The details of the repair process mixer

Currently, every apartment or house has a centralized water supply system. In order to use it in the kitchen and bathroom, install faucets. They make it possible to regulate the pressure and temperature of the water. Among all plumbing fixtures, they are the most frequently used.

It often happens that the mixer fails. This is usually accompanied by a number of problems. Therefore, it is urgent to understand why this happened.

Problems with a mixer are not always caused by its breakage, so it is not necessary to immediately run to the store and buy a new one.It is better to begin to understand the problem. Most likely, it will be necessary to replace either the gasket or some other part of the device. A thorough understanding of the problem can save a lot of money.

Most often, the mixers break due to the following reasons:

• Poor quality device. If the installed faucet began to flow or stopped switching water from the tap to the shower shortly after its purchase and installation, then this most often indicates that this device has a low quality and it is better to replace it with a higher quality one.
• Poor quality or outdated parts and materials. If the mixer is installed for a long time, then it most likely has gaskets and seals of the old model, for example, made of rubber. They become unusable more often than those made of silicone or paronite.
• Hard or dirty water. Water quality can also directly affect the service life of the mixer and its components.
• Term of use. Like any other mechanical design, the mixer has a service life.Therefore, its parts wear out from time to time and require replacement.

The above reasons may lead to the following malfunctions:

• the weakening of the pressure of the jet of water;
• breakage of the tap and shower switch;
• leakage from the tap;
• breakage of the push-button mechanism;
• Leaks at the base of the device.

If you study well the design of the mixer and its functionality, it is quite possible to fix it yourself. To do this, you only need to purchase the necessary parts and have the necessary tool kit on hand.

Most often will be needed:

1. adjustable wrench;
2. screwdriver (plain or Phillips);
3. pliers;
4. hexagon;
5. torch;
6. FUM tape;
7. Silicone Grease.

All this is most often available to any owner of the house or apartment.

To understand how to repair the device, you need to understand its design. Depending on it, mixers are divided into several types.

The touch mixer is very different from the mechanical one. It is a high-tech device designed to facilitate its use and improve the living conditions of people.Water supply occurs automatically as soon as the hands fall into the zone of visibility of the photocell or IR sensor. Such mixers have a rather complicated device and most likely they will not work to fix them yourself. In this case it is better to resort to the help of professionals.

They are a classic version of the mixer, firmly incorporated into everyday use. Valve mixers are controlled by two handles - each for a different type of water.

They have the simplest design, including:

1. housing;
2. spout;
3. valves;
4. crane boxes that regulate water pressure. They can be equipped with rubber pads or ceramic plates, which are often more durable and easier to use, as they turn only 180 degrees.

Lever mixers. This type of faucet is gaining increasing popularity among buyers.

The device of a single-lever mixer is more complicated than that of a faucet, and consists of:

• enclosures;
• gander;
• cartridge, it can be two options - ball or ceramic, which is beyond repair;
• handles to control water pressure and temperature;
• nuts for fixing the cartridge;
• case covers.

In order to quickly and accurately repair the device yourself, it is necessary, firstly, to determine what this mixer is, and secondly, to understand where it is and what its breakdown consists of.

Options for problems with the mixer set, and they may be as follows:

• flow from a gander;
• leakage at the base of the lever or valves;
• water diversion into the shower;
• switch button malfunction;
• leakage at the base of the hose;
• shower leakage;
• the weakening of the pressure of the jet of water.

Since the valve mixer has a simple design, the options for damage it is much smaller, and to cope with them easily.

If a leak occurs, replace the gasket. If a switch breaks from a tap to a shower, it is necessary to disassemble the mixer and replace the failed element.

If a valve leaks, the gaskets may have worn out or some other defect has formed. All that needs to be done in this case is to disassemble the mixer and replace the necessary elements.

Since mixers of this type are a more complex structure, the resulting breakages may be greater. But if you follow all the tips and instructions, then you can eliminate them without the help of professional plumbers.

Leakage of the device may occur due to the fact that a foreign body has fallen into the mechanism. In this case, it will be necessary to replace the cartridge.

