We repair the ball valve in the kitchen
Fashionable and modern faucets have a more complex device, unlike valve models. How to fix a faucet in the kitchen? A ball valve is leaking - which means that some kind of pollution has got inside it, which prevents the mixer from working normally.
So, to defeat this problem, the faucet is dismantled and cleaned. First of all, the screw-lock of the lever is unscrewed with a screwdriver
Then very carefully remove the lever. Using a screwdriver, unscrew the screw, dismantle the dome and the plastic seal
The latter should be carefully examined, remove all plaque on it. 
If it is worn out, it is recommended to purchase a new part. Then they take out and carefully inspect the ball - if there is damage, a replacement is necessary. When wear is observed on the seals that fix this ball, they are also recommended to be replaced immediately. Then, after replacing parts or cleaning them, all plastic elements must be lubricated with the composition recommended by the manufacturer. Sometimes it happens that even after replacing parts, the faucet in the kitchen still flows. How to fix? The repair scheme will be slightly different - here it is necessary to replace the entire faucet cartridge.
Replacement without overlap
If it is impossible to shut off the water at all and there is no apparatus for freezing pipes
Then you need to be ready for the water.
Never practice this on hot water and heating! It is very dangerous!
If you decide to change or install duplicate faucets without interrupting the water, then there should not be a room on the floor below that can be flooded. Even if you are on the first floor, this does not guarantee that there are no rooms below. The basement may contain warehouses or commercial premises.
If you are going to do this in the basement or in a private house, then go ahead.
Find a large container or prepare a pile of water-absorbing material. For example, a lot of expensive and high-quality towels. If possible, place a large container in front of the faucet.
Look for an assistant who is not averse to dousing with cold water. You hand him a large rag or the same expensive towel and let him catch all the water coming from the tap into this towel, like a bull motodor.
You need to prepare the replacement faucet in advance, seal its threads and open it. Then unscrew the non-working faucet or what is after the faucet if you install a duplicate. Now you can screw in the new one.
As an example, I am attaching several images made "in greenhouse conditions" All threads in the photo are not sealed because this is a simple example.
Here we have a threaded pipe or an old non-overlapping faucet, water flows from it.
We take a new faucet and open it completely. We seal the thread and pass water through it.
Twist about 2 turns, after which the faucet can be closed and screwed on the remaining 1 or 2 turns.
You can also wind a flexible hose or hose onto a new faucet and lower the other end of the hose into a nasalization bucket or bath. Most of the water will go through the hose. But something will still spill on the floor.
I do not recommend performing such an operation on valve diameters greater than 3/4 inches.
Anyone who undertakes this must understand the full responsibility of actions, must be confident in what he is doing and must be physically strong.
The pressure can be quite high and you need to be prepared for this. It is better to know beforehand what kind of pressure you are dealing with.
Replacing a faucet without blocking the riserReplacing a faucet without shutting off the riser Is it possible to replace a stopcock without shutting off the water. Do not practice on the upper floors! Do not do this with hot water and heating! One of
Characteristics of polypropylene ball valves
The modern construction market is replete with a variety of different products, but some products stand out against the general background.In the field of water supply and heating communications, polypropylene ball valves have become very popular. First of all, they are distinguished by a high degree of strength. Also, such valves have a number of other valuable advantages in comparison with analogues made of metal materials. Let's take a closer look at their features and characteristics.
Device
Polypropylene ball valves are used to shut off the flow of a substance in a pipeline. They can be included in the systems of cold and hot water supply, as well as heating. The overlapping element has a spherical shape, which is why the structures got their name. This element most often has a special hole.
The ball must be made of durable metals with anti-corrosion properties, since the device often comes into contact with the aquatic environment. The basis of the product is the body. It is made from modern high-quality material - polypropylene. Thanks to this, you can get rid of systematic maintenance for a long time, because installation work in this case is carried out in exactly the same way as joining polypropylene pipes.
