Thermostatic faucets: purpose and varieties

The bathroom and kitchen are those rooms in the house in which the main character is water. It is necessary for many domestic needs: for washing, cooking, washing. Therefore, the key element of these rooms becomes a sink (bathtub) with a water tap. In recent years, the usual two-valve and single-lever thermostat or thermostatic mixer has replaced the usual one.

Thermostatic faucet differs from others not only in its futuristic design. Unlike a conventional mixer, it serves to mix hot and cold water, and also it keeps the desired temperature at a given level.

In addition, in multi-storey buildings (due to the abrupt supply of water) it is not always possible to optimally adjust the pressure of the water jet.A crane with a thermostat takes over the execution of this function.

Regulated water flow is needed for different purposes, so the thermo-mixer with the same success is used for:

• bathroom;
• washbasin;
• bidet;
• soul;
• the kitchen.

Thermostatic mixer can be attached directly to the plumbing or to the wall, which makes it more functional and ergonomic.

Thermostats are increasingly used not only in the bath and sink: thermostats control the temperature of the heated floor and are designed even for the street (heating pipes, working together with snow melting systems, and so on).

The thermostatic mixer will solve the problem of difficult adjustment of the water temperature, bring it to a comfortable temperature and keep it at this level, therefore this device is especially relevant for families with young children or elderly people. Such a unit will also be relevant in places where people with limited physical abilities or seriously ill patients live.

You can highlight the main advantages of the thermostat.

• First of all - safety. Any adult will not be happy if boiling water or ice water is poured over him during the shower.For people who find it difficult to promptly react in a similar situation (disabled, elderly, small children), a device with a thermostat becomes necessary. In addition, for young children who do not stop exploring the surrounding space for a minute, it is very important during bathing that the metal base of the mixer does not heat up.

• Hence the following advantage - relaxation and comfort. Compare the possibility: just lie in the bath and enjoy the procedure or turn the tap every 5 minutes to adjust the temperature.
• Thermostat saves electricity and water. You don’t need to waste cubic meters of water, waiting for it to reach a comfortable temperature. Electricity is saved when a thermostatic mixer is connected to an autonomous hot water supply system.

A few more reasons to install a thermostat:

• Electronic models with displays are very easy to control, they smoothly control the temperature of the water;
• The mixers are safe to use and easy to install by hand.

Another important nuance is that almost all thermostatic mixers depend on the water pressure in both pipes (with hot and cold water). In the absence of water in one of them, the valve will not allow water to flow from the second. Some models have a special switch that allows you to open the valve and use the available water.

It is necessary to add to this the possible difficulties with the repair of such cranes, since not everywhere there are certified service centers that can cope with a breakdown.

An important feature that distinguishes such a device from its own kind is the ability to keep the water temperature at one mark, regardless of pressure surges in water pipes. Electronic thermostatic models have built-in memory, which allows you to save your preferred temperature. Just press the button on the display, and the mixer itself will select the desired temperature without long mixing of hot and cold water.

The design of the thermomixer is very simple and includes only a few basic parts.

• The body itself, which is a cylinder, with two points of water supply - hot and cold.
• Spout for water flow.
• A pair of pens, as in the usual tap. However, one of them is a water pressure regulator, usually installed on the left side (crane). The second is a temperature controller with graduations (in mechanical models).
• Thermocouple (cartridge, thermostatic cartridge), which ensures optimal mixing of water streams of different temperatures. It is important that this element has a limiter that prevents the temperature of the water above 38 degrees. This feature is relevant for families with young children, to protect them from possible unpleasant sensations.

The main task that the thermoelement solves is a quick response to a change in the ratio of water flows. The person at the same time does not even feel that there have been any changes in the temperature regime.

Thermostatic cartridge is a sensitive moving element consisting of materials that are sensitive to the temperature changes that occur.

They can be:

• wax, paraffin or similar polymer;
• bimetallic rings.

Thermomixer works on the principle, based on the laws of physics on the expansion of bodies.

• The heat causes the wax to expand, the lower - reduces the volume.
• As a result, the plastic cylinder either moves into the cartridge, increasing the space for cold water, or it moves in the opposite direction for a larger influx of hot water.
• In order to avoid squeezing the valve, which is responsible for the flow of water of different temperatures, the design includes a check valve of the water course.
• A fuse mounted on the adjusting screw blocks the water supply in case it exceeds 80 C. This ensures maximum consumer safety.

A three-way mixing valve (such a term still exists for a thermomixer), which mixes the flows of hot and cold water into it into one stream with a stable temperature in manual or automatic mode, according to the control method, there are different types.

It has a simpler design, it is more affordable. The temperature of the water can be adjusted using levers or valves. Their operation is ensured by moving the movable valve inside the housing when the temperature changes. As mentioned above, if the pressure is increased in one of the pipes, the cartridge shifts to it, reducing the flow of water. As a result, the water on the spout remains the same temperature. There are two regulators in the mechanical mixer: on the right - with a temperature setting bar, on the left - with the inscription On / Off to regulate the pressure.

Faucets with an electronic thermostat have a higher cost, are more complex structurally, and they need to be powered from the network (plugged into a wall outlet or on batteries).

You can manage it with:

• buttons;
• touch panels;
• remote control.

Elegant minimalism in design and reaction to a slight movement of the hand in the response area of ​​a sensitive infrared sensor. The undoubted advantages of the unit in the kitchen are that you do not need to touch the tap with dirty hands - the water will flow, you should hold your hands.