For this you need:

1. remove the cap from the lever;
2. unscrew the screw under it;
3. remove the lever;
4. install a new cartridge;
5. in the reverse order to collect all the details.

If the water pressure has weakened, then the aerator is likely to be clogged. It is located on the head of the gander.

To cope with this problem is simple:

1. need to unscrew the aerator;
2. rinse the filter on it;
3. put everything in place.

If the water began to flow into the faucet and shower at the same time, it was likely that the gaskets in the switch became unusable. In this case, you must remove it, replace all the necessary elements and put in place.

If the water switch button from the tap to the shower broke, then most likely the spring in it failed.The button must be removed, replace the spring in it, putting a new slightly smaller diameter, then return it to its place.

The cause of the leak switch button is the failure of the gland. You can buy it in any store.

Next you need:

1. remove the switch;
2. remove the valve with the stem;
3. remove broken gland;
4. install a new one;
5. assemble switch.

If a leak occurs from under the mixer control lever, you need to change the cartridge in it.

Repair is necessary in the following order:

1. remove the cap;
2. unscrew the screw using a cross-head screwdriver;
3. remove the lever, which, perhaps, began to scroll;
4. with a wrench, unscrew the nut;
5. remove old cartridge;
6. install a new cartridge in the core;
7. assemble the mixer.

When installing the cartridge, you must take into account that there are protrusions on it. They must be installed strictly in the grooves in the mixer housing to avoid leakage.

If we are talking about the breakdown of the mixer in the kitchen, then it can also be repaired independently.

There are several signs of a kitchen mixer failure:

1. dampness under the sink;
2. the appearance of leaks from the spout;
3. water accumulation at the base of the mixer;
4. water pressure became noticeably lower;
5. the appearance of a leak from a water hose located under the sink at the point of connection to the mixer.

Most of these problems can be solved by replacing any parts of the device.

If it is constantly wet under the sink, then first of all it is necessary to check how the water pipes are connected, whether the nuts are well tightened, and if there are no cracks. If the water supply hose fails, it should not be repaired. It needs to be replaced with a new one. This will protect against repeated leaks.

If the problem lies in the mixer itself, then first of all it must be carefully examined for cracks. If they are found, it is better to make a complete replacement of such a device. Faucets in the kitchen is better to choose from good materials and give preference to ceramics, rather than plastic. Such a mixer will last much longer.

As a rule, for kitchen faucets, the spout is movable for more convenient use. It is in this place where the connection of the gander and the body breaks occur most often.To eliminate them, you need to unscrew the nut with a wrench and remove the gander. On its basis there are gaskets, and they are likely to become unusable and must be replaced.

It will be more difficult to do this in a single-lever mixer, since it will have to be completely disassembled. Before reinstalling all mixer parts, it is best to clean them of dirt, wipe them with a dry cloth and prevent small particles from entering the mixer.

Aerators are also often installed on kitchen faucets. They often perform an additional filter function. Therefore, if suddenly the water pressure in the faucet became weak, then you can unscrew the cap, pull out the aerator, clean it and reinstall it. In most cases it helps.

If he came into disrepair, then it can easily be changed to a new one. In order not to be mistaken with the purchase, it is better to take it with you to the store and purchase an identical one.

Problems with the shower also often occur in the faucets in the bathroom. Most often there is a leak at the point of connection of the shower hose. Such a breakdown is often caused by the failure of the shower hose strip.To replace it, it is necessary to unscrew the nut, remove the old washer, change it to a new one (preferably from paronite, since this material is very durable), tighten the nut back, winding the thread with a FUM tape.

If there is a leak from the shower head, then it is necessary to change the gasket on the hose. This can be done even without tools.

It may also happen that water begins to flow weakly through a watering can. Usually this problem occurs when the shower mesh is clogged. Often lime from hard water accumulates there. In this case, it is necessary to unscrew the grid, clean it with a needle or awl, you can also treat it with a special chlorine-based detergent or with acetic acid to completely get rid of the lime scale. Then fasten the mesh into place.