An additional part of the design is the lever. It is with its help that the position of the metal ball is regulated. So, for example, to open or, on the contrary, stop the flow of liquid, the locking element rotates around its axis. To do this, set the temperature to about 90 degrees Celsius.
It should be noted that ball valves are never used to control the movement of a transported liquid. Constipation has two states: closed and open. In case of incomplete closing or opening, consumers increase the chance of breakage and quick removal of the device from working condition.
An example of such a crane is the widely used model PPRC PN20. It can be used in the range from 0 to 95 degrees Celsius. The cross section has a distance of 20.63 millimeters. The main advantage of the product is that it has a fairly long service life: 50 years for cold water and half as much for hot water. The limit of the pressure indicator is 20 bar.
The ball radiator valve basically has only positive reviews and must be installed in accordance with GOST. Changing the threaded version is not at all difficult if its diameter is 25 mm, and its technical characteristics are up to par. When cleaning the product, avoid the use of aggressive substances.
Advantages and disadvantages
Polypropylene ball valves have both strengths and weaknesses.
Device advantages:
- long service life (up to fifty years, subject to the rules of use),
- compactness,
- light weight,
- aesthetically pleasing appearance
- no rust formation (thanks to the material),
- resistance to various chemical influences,
- simplicity and ease of installation and installation (it can be carried out independently with a welding machine),
- adequate cost.
Characteristics of polypropylene ball valvesThe polypropylene ball valve is durable and has a long service life. What are the other benefits of such products? What are ball structures 1, 2 for pipes? What are the GOST requirements for polypropylene ball valves?
So, the faucet in the kitchen dripped, what to do in the bathroom
First, you need to turn off the water on the riser. This will stop the leak and save you unnecessary expenses. If the shut-off valve on the riser has not been used for a long time, and the pipes are metal, then it is possible that the valve is pretty rusty. In this case, it must first be treated with machine oil, and then try to tighten it carefully using a lever.
After that, you should determine why the faucet is leaking.
One of the most common causes of leaks is a worn gasket in a valve. Over time, the gasket becomes thinner, which allows water to seep into places where it should not be. The thinning of the gasket is accelerated by the habit of over-tightening the faucet.Thus, a vicious circle is created: due to leaking water, you try to turn the faucet harder, which leads to even more wear on the gasket.
The solution to this problem is to replace the gasket. You can easily find a new one in any store of household goods or tools. Large-scale disassembly of the valve to replace the gasket is not required - just remove the valve. Recall that before this it is necessary to turn off the water.
In most cases, in the center of the valve (behind the decorative cap) there is a mounting bolt, by unscrewing which you can remove the valve. After that, you will have access to the gasket, which must be replaced with a new one. Wrap a little sealant (fibre or polymer) over the gasket and install the valve in place.
The second most popular problem is the wear of the stuffing box seal. It is easy to establish this malfunction: the valve leaks around the stuffing box nut at the time when the valve is open. When the valve is closed, no leakage occurs. This malfunction is also eliminated by replacing the sealing insert.
If a leak of a new, newly installed faucet is noticed
There can be two reasons: installation errors or factory defects. Since the valves themselves are sold already assembled, the only place where you can make a mistake is the connection to the pipeline. Accordingly, the leaks will be there. If the faucet itself is leaking, it is most likely a marriage. Then there is only one way out - to return the crane to the store.
Note that all of the above concerned conventional valve taps. Ball valve leaks are a much more serious problem, mainly due to the complexity of the valve design. To eliminate such leaks, it is recommended to contact specialists. However, it is worth noting that ball valves leak much less frequently than ordinary ones, since they lack many weak points, such as the same gaskets.
Poor quality faucets
Often purchasing plumbing fixtures, many people are guided by considerations of economy and choose products made in China or Turkey. At the same time, people are happy that they were able to save money in this way.
But this tactic when buying faucets is extremely wrong, and the joy of the amount saved does not last long. This small amount can cause leakage. It’s good if at the moment when the tap fails, someone is at home and can turn off the water or repair the equipment very soon. But more often it is different.
