Installation and repair of a bathroom faucet with a shower

Kitchen faucet repair yourself

As it has already become clear, the device of a single-lever mixer is nothing supernatural. It turns out that you can fix it without outside help - you need to know the structure of the structure and have skills in plumbing and repair.

If during the repair work certain problems were identified, they must be fixed immediately. Consider the main features:

• Aerator blockage. This malfunction is very easy to identify by simultaneously turning on our product in the bathroom and in the kitchen. If the pressure force is different, the part will need to be cleaned. If it is heavily rusted, you will have to buy a new aerator;
• Noises in the faucet. This trouble arises due to the loose fit of the gaskets to the structure. In the event of noise, you will have to disassemble the product again and cut the rubber bands. You can get rid of noise by installing a water purification filter;
• Weak pressure. The cause may be hidden in the hoses or piping. Pipes and hoses need to be cleaned. If necessary, replace worn (corroded and sprouted from the inside) pipes with new ones;
• If the bottom gasket is leaking, you will have to shut off the water supply, disconnect the hoses, adapter and spout. Then, the switch and the eccentric are removed. This is the only way to get to the spool, under which the treasured “gum” is hidden. We replace it and install all the elements in place, in the reverse order. The device should work properly.

The scheme of the kitchen faucet is extremely simple and is attached to each product. If you have any questions, you can use the explanatory documentation.

In custody

If the cartridge or ball valve is out of order, you will have to buy a new part, since these components are not subject to further repair. To get a really suitable item, take an old, broken part with you - the seller will help you find a suitable replacement.

When performing repair work, you should not rush - despite the fact that the repair takes a minimum of time, perform all the actions with high quality. This will save you from frequent replacements of “consumables”, breakdowns and simply extend the “life” of your product.

As a result, I would like to conclude that the kitchen faucet device diagram is simple and understandable. You do not need to be an engineer and a plumber to understand the purpose of certain parts. If your device has leaked, and you doubt your abilities - do not take up the job, but entrust the matter to a professional. He will take a round sum for the work, but he will do everything efficiently and quickly.

Structural features of kitchen faucets

A classic system that has a device with 2 valves and a spout between them for supplying water is called a "herringbone". The water supply in this design is “engaged” by the valve (in the language of plumbers - a crane box, in everyday life - just a tap). The tightness of the joints here is guaranteed by a rubber (sometimes leather) gasket, which wears out after some time. The basis of a faucet leak is not only the wear of the gasket, but the ingress of hard particles under it. But changing the gasket will not be difficult, and it is not expensive at all.

Do-it-yourself faucet repair.

Single-lever mixers. Here, the main existing details include a pair of spherical surfaces with holes, which, thanks to the turn of the handle, are combined, changing the force of pressure and temperature. Very often, metal-ceramic (in much inexpensive products - plastic) plates are used as surfaces.The operation of this mixer is simple and clear. The disadvantages include a certain sensitivity of the product to the presence of foreign small particles in the water. When they hit the ceramic surface, the impermeability is broken, and the mixer always starts to leak. And therefore it is reasonable to use filtering elements.

Another way to constructively implement a kitchen plumbing fixture is wall-mounted. Such a mixer is well connected to the pipe wire laid in the wall. The control can be with the help of 2 valves or with the help of a single lever design. When making repairs, replacing such a crane, it is best to call the master, because. incorrect dismantling leads to the dismantling of a part of the wall around the device if you ruin the threads on the pipe or break it.

Types of kitchen faucets

Faucets, like mixers, are divided into two large groups - valve and lever. Within each group there are two subgroups.

Faucet in the kitchen

valve
are subdivided into taps with a worm axle box and with a ceramic one.

Lever
– for ball kitchen faucets and kitchen faucets with ceramic inserts.

You can learn more about the arrangement of a kitchen faucet of any of these types in the materials about the corresponding types of faucets. At the same time, it should be borne in mind that the kitchen ball valve is no longer produced by the industry, but all types of lever valves are often called this by inertia.