It happens that the shower hose starts to flow in several places. Most often this occurs due to wear on its inside. In this case, it is better to buy a new hose and replace it, since the old one cannot be repaired.

In order to quickly and efficiently repair the mixer, you can use the following tips:

• All work on the repair and replacement of components must be performed according to a specific algorithm.
• Before starting work, shut off the water supply. This can be done with the help of special valves, which are usually located on water pipes.
• If we are talking about a single-lever mixer, then each of them has its own strictly defined cartridge. Therefore, replace it with another cassette does not work.
• Cartridges in mixers can be ball or ceramic. You should know that the ball is possible to disassemble and repair, if only it did not burst, but the ceramic is always only to be replaced.
• If water leaks at the base of the faucet, the temperature changes spontaneously, you have to make efforts when switching, or the water starts to flow very weakly, then all this indicates that the cartridge has become unusable.

• In order to pick up an identical part when buying, it is better to take with you to the store the failed one. Only in this case, you can pick up exactly the same.
• Contactless (sensory) mixers are considered more reliable, they can last up to 5 years without any complaints.But in case of breakdowns, it would be better to seek help from professionals or a service center, since the design of such a mixer is technically difficult.
• If the pressure of the water weakens during use of the touch mixer, this may be a frivolous breakdown. In this case, you can independently try to clean the aerator. There is nothing difficult in this, but the problem will be solved.
• In order to repair the mixer by yourself, it is necessary to understand the type of its construction. This will greatly facilitate the repair process of the device.

Like any thing, mixers also require constant and quality care. This will extend their life. The following are the basic principles and tips on how best to care for mixers of any kind. It is recommended to consider them in everyday life.

First and foremost, the quality of water affects their lifespan. When foreign bodies get into the mixer, its numerous breakdowns occur. Therefore, it is recommended to install mechanical cleaning filters in your home. Such filters are often equipped with a self-flushing system that sends all the garbage directly to the sewer system.

Also today it is possible to install special filters that reduce water hardness. Hard water has a particular negative effect on ceramic mixers and they quickly become unusable.

As for the touch faucets, they should be installed only on the sink. They are equipped with a thermostat that can be configured to supply water at a comfortable temperature. If you install such a mixer, for example, in the kitchen, then it will be inconvenient to use it, as it will be necessary to change the water temperature very often. Consequently, the thermostat may not be adapted to such a frequent change of position and will become unusable sooner.

Thus, in case of problems with the mixer in the house, you can save money and make repairs yourself. To do this, first of all, it is necessary to study all the instructions for repairing mixers, to strictly follow the algorithm of actions.

First you need to determine what type of device is installed in your home. This may be a valve mixer, lever or touch. The latter option is likely to require professional repair, as it is a high-tech device, and independent intervention can only make it worse.

The situation is much simpler with conventional valve and single lever mixers. If there are no cracks on the case itself, out of which there is a leak, then you will most likely have only to replace any components, be it gaskets, valves, cartridges or faucet boxes.

Before replacing them, it is necessary to block the access of water, remove the broken part and go to the store with it. This will prevent the possibility of buying inappropriate parts.

For longer life, it is better to choose more durable materials, such as ceramics and silicone, instead of non-durable plastic or rubber.

After purchasing the necessary materials you can begin to install. It is better to have all the tools at hand that can be useful. During installation, make sure that no dirt or dust gets inside the mixer. They can again contribute to the appearance of undesirable problems.

During operation, it is important to properly care for the device, because this is the key to its long service life.To improve the quality of water, you can install special filters for mechanical cleaning, as well as filters that reduce its hardness. Using the mixer, it is not necessary to apply big efforts at opening and closing of water. This may cause mechanical damage.

It is also important to remember that it is necessary to select a mixer based on its location.and also on which sink or bathtub it will be installed, whether it will fit their size. It should be noted that when choosing a touch mixer, it is best to install it on a washstand designed specifically for handwashing. There, its lifetime will be the longest, and the use of a truly convenient.

How to fix the mixer with your own hands, see the video below.