Frap mixers: types and popular options

When arranging or repairing a room, it is very important that all its components work as a single, well-coordinated mechanism. It becomes sad when something fails. At the most inopportune moment. Often, this problem has a mixer and shower sets. Choosing a reliable manufacturer, you, of course, get a lot of advice in favor of the most modern European brands. For sanitary products which you have to pay a decent amount. About the most prominent manufacturer, with which it is possible to save on cost, but to remain at a height in the quality and appearance of mixers, will be discussed in this article.

The Frap brand appeared on the Russian market more than 15 years ago.Using the latest developments in the field of sanitary accessories, the Chinese manufacturer has launched a wide range of products. On sale today you can find accessories for bathrooms (brushes, soap dishes, hooks, lamps, etc.), faucets, shower systems, sinks, mirrors and sinks. The tangible advantage of the company Frap is the production of various components for plumbing and even shower curtains.

Despite the fact that the country-manufacturer of these products is China, all products are made fairly high quality and even stylish. A special feature of the sanitary products of this brand is the presence of both budget versions of the mixers, and more expensive - luxury - models.

The products of the Chinese manufacturer has all the necessary certificates of quality and environmental friendliness:

• European standard CE;
• American UL;
• international ISO 9001 (quality) and ISO 14001 (ecology).

The manufacturer insists that the basis of production are German technology and quality. But how, then, can products have such an economical price - is simply explained. The German company Grohe has sold the Chinese its license to manufacture analog models, which for the Germans are already considered obsolete, but no less quality.

The main positive and negative aspects of plumbing mixers will be discussed later.

Among the indisputable advantages of mixers of this manufacturer is to highlight some basic properties.

• Economic cost and quality not suffering from it.
• The use of environmentally friendly raw materials and production technology.
• A large variety of shapes, sizes, colors, installation method.
• The presence of functional options. For example, a mixer with a flexible spout for the kitchen. Bath mixer that can withstand the maximum pressure - water pressure.
• Ceramic cartridge.

And although the last point can be attributed to both pluses and minuses, it is better to leave it at the turn of these two extremes. Speaking about the shortcomings of mixers, you can notice the presence of a small number of defective items, which are better to determine firsthand, without resorting to online purchases. But also today there are a large number of fakes of this company, which do not hesitate to put even lower cost and sell frankly low-quality things.

All mixers of the Chinese manufacturer can be divided into several categories, which will be discussed in more detail later. By functional purpose, they are divided into several varieties.

• For kitchen. The place for cooking and eating should be at the height, so that you want to be there and create culinary masterpieces for yourself and your family. If there is no dishwasher in the house, then faucets with a long spout, sometimes with a flexible hose - shower, will perfectly fit into your kitchen. This type of taps helps not only to wash the dishes and products. In some models, two aerators are built in, one of which is connected to the central water supply, and the second can act as a tap of filtered water.
• For the sink. Fans of minimalism and those who want to just put in the kitchen sink with a small faucet, fit models of low mixers. Frap represents in this category sensory taps, products with a lever (to change the heat of water and pressure), valve, thermostatic and push-button.

• For Bath faucets with a lower spout are often used, which allows you to easily collect a fragrant bath and lie in it with pleasure without hindrance and without loss. But there are also models with thermostatic properties. Thus, you can not worry about the temperature drops of water in the system. This is especially true of families with children. Thanks to this innovation of the Chinese company, the fear of a sudden supply of boiling water from the tap is moving away.
• For shower. Here, the manufacturer focuses on faucets without spout.

As for the functional orientation of each model, it is obvious, practical and relevant. In appearance, Frap products can be divided into three types: standard, retro and modern. Standard models are made in accordance with existing international standards, without frills and fantasy. They are often made of brass, silumin and aluminum. Among the retro models you can find mixers in bronze, with exquisite and sophisticated forms. The Art Nouveau category allows you to bring a bit of diversity into life by offering the most diverse color range: black, white, orange, green, beige, gray and brown.