The design of a kitchen faucet is identical to that of a bath or sink faucet, but there are a few specific designs that apply only to kitchen sinks. One of these is a kitchen faucet with a pull-out shower.

The nuance of such a device is that inside its spout (“pipes” of the tap) there is a miniature shower on a flexible hose 70-80 cm long. , which is inconvenient to turn in the sink.

The shower is pulled back into place under the weight of a weight, which is connected by a wire to the shower head, and the wire itself passes through the “pipe” of the spout. However, there are designs of a kitchen faucet with a shower, which is held on a coil spring wrapped around a spout; there are other design options.

Another specific kitchen design is the kitchen faucet with two spouts. Two tubes are hidden in the body of such a tap: one for supplying industrial water for washing dishes and the other for drinking water. Switching flows occurs using the same handle-lever as in a conventional "ball" kitchen faucet.

Both pipes of the double-spout kitchen faucet are hidden in a hollow console hanging over the sink; only their tips protrude. Visually, a kitchen faucet with two spouts is difficult to distinguish from a regular one with a massive "pipe".

The standard material for kitchen faucets is chrome-plated brass. Sometimes there is an advertisement for kitchen faucets made of more prestigious materials - up to gold and platinum.

As a rule, these are the same brass taps, “painted” with special coatings to look like gold, platinum, etc.

Variety of kitchen faucets

The main characteristic feature of any sanitary ware is its practicality. According to the type of intended purpose, kitchen mixers have their own classification.

1. Ordinary. These devices only need to mix hot water and cold: a particularly common, inexpensive type of product.
2. Filtering. They have a built-in membrane filter that retains large particles, or coal that adsorbs chlorine and organic substances, incl.
3. Thermostatic. "Know how" to adjust the temperature of the water that is supplied.

Universal. Multifunctional devices, includes filters, a pair of dish spouts and: separate hand washing. Sometimes the system includes taps for connecting a washing machine and dishwasher.Combined taps have the greatest practicality, but they are also expensive than others.

Single lever faucet.

More recently, taps could only be opened with the help of a pair of valves, any of them supplied hot or cold water. Later, single-lever models began to be used, and more recently, sensory devices have appeared that supply water when a hand or object is brought to the mixer. The faucet spout system for the kitchen is one of three:

• conventional: the whole device is a curved hollow tube;
• retractable: there is the possibility of pulling down, or forward. Constructions of this type are very convenient, because make it possible to adjust the direction and height of the stream.

Faults

Periodic repair of a two-valve mixer comes down to disassembling the device and replacing the rubber gasket in the hot water channel. Poor-quality rubber gaskets are gradually destroyed or deformed by the pressure of hot water. The required gasket is purchased at a specialized store, from a familiar plumber, or cut with your own hands in accordance with the worn configuration.

A common cause of leaking faucets in kitchens is the wear of seals. For old designs, you will need to disassemble the crane and wind the filling (string) under the stuffing box bushing. A good packing should be achieved with a suitable screwdriver. After tightening the bushing, check the tightness and, if necessary, override.

In single-lever mixers, the leading role belongs to a pair of sector surfaces with small holes. When turning the handle of the mixer, the spheres of surfaces move relative to each other and change the flow pressure.

Ceramic-metal surfaces of the plates serve for a long time. Plastic as a result of the ingress of small particles are scratched and the tightness is broken. Leakage is difficult to repair and valve replacement is required. The presence of special filters reduces the likelihood of leaks.

Among the common causes, cracking of low-quality case material is noted. Urgent repairs are carried out using sealant or cold welding. A more significant cause of leakage is the wear of internal parts. The design features of these devices are in the presence of a specific cartridge.

Most devices of this type are non-separable and the malfunction of a particular part cannot be determined. A new cartridge is purchased for a specific faucet model. The elementary device in the spout spout contains a set of strainers. After unscrewing the threaded insert and disassembling, the filters are cleaned and washed. If the meshes are rusted and thoroughly clogged with deposits, a new aerator is purchased.

What is coming

It is these trump cards that distinguish single-lever modern devices, which today have entered everyday life thoroughly and firmly. That is, reliability remains, as well as valves with ceramic plates, and there is no need to wield fingers to open water
.