Never skimp on things like plumbing fixtures. Be sure to make sure before buying that the offered product is not made in China, but at least in Russia or Europe. Also, cheap products for a well-known brand are a reason for suspicion. Expensive branded products in our markets are 50% fake.
Sometimes it happens that even on expensive equipment something can leak. 
Then you should familiarize yourself with other reasons in order to understand how to fix the faucet in the kitchen. It also leaks in case of illiterate installation.
Preventive maintenance
In order to avoid problems with the faucet in the kitchen, it is necessary to periodically carry out preventive repairs.
This procedure will only take a few hours. Thanks to it, it will be possible to avoid serious damage or unexpected replacement of the mixer. First of all, it is necessary to turn off the water supply, having previously collected some water in a bucket.
Then you should loosen the connection of the sink and drain. In some cases, you will have to cut the sealant with a knife between the sink and countertop, and then use a spatula to lift the sink. Thanks to this, you will be able to easily remove the mixer. First you need to unscrew the bolts.
A decorative cap is removed from the handles, and why the screw under it is unscrewed. Next, the mixer is disassembled. All elements must be carefully inspected and then washed using a household cleaner.
Then you should pay attention to all rubber seals. If they are dry or torn, then they should be replaced.
After that, the entire structure is assembled.Such preventive maintenance is carried out 2-3 times a year, depending on the quality of the water.
Many housewives complain that the faucet in the kitchen starts to leak over time. To avoid this problem, it is necessary to responsibly approach the installation of equipment and take into account recommendations for its operation. If water still flows from a tap or pipe, a competent repair should be performed.
Donskikh Vladimir Alexandrovich
Possible causes of malfunction
Faucet leakage is a common phenomenon that occurs for a number of reasons.
A poor quality faucet can leak water. Quite often, when buying equipment, people try to save money. As a result, the faucet may start to leak.
To avoid this, it is important to always choose quality faucets from reputable manufacturers. If branded products are offered at a fairly low price, then most likely it is a fake.
Another reason is the improper installation of the faucet in the kitchen. This category of reasons includes a marriage made during the assembly of the mixer. Due to various errors, the advantages of high-quality expensive equipment will be leveled. If you want to entrust the installation to the master, be sure to check his qualifications.
Improper operation often leads to the fact that water begins to drip from the equipment. If you put a lot of effort into the process of installing or using the mixer, and also twisted it at the wrong angle, then the faucet will leak.
An important reason is the natural wear and tear of equipment. Due to repeated switching on and off, all moving parts gradually wear out.
This is especially true for rubber gaskets.
It is not difficult to avoid such consequences if preventive maintenance is carried out. However, many consumers do not think about it until a leak begins.
Necessary tools and materials for crane repair
When problems arise with plumbing fixtures, many people try to do the repairs themselves. To do this, prepare several tools:
- crane boxes;
- a set of keys and screwdrivers;
- several gaskets of different sizes;
- glue;
- fum tape;
- electric drill with a grinding nozzle;
- silicone seal.
If the ball valve is broken
A ball valve has a more complex structure and differs from a two-valve one. Most often, such products break due to dirt accumulated inside the case. It is she who disrupts the operation of the mixer. If water flows from the tap, then it must be disassembled, cleaned well and reassembled. This requires:
Unscrew the screw securing the lever with a screwdriver with the appropriate tip.
Carefully remove the lever and unscrew the threaded screw with a screwdriver.
Then it is worth removing the plastic seal and the dome of the mixer.
The gasket should be carefully inspected and then cleaned of plaque. If there is obvious damage, then it is worth replacing it.
Now you can take out the ball and inspect it
If a part is damaged, then it should be replaced. You can buy a ball at any plumbing store.
Using a thin screwdriver, you need to very carefully pry off the seal that fixes the ball. If necessary, the sealing gasket should be replaced.
All seals before assembling the valve should be treated with a special compound recommended by the manufacturers.
In conclusion, it remains to assemble the crane, proceeding in the reverse order.