Silicone models are found very often in combination with a high spout, also delight the eye with an extensive palette. A unique waterfall mixer has a cascade descent of water. Its bowl is usually made of glass.

Modern Russian buyers have already seen their pets among Frap faucets. About them will be discussed below.

So, the winners in the "kitchen" category are F4909 and F4927. These are chrome two-valve mixers with a high spout, one standard aerator. Classic models.

The next champion is the washbasin tap. F10703-B. The modern single-lever low model looks very compact and cozy both in the kitchen and in the bathroom.

G2245 and F3014-B - The usual standard bath faucets. The first is equipped with a swivel switching mechanism for the shower and two valves. The second one provides pressure switching and has only one lever, which allows you to turn on, turn off and adjust the water with one hand.

Recently, the Frap brand has been actively introducing European technologies and design into its production. So,thanks to the inheritance of well-known brands, designer novelties have appeared in the assortment of the Chinese manufacturer, which delight not only their appearance and similarity to famous brands.

Frap mixers are often easy to install. However, there are several nuances that are worth paying attention to at the acquisition stage.

By type of installation taps are divided into three main groups.

1. Embedded. Such models are usually mounted directly on a bathtub, cabinet or sink. Used in rooms where all sewer and water pipes are hidden from view.
2. Central. Installation takes place in a vertical position on sinks and sinks. Most often these are models with a high spout, less often with a low one.
3. Wall mounted. Mixers of this group are installed on water pipes located directly on the wall of the room. Most common in bathrooms.

Installation of the latter is as simple and fast as possible. As a rule, they are installed in two holes.First of all, eccentrics are mounted in water pipes. The next step is wrapping reflectors. This should be done as much as possible so that they are very close to the wall or to the pipe. The next step is to isolate the eccentrics so that they do not leak during operation. The most common use for this is linen thread or FUM tape. Final - installation of the mixer directly. It is very important not to drag the wrap of all components. Despite the quality of materials and production, there is a risk to break the thread or even get a crack.

Before you start repairing the mixer yourself, you need to understand the root cause of the problem. One of the most common inconsistencies in the work of the Frap designs is the wear of the ceramic cartridge of the product. This can cause leaks.

The step-by-step instruction for replacing the cartridge in the single-lever model suggests that you need to disassemble the Frap mixer.

• Shut off the water supply to the faucet.
• Remove the handle by unscrewing the screw with a hex key 2.5.
• Unscrew the hemisphere. If the faucet has been in use for a long time, a problem may arise here: “sticking” of the handle to the mixer body. The usual table vinegar comes to the rescue. We process the place of "gain", remove the handle.
• Unscrew the cartridge nut with a wrench. Remove the cartridge.
• To put in order the place where the "guilty" was: clean from plaque and, possibly, rust.
• Insert a new cartridge, and screw all the parts in reverse order.
• Connect the water and start the system.

Of course, no one is immune from problems and failures in the work of mixers. However, all of them are solved independently, without recourse to plumbers. And the full range of components produced at the same factory pleasantly delights both beginners and professionals in the plumbing industry.

Reviews from Frap products are completely ambiguous. Someone praises for the cost, but scolds for the quality.Others insist that in the economy of sanitary ware accessories, this Chinese manufacturer is almost the best in terms of quality indicators. Even professional plumbers are inclined to comment in favor of the mixer, since they fully justify their cost. Yes, anything can happen. Choosing an expensive accessory, you can return it with horror to the store the next day. And you can buy the simplest Frap mixer and enjoy its functionality, practicality and performance for at least 1 year.

Most often, negative reviews receive products that have served a little more than the warranty period. And that's not bad. According to experts, malfunctions in the first days of use arise only in case of incorrect installation or the presence of a factory defect. Unlike the first problem, the second is solved by returning the product and exchanging it for a quality model.

Review on the mixer for washing Frap F4128-2 see in the video below.