You can simply put a stream into the sink, wielding a ladle clamped in your hand, wrist, elbow, back of the hand ... In some devices, it is possible to regulate the water temperature with the simplest movements of the lever left and right. This is what the user manual says.

Device

There are two types:

1. With ceramic cartridge.
2. Ball.

Design:

• There are three holes in the hollow ball inside the body of the lever mixer, two for cold and hot water entering the cavity, one for supplying the mixed flow to the spout.
• The ball is fixed inside the sleeve, sealed with rubber seats.
• A rod controlled by a joystick (lever) is attached to the ball. The position of the lever determines the position of the ball and the flow of water.

Advantages of lever mixers

Despite the fact that initially many housewives avoided acquiring them, explaining their rejection by inconvenience and unusualness, today literally every second kitchen is provided with just such appliances. Most women have realized that turning on the water when their hands are covered in soap and dirt can be done with just one touch.

This will never be allowed to be done with two-valve mixers, the pressure and the level of water temperature in which have to be regulated for a long time. Moreover, in some cases it is necessary to do this exclusively with both hands.

After this approach, not only the dishes are subject to washing, but also the device itself.

No less important, since it is very difficult to thoroughly rinse each valve, especially if it is ribbed or has a different complex shape.

Simplicity and ease of operation of kitchen faucets with one joystick have bribed thousands of the fair sex. And among the male bachelor stratum of consumers with fish-smelling hands (on weekends, of course), this is simply the bestseller!

The device is more reliable in its design than valve options with mandatory threaded stem feed. Practice shows that it is necessary to repair a lever mixer much less frequently than its outdated water supply counterpart.

You can watch an informative video about the work or repair of this type of plumbing equipment on our website - for those who do not lend themselves to the division of labor and prefer to do everything in the house on their own.

In addition, many modern kitchens are equipped with the latest technology. This can be a decisive factor for interior design and selection of plumbing, especially for modern and similar ones.

Metal sinks or even stone surfaces that look modern and technological will look ridiculous in combination with an old and somewhat rustic appliance. The room just because of one such detail can lose all its gloss and presentability.

It is possible to make the valve design high-tech and ultra-modern, of course. But at the same time, in fairness, it is worth noting that the majority of manufacturers whose names are trustworthy have practically stopped producing two-valve devices.

Two-valve mixers are equipped with crane boxes, which appear on sale less and less, and it is becoming more and more difficult to choose the required variety. Moreover, since such devices are more and more often on sale initially of not very high quality and reliable, replacing the working “insides” in them will turn out to be a fantasy task. The case in most cases instantly bursts or deforms.

Another indisputable advantage of kitchen faucets with one joystick over appliances with two levers is economy. Everyone knows that adjusting the pressure and temperature of the water with valves will take some time.

During this time, a huge amount of useful fluid flows away. However, it turns out to be impossible to spend it usefully, since it comes either icy or like boiling water. Also, hands dirty during cooking do not allow you to substitute a container.

With a device that can be opened with a flick of the elbow and used immediately, such problems are not terrible. Water will be immediately used for its intended purpose. Moreover, most of these mixers are equipped with a special device.

There are two levels of water consumption. One mode is called economical, the second type allows you to work at full power. It is very convenient and practical for those who monitor fluid intake.

Kitchen faucet repair

What to do if the kitchen faucet is leaking?

Disassemble the kitchen faucet and troubleshoot. If this is a crane with worm axle boxes, then, most often, you can get by with replacing the rubber gaskets. In more modern models, you will have to change the ceramic cartridge.

How to change a kitchen faucet if, for example, a crack is found in the body? - Remove and put a new one!

A single-lever, or as it is also called, a swivel mixer is positioned as an extremely reliable and convenient device in everyday life, indispensable in modern domestic realities. But, like any other design, it has its flaws and can fail. If you know the device of a single-lever kitchen faucet, there is no need to call a plumber - you can do all the troubleshooting work yourself.