In this case, the disadvantages prevail:

• to fill the tank with water (kettle, pot), you must always keep your hand in the zone of the sensor;
• promptly changing the water temperature is possible only on models that have a single-lever mechanical regulator, more expensive options are impractical in conditions of a constant change in water temperature;
• no savings due to the inability to control the time of water supply, which is fixed in all models.

By appointment, thermostats can also be divided into central and for use in one point.

The central thermo-mixer is a single center installed in high-traffic areas: industrial premises, sport complexes.And they also find their use in residential areas where water is distributed to several points (bath, wash basin, bidet). Thus, the user immediately receives the water of the desired temperature from the contactless spout or tap with a timer, no pre-setting is necessary. Buying and servicing one central mixer is financially more profitable than several thermostats.

Thermostats for use at one point are classified in connection with the functional load and are divided into devices of open and flush mounting.

• For the sink in the kitchen - installed on the countertop, wall or directly sink open method. Closed installation can be used when we can see only the valves and the spout (spout) of the crane, and all other parts are hidden behind the wall trim. However, in the kitchen, such mixers are not as functional as they need to constantly change the temperature of the water: cold is needed for cooking, they wash food warmly, hot they wash dishes. Constant fluctuations will not benefit the "smart" mixer, and its value is reduced to a minimum in this case.

• Much more useful is the thermo-mixer in the bathroom sink where a constant temperature is desirable. Such a vertical faucet has only a spout and can be installed both on the sink and on the wall.
• The bath unit is usually equipped with a spout and a shower head. Often these products are made of brass in chrome color. For the bathroom can be used thermostat with a long spout - universal faucet, which can be safely placed in any bath. For a bath with a shower, a cascade faucet is also popular, when water pours out in a wide strip.
• For a shower stall, there is no spout, and water flows to the watering can. The built-in mixer is very convenient when there are only temperature and pressure regulators on the wall, and the rest of the mechanism is securely covered behind the wall.

• There is also a batch (pressure) faucet for the shower and the sink: when you press the big button on the case, the water flows for a certain time, then it stops.
• The mixer, which is built into the wall, is similar in appearance to the shower option, and is distinguished by the presence of a special container for mounting into the wall.

Thermostatic mixers differ in the method of installation:

• vertical;
• horizontal;
• wall;
• floor;
• flush-mounted;
• on the side plumbing.

If you choose a faucet with a thermostat, pay attention to the models made for domestic water supply systems (reversible mixers). Even foreign companies paid attention to this nuance, having begun production of mixers according to the Russian standards.

If you make a kind of rating manufacturers of thermostatic mixers, then it will be headed by the German company Grohe. Their products have the greatest number of advantages and are highly valued by consumers.

This is what the top 5 best thermomixers look like according to one of the sites:

• Grohe Grohtherm.
• Hansa.
• Lemark.
• Zorg.
• Nicolazzi Termostatico.

Choosing a thermomixer, pay attention to several points.

The materials of which the case is made are quite diverse:

• Ceramics - it looks attractive, but it is a rather fragile material.
• Metal (brass, copper, bronze) - such products are the most durable and at the same time expensive. The alloy of metals silumin is inexpensive, but also short-lived.
• Plastic - the most affordable and has the shortest validity.

The material of the thermostat valve:

• leather;
• rubber;
• ceramics.

When choosing a thermomixer, be sure to ask the seller about the layout of the pipes of a particular model. We remind you that almost all European manufacturers offer taps by their standards - hot water pipes are brought to the left, while domestic standards assume that there is a cold water pipe to the left. If you connect the pipes incorrectly, the expensive unit simply breaks down, or you need to change the location of the pipes in the house. And this is a very serious financial loss.

It is recommended to connect a water filtration system to your pipes.It is important that there is sufficient water pressure in the pipeline - for thermostats a minimum of 0.5 bar is required. If it is lower, then it makes no sense to even buy such a mixer.

The installation of such a modern unit actually differs little from the installation of a standard lever or valve crane. The main thing is to follow the wiring diagram.

There are several crucial points here.

• Thermomixer has strictly defined hot and cold water connections, which are specially labeled so as not to be mistaken during installation. Such an error can lead to incorrect operation and equipment damage.
• If you put a thermostatic faucet on an old water supply system of Soviet times, then for proper installation - so that the spout would look down and not up - you will have to change the water distribution. This strict requirement holds true for wall mounted faucets. With horizontal, everything is easier - just swap the hoses.

The thermo-mixer can be connected step by step:

• shut off all the water in the riser;
• dismantle the old crane;
• Disks with eccentric for a new mixer are attached to the pipes;
• gaskets and decorative elements are installed on the places assigned to them;
• the thermomixer is mounted;

• screw spout, watering - if available;
• then you need to re-connect the water and check the operation of the mixer;
• need to adjust the water temperature;
• in the system must be available filtration system, check valve;
• in the case of concealed installation, the spout and adjustment levers will remain visible, and the bathtub will get a finished look.
• But if the crane breaks, you will need to disassemble the wall to get to the necessary parts.

To repair a thermostatic mixer under the force of professionalstherefore it is better to contact the service center. But to clean the thermostat from dirt can any man in the street, and the dirt is cleaned under running water with a simple toothbrush.

For experienced home craftsmen there are a few general rules for repairing a thermostat with your own hands:

1. Shut off the water and drain it from the tap.
2. Disassemble the thermomixer as in the photo.
3. Several problem descriptions and examples of their solutions:

• worn out rubber seals - replace with new ones;
• valve leakage under the spout - replace old seals with new ones;
• wipe dirty seats with a cloth;
• if there is noise when operating the thermostat, then you need to put filters, if not standing, or cut off rubber gaskets for a snug fit.

On the principles of operation of a thermostatic mixer, see the video below.