteners. To replace the cartridge in the faucet correctly, you need to carefully insert it into the saddles so that all the recesses of the seat correspond to the recesses on the part. No effort is required to install the cartridge. If the spare part is purchased correctly, then it will easily take its place inside the mixer.
Now you can start the reassembly process. The clamping nut is put on and tightened, and then the decorative nut. The valve handle is placed on the stem and the locking screw is fixed. The plastic plug returns to its place.

If it is required to replace the cartridge in a mixer with a ball system, then points 1 to 5 are carried out without changes. When access to the ball is obtained, it is removed and the rubber seals are inspected. If they are worn out, they must be replaced, as well as the springs that fix the ball. If the seals are in good condition, they can be carefully cleaned, then put in place a new ball and assemble the mixer.

Replacing the cartridge in the shower faucet is carried out according to the same principle as in single-lever faucets on the kitchen sink or on the sink. The only caveat is that the part may become unusable not only due to bad water, but also due to water hammer. And ceramic cartridges in showers have to distribute water to a flexible hose. In this case, they are installed in the diverter. If this part is faulty, then repairs will not work, you will have to purchase a new diverter.

Changing the cartridge in the mixer, if it is chosen correctly, is not difficult. Everyone will cope with this task in a short time.

What is the difference between cartridges from different manufacturers

The difference in the designs of cartridges from different manufacturing companies is insignificant.

But some use their own technologies to make their products more advanced:

Products from Grohe are popular, many sellers advise buying a grohe faucet cartridge with carbon-crystal spraying on the plates, making the surface more durable;
The reliable and practical cartridge for the oras faucet, produced by the Finnish sanitary ware manufacturer, is standard, so if the old one breaks, a new one will be very easy to find;
The price of Vidima sanitary ware is one of the lowest, but the ceramic cartridge for the vidima faucet has to be changed infrequently. They are guaranteed for five years;
The hansgrohe ceramic faucet cartridge is equipped with a safety feature and saves energy and water. In case of repair, it is easy to replace it with your own hands;
The Hansgrohe trademark has patented the Boltic system: thanks to the special method of attaching the handle and lever, the brand's crane works for many years without loosening and failure.

When buying a mixer, you need to pay attention to its details, since it cannot be eternal, and someday you will still need to replace the cartridge in the mixer.To do this, find out whether it is possible to buy a similar one in free trade for replacement or whether you will have to order it from an authorized distributor

To do this, find out whether it is possible to buy a similar one in free trade for replacement or whether you will have to order it from an authorized distributor.

Find out if there are official representatives of this product in your city.

Replacing the faucet cartridge in the shower

Assumes a preliminary check of the possibility of holding this event. Replacement cannot be carried out when the thread is either completely torn off or has been deformed during operation. In this particular case, you have to completely change the tap. If the thread is intact, you can safely purchase a new cartridge, guided by the advice of specialists. In addition, you must have at your disposal a set of wrenches, a set of screwdrivers, an adjustable Swedish wrench, and powerful pliers. These tools should be prepared or purchased in advance. Otherwise, the replacement of the cassette will simply be impossible.

Step-by-step instruction

The algorithm of action implies the exact following of a certain sequence. Work begins only after turning off the supply of centralized water supply. Each cartridge model has its own characteristics, but the general procedure remains the same.

Step 1

Remove the cap from the cartridge handle. It covers the locking bolt for the cartridge handle. Using a hex wrench or screwdriver, unscrew the fasteners. A screwdriver with an appropriate profile unscrews a small screw located in the hole. Next, remove the handle from the structure.

Step 2

To open access to the cassette, remove the decorative nut. To do this, unscrew the protective metal casing and remove the cartridge. It is often difficult to do this. This happens when the casing turns sour and cannot be unscrewed.

In this case, a gas wrench will help to remove the casing, but first a piece of clean and soft cloth must be thrown on the part. It is necessary to act very carefully. Excessive pressure can damage the casing

Its design is quite thin and fragile. If you apply excessive force, the body will deform. A decorative trim is held in place by means of a nut. This hardware is removed, and then the clamp is unscrewed. Parsing the mechanism takes quite a lot of time. To facilitate and speed up the process of unscrewing old threaded connections allows the "Wedlock". It is used by many masters. It is sold in every auto parts store and has a low cost.

Step 3

Quite a lot of dirt is formed inside the plumbing device and solid deposits accumulate. Therefore, the exit surfaces must be cleaned. For this purpose, detergents are used. It can be ordinary dishwashing liquid. The main thing is not just to clean the device, but also thoroughly rinse it afterwards so that there are no traces of the cleaning agent left.

Step 4

Instead of the removed cartridge, a new device is installed. The main thing is to correctly position the part. To insert a cassette and not confuse anything, there are two grooves on the walls and a pair of protrusions at the entrance. This design feature prevents the cassette from being inserted in the wrong position.

The cartridge is held with a finger by the handle in the required position and clamped with a nut. When it is in place, turn on the water supply and check the functionality of the cassette. If there are no leaks and the mixer is working properly, the cartridge is closed with a nut (decorative), and the handle is put in place.

Why does a cartridge fail?

Water quality is the number one reason why a faucet cartridge needs to be replaced. Cleaning filters must be installed without fail, then even the most budget plumbing will last much longer.

Ceramic cartridges fail quickly when abrasive particles get caught between the discs day after day. They scratch the surface of the plates, worsen the fit, and lead to uneven abrasion of the cartridge elements.

A cartridge change in a mixer with a ball system is required due to a blockage between the element itself and the seats. Even if the tightness is not broken immediately, the rubber stops can be further deformed, which will still lead to a leak. The shutter can also be clogged, but sometimes to troubleshoot the operation it is enough to disassemble the mechanism, clean it and put everything back in place.

Water may ooze from a loose lever cap joint. In this case, repair actions will be reduced to a tight connection of the assembly. When water breaks through at the base of the faucet, the o-rings are most likely worn out. Replacing the mixer cartridge in this case is not needed, it is enough to purchase a repair kit. The ball itself can crack - this is direct evidence that it is time to proceed directly to replacing the cartridge.

Cartridges for single lever mixers

If you decide to buy a cartridge for a single-lever mixer, you should know that they are available in two types:

ball;
ceramic.

The cartridge for the ball faucet has an adjustable hot water flow, so you can quickly and easily set a comfortable temperature.

Video:

Ball, due to its shape, is less sensitive to hard and contaminated water.

Its principle of operation is simple, water enters the ball through spring-loaded Teflon seats and two inlet channels.

Streams of cold and hot water are mixed inside the ball, after which the water comes out.
The main disadvantages of the ball mechanism include the sensitivity of the ball to corrosion.

Also, Teflon seals and connecting gaskets may wear out due to highly chlorinated water.

You can buy a ceramic faucet cartridge, which consists of washers (two plates) made of aluminum oxide.

Not a single drop of water should seep between these plates. Ceramic parts can work flawlessly for ten years.

Ceramic cartridges for shower faucets dispense water onto the hand shower. They are in the diverter.

If such a mixer fails, you will have to buy a diverter.

Video:

If the faucet is leaking in the bathroom, then the bath faucet cartridge is changed in the same way as the kitchen one.