The design of the one-handed kitchen faucet is thought out extremely simply and efficiently. With one hand, you can adjust the force of water pressure and its temperature. In the technical documentation, you may come across such names as mono-command, articulated (for the bathroom), and joysticks. Be aware that we are talking about single-lever mixers.

Consider the main qualitative characteristics of the product:

• Durability. This factor is due to the absence of rubbing metal elements. All parts subject to wear are made of ceramic, which resists abrasive particles. That is why, technical water is not afraid of such mixers (filters are installed directly in the mixer and make water drinkable);
• Elegant design. Another important point that attracts the consumer. Modern single-lever kitchen faucets are attractive designs that will fit seamlessly into any kitchen. They can be chrome, nickel or colored.

The above factors are complemented by ease of operation and low cost of products. But, as mentioned above, poor quality water, interruptions in the water supply system and slight mechanical damage can lead to unwanted damage to the device. To fix a broken tap on your own, you need to study the design of the device, which we will do now.

The single-lever kitchen mixer consists of the following structural elements:

• Control lever;
• Stem-regulator, which is fixed with a nut;
• In the body of the product, a ceramic cartridge or a ball valve with three holes is hidden. The stable position of the element is ensured by rubber saddles;
• In the device of a single-lever mixer, cuffs (adjusting and steam), a special ring are provided.

There can be a lot of reasons due to which a malfunction occurred. But if the cartridge (ball valve) is intact, then the repair of the kitchen faucet will be quick.

The design of a one-handed kitchen faucet is clear to us. It remains to figure out the possible causes of the breakdown and how to eliminate them.

Differences between two-valve and single-lever mixers

The most convenient and practical is the design of the mixer in a single-lever design. Models of mixing devices of this type compare favorably with others by the minimum time for the jet to reach a given operating temperature and the convenience of adjusting the pressure of the jet and its temperature with one hand. Such devices have gained popularity among housewives, since very often only one hand is free in the process of cooking.

Two-valve mixers, which have ceramic faucets in their design, can easily compete in many respects with single-lever mechanisms, but they definitely lose to the latter in terms of practicality. The two-valve mixer is simpler in design. But this does not affect the cost of the repair, since the price of two crane boxes is almost equal to the cost of the cartridge used in the single-lever version.

One of the most important operational characteristics of the mixer are the coordinates of the location of the spout. The most practical devices are in the following cases:

• the outlet of the spout of the device is placed relatively high, which allows you to place bulk containers or a large number of dishes for washing in the sink;
• the center of the pouring jet coincides with the center of the sink, which makes it more comfortable to wash dishes;
• the mixing device is equipped with a retractable spout, which allows the operation of the mixer outside the kitchen sink.

Many appliances have spouts that allow you to create a thin and powerful pressure using an aerator and a soft wide stream, convenient for washing vegetables and fruits.

Some multifunctional options that have a water filtration complex are equipped with two spouts, filtered water is supplied through one of them, and ordinary water is supplied through the second.

Repair of a faucet with two valves

In most cases, it comes down to replacing the gasket, moreover, in a hot water faucet. The gasket collapses or changes size under the constant influence of hot water. You can buy the necessary part in the store or cut it yourself according to the size of the obsolete one. For repair work you will need:

• wrench;
• screwdriver.

First of all, turn off the water supply to the kitchen faucet. Next, you need to leave the flywheel in the “open” position so that the remaining water pressure does not act on its parts. If there are decorative caps, then remove them. Now unscrew the screw holding the flywheel with a screwdriver and unscrew the nut that holds the head with an adjustable wrench. Pull it out and notice the gasket.

Sometimes the basis of a kitchen faucet leak is the wear of the gland packing. To get to it, disassemble the device as described above. The stuffing is a kind of twine. A new packing must be purchased at the store and installed on the mixer under the stuffing box, twisting clockwise and at the same time sealing with a screwdriver. Sometimes the repair can be reduced by a simple tightening of the sleeve.

