DIY bathroom shower repair

In detail: DIY bathroom shower repair from a real master for the site my.housecope.com.

Beautiful plastic booths quickly filled the world market and imperceptibly moved into the apartments of townspeople and the houses of villagers. They were loved for their practicality and functionality.

Over time, some elements of the boxes fail, others wear out, however, skilled owners repair the shower cabin and restore or replace parts on their own.

Economical showers with a minimum of functions or expensive hydromassage boxes are designed for daily hygiene - taking a shower.

Some of them can be used as a bath. These are complex devices with many parts. There are a lot of box modifications: from open, resembling an ordinary shower with protective partitions, to closed, sealed and stuffed with electronics.

Simple self-assembled models and complex factory modifications also break, and some of the problems are common. For example, any of the presented cabins can crack the protective screen or fail the mixer.

A list of breakdowns that are most often encountered by users of shower boxes:

wear of the ladder or water seal installed under the bottom;
deformation of the pallet or the appearance of cracks on its surface;
mechanical damage to doors or protective screens;
breakage of door rollers or hinges responsible for opening;
failure of shower equipment - watering can, hose, mixer.

Complicated electronically controlled models can break electrical parts or experience a software failure.

Only specialists are able to deal with electronics on their own, broken glass or a deformed pallet is better to replace, however, minor breakdowns can be eliminated on your own.

Video (click to play).

For example, to repair the rollers, restore the pallet, clean the plumbing filter or clean up scratches on the plastic screen, even an amateur can do it.

Professional repairs are another waste of the household budget, and sometimes urgent restoration of parts is required. Therefore, we will find out how to fix a broken shower cabin on our own, without the involvement of qualified craftsmen. Let's consider only those situations in which special skills are not required.

The design of the built-in shower mixer differs from the traditional type, installed on the sink or above the bath.

It consists of a control unit - two handles and working communications - a system of thin tubes. The first ceramic cartridge with holes is responsible for switching hot / cold water, the second regulates the flow of water in the desired direction.

You can understand that the cartridge is faulty or the housing element is cracked by the leak that appears. Water begins to leak either when the tap is turned on, or constantly. In the first case, the seal is likely to wear out, in the second - a crack on the cartridge.

The opposite is also possible - water does not flow well into the shower. This is due to blockages: over time, the holes become clogged with limescale or corrosive deposits.

To cope with the problem, it is necessary to dismantle the entire mixer block. For work, you will need a set of screwdrivers, pliers with narrow legs. Purpose: disassemble the mixer, find the cause of the leak, repair or replace the part, install the unit in place.

Crack bonding is a temporary fix. In order for the mixer to continue performing all available functions, it is necessary to replace the cartridge with a new one.

However, preventive cleaning of metal and plastic parts is helpful.To reduce lime scale, we recommend using filters, both special for shower cabins, and general filters installed on the water supply pipes.

Cast iron and even steel pallets are not used in shower cabins. New models are made of acrylic - a durable, "warm", lightweight material.

But the acrylic bottom has a huge drawback - frequent breakdowns due to the large weight of a person taking a shower, or due to mechanical damage. In both cases, cracks form through which water flows out.

If water begins to flow from under the base of the cabin, the bottom is significantly deformed or cracks become visible - this is a signal for urgent repair.

A small wear can be restored without removing the pallet from its place, but for a thorough repair it is necessary to disassemble the booth and dismantle the base.

spatula, chisel, stationery knife, sandpaper - to remove the acrylic layer;
a drill with attachments and an engraver - for cleaning the base and cracks;
brushes for applying glue and acrylic fill.

To completely renovate a pallet, you first need to remove the old acrylic layer, clean all surfaces, make a patch of fiberglass from the outside and an acrylic fill from the inside.

In order for a fiberglass patch to serve for a long time, you must choose high-quality glue. An example of a reliable composition is the two-component EDP glue. It does not react to water and maintains its adhesion quality for many years.

The advantage of the imported analogue Plexus MA 420 is excellent adhesion even to an unpolished surface. But the alternative costs more than 2 thousand rubles, while the domestic EAF is 140-160 rubles.

If there is a choice before replacement and repair, you can safely experiment with the restoration with your own hands. It will not work - you can always buy a replacement, but if everything succeeds, you will acquire an almost new pallet and useful skills.

Small inconspicuous rollers hide under decorative strips at the bottom of glass or plastic doors.

They are tightly covered, nevertheless, water penetrates through the slots even into the bearings. As a result, the internal metal elements of the rollers become covered with rust and become clogged with dirt - a sediment of imperfect composition of tap water.

You will notice the need for cleaning or replacement when the door starts to open with force, strange noises when moving and partial blocking.

The problem is solved simply: you need an anti-rust solution, kerosene, grease, a screwdriver and pliers.

The final touch is the installation of a decorative overlay. We check the quality of work by opening and closing the booth door. After cleaning, it should move freely, without squeaking and delay.

The sooner you notice the problem and clean the rollers, the easier the procedure will be. In advanced cases, the balls inside the body are tightly "welded", it becomes extremely difficult to restore their work.

Read also: DIY gas tank filler repair

In some situations, it is easier to buy new parts, but it is not always possible to find the right size.

We do not recommend repairing the cab electronics. If the hardware has stopped correctly executing the commands, you need to call the wizard. Warranty repairs are free of charge, so be sure to keep your receipts and paperwork.

For post-warranty service, you can contact a company specializing in plumbing repair.

For replacement of glasses, pallet or complete disassembly / assembly of the booth, you can also contact the master. If you have no experience of such work and free time, then you can save more than one day by spending a small amount.

It is useful to check the prices of the parts before starting the repair. It also happens that replacing a pallet or shower block costs a little more than restoration work, so it makes sense not to waste time and just install new structural elements.

Videos, shot by craftsmen and amateurs, contain many useful tips and recommendations for repair work.

How to repair the pallet or prevent leakage:

How to avoid buying a new door roller:

Assembly instructions - useful for replacing parts:

The faucet is an integral part of every bathroom, which has a hot and cold water supply. Thanks to him, the temperature of the water leaving the tap and its pressure are regulated. In addition, the faucet has a switch that allows you to redirect water from the tap to the shower. Like any mechanical device, the mixer is not immune to all kinds of breakdowns. Fortunately, its design is not overly complex, allowing, in most cases, to fix problems on their own. In the article we will consider the device of a bathroom faucet with a shower, repair the faucet in the event of any breakdowns, and list the causes of malfunctions.

Consider how a bathroom faucet with a shower works. This will help you understand how it works, depending on the design. All faucets that can be used in the bathroom fall into 3 categories:

1. Sensory... The control element of such a device is a photocell that gives a command to turn the device on and off. Self-repair of such devices is very difficult, so it would be most rational to refer it to specialists.

2. Valve... The device of a bath mixer with a valve-type shower is quite simple:

frame;
spout;
valves. Designed for manual control of the mixer;
crane axle boxes. They regulate the water supply. Older models are fitted with rubber gaskets, while newer models have ceramic plates.

In the photo, the design of a valve mixer with a flag switch

Tip: Ceramic crane axle boxes are much more durable than older models, and they are much easier to operate, since the valve rotates a maximum of 180 degrees.

3. Lever... Recently, this type of mixer is gaining popularity. A typical lever model consists of the following elements:

frame;
spout (gander);
ceramic or ball cartridge in which water is mixed. Ceramic cartridges cannot be disassembled. If such a cartridge has become unusable, repairing a bathroom faucet with a shower will consist in replacing such a cartridge;
a control handle that regulates the water pressure and its temperature. Mounts on the cartridge arm;
nut fixing the cartridge in the body;
a housing cover that covers the cartridge and is designed to give the mixer a more aesthetic appearance.

The main components of the lever mixer with a cartridge

If you carefully study the device of a bathroom faucet with a shower, its repair will not be difficult. It is only important to know the reasons accompanying breakdowns:

Unsatisfactory product quality. This is typical for the products of little-known manufacturers who use low-quality components and consumables in their work;
Using consumables of the old design. For example, paronite or silicone gaskets last much longer than rubber products. In addition, they are less deformed and do not collapse from drying out;
Dirty water in pipes;
Increased water hardness affects the inside of the device, causing deposits and seal cracking.

Let's take a closer look at what breakdowns can occur during the operation of the mixer with a shower, as well as how to fix the mixer in the bathroom yourself. Malfunctions can be of the following nature:

This is the most common breakdown, as the gander constantly rotates in different directions, which leads to wear of the round rubber gasket... This gasket is located in the groove of the gander, therefore, to replace it, the gander must be disconnected.

Actions are performed in the following sequence:

the fastening nut is unscrewed;
the gander is removed;
the remnants of the old gasket are removed from the groove of the gander;
a new gasket is installed;
the gander is installed in place;
the thread onto which the fixing nut will be screwed is wrapped with 2-3 layers of FUM tape;
the nut for fastening the gander is tightened.

This failure is typical for single-lever mixers and is caused by cartridge breakage. It is necessary to disassemble the mixer, and replace cartridge... In addition to this failure, there are several other signs of cartridge breakage:

the lever has become difficult to control;
the temperature of the supplied water changes spontaneously;
there is no supply of either hot or cold water;
the valve does not close completely or does not open completely.

In this case, you need to replace the cartridge. Do-it-yourself bathroom faucet repair is performed in the following order:

The red and blue plug is removed from the mixer body.

Video (click to play).