How to choose

• clarity of the logo;
• alloy color;
• quality of components (flexible piping);
• the presence of a warranty card printed on good paper, where all the coordinates are written;
• the store must correctly fill in all the data, put a seal, only in this case the warranty is valid.

Design and additional features

By design and color scheme, it is probably the easiest to decide. If the kitchen is decorated in a particular style, you should also choose a model in the same vein - technocratic clear lines are suitable for hi-tech and minimalism, bronze without a brilliant coating of Provence, retro. A kitchen faucet in both of these styles can be combined with such a fashionable trend as the “loft” nowadays - it depends on the specific design of the room.

If the repair is done in a modern style, where little by little there are signs of many trends, any model can fit in, the main thing is that it should echo the shape of the sink and kitchen set.

Of the additional functions - the presence of a switch for the use of tap and purified water. If there are special filters under the sink, this option can be very useful.

Two spouts - for ordinary tap and purified water

Recently, we have increasingly begun to install dishwashers. Often their connection to the water supply is a problem. For this case, there are kitchen faucets with valves that switch the water to the dishwasher. Moreover, in some models, switching occurs for a certain period of time - from 3 to 12 hours.

Another good feature is changing the angle of rotation of the spout. Some kitchen faucets have interlocks that allow the initially wide swivel angle (120°) to be reduced (e.g. 60°) or even fixed in a stationary state.

Kitchen faucet attachment

The most popular of them is aerator
.

A kitchen faucet aerator is a metal (stainless steel or brass) or plastic cylinder that is threaded to the very end of the spout. Inside the aerator there are one, two or three mesh filters, during the passage of which the water is saturated with air and acquires a characteristic foamy color. Since the grids cover 20-30% of the drain clearance area, the water flow through the tap also drops by the same amount, while maintaining the pressure.

An article on our website under the heading will tell about devices, the purpose of which is to facilitate the work of housewives

About mixers controlled by

A thermostatic faucet can be especially useful in the kitchen. A whole series of articles on our website is devoted to these gadgets. Going to one of them

Our experts purchased several varieties of these “atomizers”, took them apart and came to the conclusion that these are ordinary aerators, into which either an additional filter mesh was inserted in an artisanal way, or, between the filters, a spinner propeller or something like that. At best, they provide additional water savings of 5-6%, which does not correspond to their price.

An aerator faucet should not be confused with a kitchen faucet. filter
. With the advent of kitchen faucets with ceramic shut-off devices that are sensitive to impurities in the water, experts strongly recommend installing filters on the main pipes leading to the faucets to purify water and reduce its hardness. But these are large industrial-type filters, which in no case are mounted in the faucet itself - just on a pipe suitable for it.

The most advanced type of kitchen faucet attachment is LED
. This is a device with a temperature sensor and several bulbs that illuminate the stream of water coming out of the spout. Depending on the temperature, its color can change from red to blue. It is believed that such a device can protect against burns - do not put your hands under the scarlet stream from the tap!

Materials for the production of mixers

Very often, these kitchen appliances are made of brass, bronze, nickel, steel. But now non-traditional materials are also used, which significantly improve the performance of devices. This:

• ceramics;
• plastic;
• granite (only for granite sinks).

Fine taps are correctly considered, the device of which consists of a filling and a metal “case” made of ceramics.

Similar products are characterized by high resistance to rust and deposits of mineral-based substances in the middle. The use of plastic parts improves rust resistance, but in terms of durability, such products will lose to ceramic-metal ones. Particularly comfortable in appearance are products coated with chrome or bronze. Spouts made of stainless steel will always have to be cleaned, washed, because. on a sparkling plane, the smallest dried droplets are better visible.