Removing the crane lever

Use a small-tip Phillips screwdriver to loosen or loosen the retaining screw.

The lever is removed and the decorative cover is unscrewed.

Using an adjustable wrench, unscrew the nut that holds the cartridge inside the body.

The old cartridge is removed.

A new cartridge is inserted into the housing, after which the mixer is assembled.

Self-replacement of the cartridge on the mixer

Important: There are tabs on the cartridge body that should line up with the indentations inside the cartridge body. Match them carefully. If they don't match, the mixer will leak.

The reason for the leakage of the two-valve mixer is the wear or destruction of the sealing washer located on the valve box. The destruction of the crane axle box itself may also occur. If the faucet is leaking in the bathroom - how to fix it quickly and inexpensively? Only on my own replacing the crane-axle box or washer on it... There is nothing complicated about it.

All work is carried out with the water supply shut off:

the plug is removed from the leaking valve;
the screw with which the valve is attached to the mixer body is unscrewed;
using an open-end wrench or an adjustable wrench, the crane-axle box is unscrewed;
the crane box itself or the sealing ring on it is replaced;
a new or repaired crane box is installed in the old place.

There is another gasket between the faucet-shower switch and the body, which could be damaged. How to fix a bathroom faucet that has a leaking switch? Only by disassembling the switch itself:

the button (switch) is removed, for which the rod is held in a fixed position with pliers;

the valve with the stem is removed;

the damaged oil seal is removed;

in his place a new oil seal is installed;

the switch is put together.

Repair of a mixer with a flag switch is shown in the video.

If the button does not come back after being turned off, then its spring is faulty. Disassemble the switch as described above and then remove the broken spring. In her place a new spring is installed.

Replacing the Push Button Switch Spring

If the switch does not work, and water flows from the shower and from the tap at the same time, then the reason is cracked oil seal located on the switch stem... Necessary:

remove the button (switch);
remove the stem;
replace the oil seal;
assemble the switch.

This problem occurs due to damage to the hose gasket. If the bath faucet is leaking, do-it-yourself repairs will consist in replacing this gasket. To do this, simply unscrew the hose nut by hand, and then remove the worn out washer. In her place a new paronite washer is installed... Before tightening the nut, it is advisable to wind a couple of layers of FUM tape on the thread.

Nowadays, a hygienic shower for a toilet with a mixer is beginning to gain more and more popularity. More about it in our separate article.

Do you know how to remove limescale from the toilet? The problem is quite common, and there are several ways to solve it.

In-line water filters help extend the life of your plumbing. We talked about their types here.

How to fix a bathroom faucet if there is a water leak at the connection between the hose and the shower head? Very simple. There is a round insulating gasket under the nut on the hose. It can be easily replaced even without the use of tools.

If the water pressure through the mixer has noticeably weakened, but the neighbors have remained the same, you should suspect, first of all, clogging of the filter-aeratorlocated at the tip of the gander. Unscrew it by hand or pliers, and then check the pressure. If the pressure increased without an aerator, then the reason lay in its pollution. You need to carefully rinse it under running water, and then screw it back into place.

Tip: Often it is not the aerator itself that gets dirty, but the cleaning filter located at the entrance to the room. Therefore, if cleaning the aerator did not work, then unscrew the filter and check the cleanliness of its mesh.We figured out how to fix a DIY bathroom faucet with shower. When using higher quality consumables, such problems will occur much less frequently.

Bathroom faucets differ from others in the presence of a bath-shower switch, which are also divided into several types.

The part, the failure of which is characteristic precisely for the repair of the mixer in the bathroom, is the switch for the shower. He is responsible for switching the water supply to the mixer spout or watering can. There are 4 main varieties:

Suberic. An outdated version of the switch that few people produce today. It is characterized by a long handle between the two valves. Some modern bathroom faucets use similar handles, but they have a spool instead of a cork core.
Cartridge. It is preferred by Russian manufacturers. There are two types of cartridges on the market: ball and ceramic.The ball cartridge can be repaired, the ceramic cartridge can only be replaced. However, the latter lasts longer and is less susceptible to hard water.

Do-it-yourself mixer repair does not take much time if you correctly establish the cause of the malfunction. Any device ever fails. The mixer is no exception.

It can break down due to wear on the components. The lower the quality materials, the shorter the service life of the components and the more often the bathroom faucet has to be repaired. How to repair a faucet in a bathroom with your own hands?

Usually caused by a broken cartridge in a single lever mixer. The fact that the cartridge is out of order will also be indicated by the following signs:

the handle is difficult to rotate;
the water supply is not completely shut off;
the water temperature changes arbitrarily;
cold water flows from the hot tap and vice versa.

To replace the ceramic cartridge:

remove the blue-red painted plug;
use a Phillips screwdriver or hex wrench to unscrew the fixing screw;
pulling the handle up, disconnect it from the body, and then unscrew the lid;
with an adjustable wrench, unscrew the nut that secures the cartridge in the body;
replace the damaged cartridge.

After replacing the defective element, you need to align the protrusions on the cartridge housing with the grooves inside. If you overlook this, the faucet will leak.

In two-valve mixers, the sealing washer is often worn out. Sometimes the crane-axle box also becomes unusable. Such breakdowns lead to leakage. To replace the crane box or rubber ring:

remove the plug from the faulty valve;

unscrew the screw securing the valve to the mixer;

with an adjustable wrench, disconnect the crane-axle box;

replace the crane box or ring.

Before repairing the switch on a bathroom faucet, be sure to shut off the water in the room. A leak from under the switch indicates that the oil seal between the mixer being repaired and the switch has become inoperative. To replace it:

remove the button by clamping the stem with pliers;
remove the valve with the stem;
pull out the damaged oil seal.

If, after water procedures, the button cannot be returned to its original position, then its spring has broken. In this case, the switch is disassembled according to the algorithm described above, the faulty spring is taken out and a new one is put in its place.

Sometimes the shower switch does not work, and water flows into the shower head and mixer at the same time. This is due to a crack in the oil seal, which is located on the stem. To eliminate such a malfunction, you need:

remove the switch;
get the stock;
replace damaged oil seal.

Many apartments still use old plug switches. Over time, the button moves away from the housing, resulting in a leak. To eliminate it you need:

disconnect the screw;
remove the handle;
unscrew the nut;
remove the lock washer;
get the cork;
wipe the cork and the inside of the case with kerosene;
use abrasive paste, paraffin or petroleum jelly to rub the plug to the body.

The gasket in the spool switches may wear out. To replace it, you should:

disconnect the hose;
remove the spout;
unscrew the adapter;
unscrew the valve;
get the spool;
replace rubber rings.

The repaired button will last for several more years.

Over time, the gasket at the point where the hose is attached to the mixer will wear out. A leak is formed. Such a breakdown is the easiest to fix: you just need to unscrew the shower hose nut, remove the damaged washer and insert a new one in its place.To fix this malfunction in a mixer that has broken, it is also not necessary to use tools. You just need to unscrew the nut that secures the watering can to the hose and replace the insulating gasket.When troubleshooting bathroom faucets, repairs are not limited to replacing gaskets and cartridges.With prolonged use, the shower head holes become clogged with sand, limestone and other hard deposits.In order for the shower to work properly again, the mesh must be disassembled and rinsed. On some models, the screw is located under the plastic cap in the center of the watering can. Sometimes, in order to disassemble the mesh, it is necessary to turn it counterclockwise. Image - DIY bathroom shower repair

An aerator is screwed onto the end of the spout. It retains solids and increases water pressure. If the water flows in a thin stream, the reason lies in the clogged filter. To clean it, unscrew it with pliers, carefully disassemble it into its component parts and rinse them under running water.

Specialists are faced with other types of breakdowns:

A continuous flow of water signals a breakdown of a brass valve or a clogged space between it and the gasket. The mixer must be restored if it is disassembled, the insides cleaned and, if necessary, replace the valve.
If no water flows when the valve is open, then the rubber gasket is dry. To make sure of this for sure, they hit the open tap with a hard object.

Do-it-yourself bathroom faucet repair does not require special skills. This craft can be mastered not only by men, but also by women. Regardless of the type of faucet in the bathroom, repairing and replacing parts is not difficult.

Small apartments, in which there is not enough space to install everything you need, are far from uncommon in modern cities. So a shower without a shower stall in such apartments is also not uncommon.

But in order to swim in such conditions it was comfortable, you need to equip the bathroom space, taking into account all the rules and decorate it beautifully.

Despite the popularity of this type of shower, many people still find them strange and incomprehensible. Therefore, before talking about the process of installing and decorating such a structure, you need to understand its features, and also determine all the possible pros and cons.

A shower without a massive shower stall has many advantages.

However, this design also has disadvantages.

Firstly, if you do something wrong, there may be a risk of flooding your neighbors from below. So you always need to seek advice from professionals, or even trust the work of the masters, not relying on the fact that you will be able to do everything well, without having any skills.
Secondly, after taking a shower, the room may smell unpleasant. This is due to the incorrect installation of the shower floor. Or rather, for the reason that it is not raised up and a water seal is not installed under the base.
And, finally, many people are simply not used to taking a shower in a bathroom without a full-fledged shower cubicle. But this cannot be called a significant disadvantage, since there is always an opportunity to buy a bright curtain that will replace the usual partitions.
But in the event that a large family lives in the apartment, and the bathroom is combined with a toilet, the installation of such a shower is unlikely to be a reasonable solution. However, this option is more suitable for modern studios and bachelor apartments.