Causes of a malfunctioning one-arm mixer

The design of a single-lever kitchen faucet is divided into two types, the causes of failure are almost always the same. Consider the types of faults:

• A ball valve is considered the most reliable option. But over time, it can rust. The Teflon seal is also not eternal and over time, water will begin to flow through the structural elements of the product - repairs will not take much time. Replacing the "gum" with new ones will not be difficult. The main problem may lie in the “ball” itself - if it is cracked, you will have to buy a new mixer;
• Unlike a ball valve, a ceramic cartridge is not afraid of corrosion and poor-quality water. Such a product can last for many years, but there is one “But”. A grain of sand caught between thin plates can chip the ceramic surface - you will have to replace the cartridge

• Often, blockages have a negative effect on the “gum” of the mixer.If a leak occurs, it is necessary to disassemble the device, clean it and replace rubber parts;
• Over time, hoses can leak - this is due only to time (the pressing force weakens). You just need to tighten the connections;
• If microcracks appear on the body - it does not matter! They can be sealed with sealant. If the "rubber glue" does not hold up, and the water continues to drip, then you will have to buy a new faucet.

Most of the problems are caused by hard water. They can be avoided by installing a cleaning filter. In this case, the design will last for many years without breakdowns.

We figured out how the kitchen faucet works, possible causes of malfunctions too. It remains to consider such a question as the elimination of possible malfunctions.

Two valve mixer

The simplest design, which is a body with two taps (hot and cold water) and a spout located between them. Usually problems with such mixers occur in one of the nodes, but both will have to be put in order. Despite the unpretentiousness, this technique needs to be repaired most often.

Kitchen faucet device:

1. Enclosure with one bottom and three top outlets.
2. Bottom fastening with clamping nut and threaded stud.
3. The faucet spout (spout) may have an aerator mesh at the end.
4. A pair of valve or reciprocating taps with handles.
5. In the lower part of the body there is a shaped sleeve with two sockets - hoses of cold and hot water are connected to them.

It is worth talking about the shut-off valves of valve mixers in more detail, since they are the main working unit of the entire structure. In the old Soviet-made models, the simplest worm axle boxes were used - when the flywheel was twisted, the rod connected to it was extended or recessed into the body. The inner threaded rod set in motion by him, respectively, released / pressed the lower part of the tap with a rubber seal at the end. As a result, the flow of water increased or decreased.

If for maximum pressure you have to make several full turns of the handle, it means that worm-drive faucets are installed in your kitchen faucet. Disc ceramic units have less flywheel travel (90°) and are more common in imported models. Here, special paired rings are already responsible for the feed, but the same rod sets them in motion. The flow is regulated by the combination of holes in the ceramic plates - each of them is made in the form of a semicircle.

What happened

Valve mixers consisted, in fact, of two taps. More precisely, the correct name is valve-type mixers. If you remain an adherent of the usual plumbing equipment and are going to install such a device in a new one, remember its correct type name, and also know about the principle of operation by studying the internal structure of the kitchen faucet.

Elements of valve-type mixers

1. Frame.
2. Spout, which is sometimes fixed, being part of a one-piece body.
3. Two valves.
4. Crane boxes.

This type of plumbing equipment comes with either a tee or pipes that connect separately to cold water and hot water pipes.

The inconvenience of using this type of mixer is the need to rotate the stem by rotating the flywheel. At the same time, the threaded feed makes it move forward, tightly closing the water supply hole with a rubber or paronite gasket.

There are two downsides in this case:

1. The gasket wears out sooner or later, a minimum is required, but the repair of the device, albeit with your own hands.
2. Wet, and especially dirty, and even more special, it is inconvenient to turn the flywheel with busy hands. Moreover, after fat or detergent, you have to wash the mixer itself.

Results

Many have already realized that the device of a kitchen faucet with a joystick is much more practical.Inside them, as a consumable, there are cartridges that can be purchased at any plumbing store.

Moreover, picking them up, knowing the brand and manufacturer of your device, is not at all difficult. It will also be much easier to replace them even without professional help.

At first glance, the function of a kitchen faucet is quite simple - mixing hot, cold water and dispensing it in the right amount, at the right temperature.

But today's selection is so large that it is very easy to get confused among dozens of different options for this plumbing fixture. What to look at first? In addition to the external appearance (also significant, from a design point of view), you need to look at the working qualities of the product: a kitchen faucet device must meet your needs. Today's market recommends a variety of models that perform important and additional roles.

Scheme of assembly and connection of a thermostatic faucet.